May 12, 2026 - Food and Drink
Belgrade Gardens serves up Northeast Ohio’s unique fried chicken
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👋 Ryan Deto here from Axios Pittsburgh. I tried Barberton fried chicken, a Northeast Ohio specialty, last week on a birding trip and I wanted to share.
Why it matters: A few restaurants in Barberton and its surroundings are some of the only places in the country to try Serbian fried chicken.
Dig in: Belgrade Gardens created the dish in 1933 when Serbian immigrants opened the restaurant.
- It has a crispy-breaded coating that's lighter than typical fried chicken, but it explodes with delicious juices. Eat it over the plate.
- I ordered the four-piece chicken dinner ($19.59) with sides of mashed potatoes with white gravy, green beans and hot sauce — a Serbian spicy tomato and rice soup.
- I had plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day.
The vibe: Charmingly old school with a corresponding older clientele and tons of seating.
- Everyone was ordering the fresh-cut fries, so we ordered some ($6.09). They were a little crispy, a little soft and very potatoey; remarkably similar to Pittsburgh-style fries.
If you go: Noon-7:30pm Tuesday-Sunday at 401 E. State St., Barberton.
- Hopocan Gardens and Village Inn Chicken in Norton, and White House Chicken (multiple locations) also serve Serbian fried chicken.