Sometimes you just want good fried chicken, and I know I can always count on Max’s Wine Dive.

I pick my cheat foods pretty carefully. If I’m going to potentially go out of my target blood sugar range, I’m going to make it good.

With two Houston area locations — one on Washington Ave and one on Fairview in Montrose — you have two places in Houston to get delicious chicken. If you have craving outside of the Bayou City, you can also visit Max’s in Austin, Denver, and San Antonio.

What’s the big deal about Max’s?

Max’s Wine Dive not only boasts great fried chicken, but they also have an excellent selection of wines, beers, and champagnes.

At brunch, you can build your own mimosa, or pick from any of their bunch menu cocktails. Max’s is also open for happy hour, dinner, or you can stop by to grab some dessert and wine.

Bryan and I opted to share their Wings and Waffles and Honey Butter Chicken Benedict for brunch.

The potatoes in the Benedict are nice and creamy with a great hint of fresh black pepper. The biscuit is pillowy and buttery just like you’d expect at a wine dive in the south.

I can’t speak highly enough about their chicken.

It’s just about everything you want fried chicken to be. First, it’s a healthy portion of 3 large wings for your waffle.

The chicken is crispy, juicy and has just the right amount of spice to complement the sweetness of the waffle and powdered sugar. The waffle is also enormous! It’s crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside. It’s all of the best textures combined.

So if you’re looking for a good brunch spread in a fun atmosphere with great wines to choose from, Max’s Wine Dive is a great choice.