Federal Donuts & Chicken, the Philadelphia-born fried chicken and donut chain founded by James Beard Award-winning restaurateurs Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook, has officially arrived at the Jersey Shore.
The chain opened inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City on June 5, marking its first location at the Shore and its latest in a growing New Jersey footprint, which includes a Marlton store that opened in 2025. The Atlantic City outpost is part of Hard Rock’s ongoing $50 million renovation of the property.
Federal Donuts is located on the second floor, next to the Icon Lounge.
The menu centers on hand-battered, twice-fried chicken and fried-to-order cake donuts, tossed in cinnamon sugar, chocolate glaze, and more. Fancy donuts come in seasonal flavors like cereal glaze and chocolate peanut butter. For chicken, choose from sandwiches and crispy tenders. Fries, breakfast sandwiches, and hash browns are also popular. An expansive coffee menu includes cold brew, classic drip, and Vietnamese iced.
The Atlantic City opening is part of a broader New Jersey expansion, marking the brand’s second Garden State outpost. A West Windsor location at MarketFair in Princeton is reportedly coming soon, with two additional NJ locations expected to follow as part of a four-unit franchise deal.
New Jerseyans no longer have to cross the Delaware for their fried-chicken-and-donut fix—Federal Donuts is here to stay.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
