Our writers have travelled the mean streets of Melbourne to bring you the best, greasiest, finest – dare we say most mouth watering – fried chicken in their city. Here are their top five, presented to you in no particular order. Because it’s all just too damn good. Can I get an Amen?
Belle’s Hot Chicken
Address: 150 Gertrude St, Fitzroy
Belle’s Hot Chicken in Fitzroy! The staff are super friendly and the place is decked out like an American Diner. The chicken is succulent and tasty. The wings are TO DIE FOR. They come in degrees of spiciness (just note that hot and extra hot are probably both too hot to handle!). They also come in a bucket for fingerlicking sharing. There is also a good selection of beer on tap, wine and American spirits to match with your chicken. Be sure to get there early, otherwise you’ll be waiting in queue for a very long time. Grab the menu HERE. – Serena Ho
Barney Allen’s
Address: 14 Fitzroy St, St Kilda
The best fried chicken I’ve tasted is at Barney Allen’s in St Kilda, Melbourne. Small pieces of Southern tender fried chicken with a dipping sauce. This succulent chicken has me always heading back for more and it’s the smaller pieces that grab my attention first but the soft, tender chicken battered in spice, is a must! Not big enough for a meal but with another side or an entree would be perfect. – Lyn Harder
Mr Big Stuff
Address: 16 Meyers Place, Melbourne, CBD
I would go so far as to say that Mr Big Stuff has the best fried chicken in Australia. Add to that waffles and you’ve a match made in heaven. While Chicken and waffles may sound too disgusting to be true, its soul food at its most divine and worthy of a try. The dish is served with a delicately spiced maple syrup that adds contrast to the spiced fried chicken. The skin gives a satisfying crunch and the sweet and spicy flavors are harmoniously without being overpowering. Over all the dish is hearty but not sickening, a true meal to ease your soul. – Kate Katrina
Soolzip
Address: 179-181 Victoria Street, West Melbourne
Another one would be Soolzip in West Melbourne. They serve the most tantalisingly moist Korean deep-fried chicken in original, spicy pelicana, pelicana, and honey soy variations. You can order boneless, a half or a whole chicken. Each serving comes with a side of white radish and coleslaw. Best of all, these guys home-deliver if you live in the vicinity! What’s better than not having to leave the couch to get your fried chicken hit? – Serena Ho
Gami Chicken & Beer
Address: 100 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD
After-hours cravings for deliciously crispy, Korean-style fried chicken will unfailingly lead every Melbourne local or visitor to Gami. It’s basically an institution here, and it’s waves of late night chicken and beer pairing reach far and wide, so much so that Sydney-siders often place this as their number one stop for 24 foodie hours in Melbourne. They’ve got sweet chilli, spicy sauce, and soy garlic fried chicken so mix and match your large beers with as many different styles of fried greatness you want. – Chris Singh
Photo taken from respective restaurant’s Facebook pages, unless otherwise mentioned.
