Charles Pan-Fried Chicken • 1990

Chef Charles Gabriel fries his legendary chicken in cast iron skillets seasoned with decades of use, just as he learned in his mother's kitchen in North Carolina. The James Beard-nominated chef mans the pans himself at this Harlem location on bustling 125th Street, turning out golden, crispy-skinned birds that draw lines of regulars who know the difference between deep-fried and the real thing. Each piece emerges from the skillet perfectly seasoned with Gabriel's secret blend, crisp on the outside and juicy within.