MARYLAND FRIED CHICKEN - LEESBURG LLC

Health grade
A · 93/100
Lake County rank
Safer than 74%
Diner rating
4.1 ★ · 1,141 reviews
Violations
1 intermediate and 4 basic
Last inspected
Apr 2026

It pulls 4.1 stars across 1,141 reviews and ranks safer than 74% of Lake County restaurants we grade. Menus here flag options for dairy-free diners.

Get directions Call (352) 787-8500

Restaurant details

Health grade
A (93/100)
Violations
5 total — 1 intermediate, 4 basic
Address
708 N 14 ST, Leesburg, FL
Cuisine
Other
Categories
Chicken restaurant, Fast food restaurant
Price
$10–20
Rating
4.1 stars (1141 reviews)
Seats
28
Phone
(352) 787-8500
Website
Official website
Photo of MARYLAND FRIED CHICKEN - LEESBURG LLC
Photo: Matthew Helit

Community Rating

Reviews via Google
4.1 Community-sourced rating 1,141 reviews
Read all reviews on Google →

What diners say — our read

4.2 stars from 19 reviews, with the reasoning pulling in different directions. Where front-of-house comes up, the rating that follows averages 4.0, so it reads as a strength. Freshness and temperature follows at 26% of reviews, where ratings average 3.6.

Behind those, value for money is raised in 16% of reviews (4.3 average). Of the 19 rated reviews, 15 sit at four stars or better and 1 at two or below. The single most common rating left here is 5 stars (9 of 19).

Against that, the kitchen inspects well — an A (93/100), 1 intermediate and 4 basic violations at the most recent DBPR visit. The visit behind that grade was April 2, 2026. Ranked against Lake County, it is safer than 74% of the restaurants we score. For specifics, the last inspection cited dishwashing facilities and food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized.

Nothing here pulls in opposite directions — an unusually clean read. Full reviews follow below in the order they were left.

Our own analysis of 19 reviews for this restaurant, set against its Florida DBPR inspection record. How we calculate grades →

  • June 18, 2026

    Great chicken

  • June 17, 2026

    Just went in there get chicken jun 14 2026,terrible cooking oil terrible we all got sick from chicken,will not buy anymore,no thank you.chicken taste terrible.🤮

  • June 16, 2026

    The first time I ever went there service was good mashed potatoes probably made out of bag. I got a breast a wing mashed potatoes and a soda I left still hungry the portions are too small that's the only complaint and the dining area where you sit is hot other than that no big deal it isn't hard to fry chicken if you have a deep fryer nothing special

  • June 13, 2026

    Fantastic 🐔 must try over KFC

  • June 10, 2026

    Ordered gizzards and was a little disappointed. The gizzards lacked breader. It was like they skipped the batter before dropping them in the oil. Hope it was just a bad day. Will try again maybe.

  • June 8, 2026

    We went thru drive through. We missed seeing the outside menu the girl was nice eough to come out to the car and take our order. We ordered the fish cod, coleslaw, potato salad.Everything tasted good and would go back.

  • May 9, 2026

    Best chicken in town situated by k.F c and popeyes clearly the winner of the three. I was there today and the food was fantastic but needs a little work on cleaning the tables.

  • April 28, 2026

    Google should some how make this Maryland Fried Chicken in Leesburg, FL automatically come up in the top search when you Google "The Best Fried Chicken in Lake County"! Because it is the best. This darn chicken can be addictive too. It's that real Maryland fried recipe. At this location its always fresh, hot, and good!

  • April 25, 2026

    Wow, thats darn good chicken! Counter service to order and seat yourself dinette booth style. Building could use a face-lift. But as long as they keeping making fried chicken this good, I'll be back. I had a side of baked beans, not bbq but lightly seasoned and good. Husband has a side of slaw and we both had mashed potatoes with chicken gravy. It was all good. Soda . We each paid 11$ plus tax. Tip jar is at the counter.

  • April 23, 2026

    Chicken with fried and old grease, customer service was outstanding.

  • April 12, 2026

    Chicken is good

  • April 5, 2026

    First ever visit. Stopped in at 11:30 AM on a Thursday; no dark meat available 🤨. Brought home breast and wing plus sides. Chicken is lightly breaded, well seasoned, tasty. Sides are good portion, packaged separately.

  • April 1, 2026

    First time there. Servers were prompt, friendly and professional. Chicken was great, (fake) mashed potatoes weren't warm but the gravey was. Baked beans were canned and nothing special. The environment; just needs a good cleaning, wouldn't take much, just wash the windows and a good cleaning inside. Power wash the exterior and use a blower on the ground. Two employees for a few hours cleaning up and what a positive difference it would make. It's a management thing.

  • March 26, 2026

    Staffs were friendly, the fried chicken was way too dry

  • March 19, 2026

    Some of best chicken I've ever had.

  • March 18, 2026

    Un ambiente sencillo, limpio,atienden con rapidez. El sabor del pollo es exquisito, de buen gusto. La papá majada y el repollo muy buenos.

  • March 14, 2026

    Food was great and prices were pretty good. Staff was very friendly.

  • March 10, 2026

    The food is always good & worth any wait. Love that it hasn't changed.. if it ain't broke; don't fix it !! Definitely the best chicken around. Highly reccomend!

  • March 10, 2026

    I travel 80 miles to purchase this chicken and during my last 2 trips (21 pieces ) I have been very disappointed. The chicken is overcooked (too dark and dry) and has absolutely no taste of any type of seasoning. You need to either change the peanut oil or lower the cooking time. As for the seasoning it needs to be enhanced. Please start to make my trip worthwhile.

Overall Score

64 / 100

  • Health inspection grade 40/40
    Grade A
  • Dietary transparency 3/20
    1 option listed
  • Community rating 16/20
    4.1★ average
  • Hidden-gem status 0/10
    Not flagged
  • Track record 5/10
    Stable, 33% clean

Composite score from health grade, dietary options, ratings, and inspection record — distinct from the state-derived health grade.

Opening hours

Monday
11 AM to 9 PM
Tuesday
11 AM to 9 PM
Wednesday
11 AM to 9 PM
Thursday
11 AM to 9 PM
Friday
11 AM to 9 PM
Saturday
11 AM to 9 PM
Sunday
11 AM to 8 PM

Inspection history

The following records are from Florida DBPR public inspection records, most recent first.

  1. April 2, 2026 · Routine - Food

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    0 high-priority · 1 intermediate · 4 basic

    • 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained
    • 16 — Dishwashing facilities; sanitizer test kits; gauges
    • 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
    • 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
    • 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation
  2. December 16, 2025 · Routine - Food

    Call Back - Complied

    0 high-priority · 0 intermediate · 0 basic

    No violations cited.

  3. October 15, 2025 · Routine - Food

    Warning Issued

    1 high-priority · 1 intermediate · 4 basic

    • 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
    • 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained
    • 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
    • 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation
    • 41 — Chemicals / toxic substances properly stored & used
    • 53 — Food manager certification; employee food-safety training

This grade is calculated by us from Florida DBPR public inspection records — Florida does not issue official grades. How we calculate it →

Data last updated: April 2, 2026