Crispy N’ Golden: 8 Best Fried Chicken Spots in Adelaide
Crispy, juicy, golden fried chicken never fails to make for a sumptuous meal. It’s no wonder fried chicken spots are everywhere in Adelaide!
Looking for your next go-to for some of that crunchy goodness? Check out these spots in Adelaide that serve the best fried chicken!
Gunbae Chicken & Beer
Website: https://www.gunbae.com.au/
Address: 11-29 Union St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Contact details: +61 8 8223 2953
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 11:30 AM-2:30 PM, 5:00 PM-9:00 PM
- Saturday – 5:30 PM-10:00 PM
- Sunday – Closed
Gunbae Chicken & Beer was created by Yunji Kim and Hayden Smith. Smith perfected her fried chicken recipe by taking inspiration from Korea’s very own Suwon (also known as Fried Chicken Street).
Their chicken is made flavorful by having an extensive brining and flavoring process. It even becomes tastier with their sauces (sweet and salty, garlicky, or spicy).
To accompany your meal, try their plentiful choices of traditional Korean side dishes! You can have pickled radishes, chips, rice, green salad, and house slaw to complete the meal.
| Pro tips: Ordering joomuk bap (made with seaweed, cucumber, carrot, and seasoned rice) is an easy way to fill your stomach. There are 6 pieces of these per order. For low-tolerance drinkers, drink the soju slowly, as its alcohol content can go as high as 25%!Personally, I think the boned chicken is juicier and more flavorful than the boneless one. |
Wingman
Address: 50 O G Rd, Klemzig SA 5087, Australia
Contact details: +61 8 7230 4904
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 5:00 PM-9:00 PM
- Sunday – 4:00 PM-8:00 PM
In Wingman, variety is king! Here, your choices include chicken burgers, bento meals (chicken with rice, salad, and pickles), fried seafood, and veggie with chips!
What sets their chicken apart from other shops is its thin and minimally battered exterior, which makes it easy for the sauce to seep into the meat! That’s why their chicken burgers are easy to bite and tasty.
Their hot berry was the first thing that piqued my interest when I ate here, and its taste did not disappoint at all. The mix of chilies and berries was intriguing, and it had a deliciously sour aftertaste.
| Pro tips: Their bentos are made to be bought on-the-go. It’s a great choice if you’ll be dining somewhere else. Pay attention to the spice levels written on their menu, as even their least spicy option leaves a lot of heat on the tongue after a couple of bites. |
KOKKO
Website: https://www.kokko.com.au/
Address: 1/1 Margaret St, Norwood SA 5067, Australia
Contact details: +61 402 655 797
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday – 12:00 NN-2:30 PM, 5:00 PM-8:30 PM
- Sunday to Monday – Closed
KOKKO’s chickens are as meticulously made as the geometric design of its restaurant. Every day, Seoul natives Julie Kim and Ji Ku prepare their chicken with a secret combination of 12 ingredients that has made many Adelaideans regulars of the place.
Their fried chicken comes with plenty of sauces, including sweet and spicy garlic, soy sauce, sweet soy, cheese, and citrus mayo.
While chicken is their bread and batter, the vegetables they pair it with elevate every dish! These include green salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and mayo), pickled veggies, and fried cauliflower.
| Pro tips: They prepare only a limited amount of chicken every day (around 100), as they’re very particular with its quality. Be sure to order early!To make sure that your pick-up order made through text is delivered quickly, follow the template on their website.The shop’s dine-in space is small, so it’s best to order for pick-up during peak days. |
Motherlode 142
Website: https://www.motherlodenuggeteria.com/
Address: 142 Hindley St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Operating hours:
- Wednesday to Friday – 12:00 NN to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM-9:00 PM
- Saturday – 5:00 PM-9:00 PM
- Sunday to Tuesday – Closed
Motherlode 142’s dip flavors are a wonderful mix of intriguing ingredients from multiple cuisines. The ingredients behind the dips include laksa paste, cornichons, and halloumi.
Every day is a cheat day here with chicken sides like waffles, whipped cream, butter curls, pink mayo, and snow cheese. These make every bite of the crispy fried chicken simply irresistible!
Their fried chicken is even tastier when ordered with their signature drinks, such as the fruity seltzer Fellr, vanilla orange soda, and Nitro iced tea in strawberry and mango mint flavors.
| Pro tips: For groups who may be overwhelmed by the choices, I recommend ordering The Motherlode, which feeds 6 people. Here, you’ll get every signature dish of the shop for a reasonable price. The shop has a rotating menu that includes cocktails, sandwiches, and beers. Their current offers can be seen on their website.Looking for vegan food? Their Cauli-Power is a must-eat. It contains cauliflower nuggets, spicy sriracha mayo, ciabatta sourdough, and pepitas! |
Ban Ban
Website: https://www.ban-ban.com.au/
Address: 145 Franklin St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Contact details: +61 413 552 218
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 5:00 PM-9:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 5:00 PM-10:00 PM
Looking for crispy chicken that is cooked quickly? Ban Ban is a great choice because they’re open 9 hours a day, can prepare ala carte fried chicken in 10 minutes, and have plenty of dining space!
Their menu has great variety too, from its classic sauce options of soy garlic, spicy, and sweet to its side dishes of kimchi pancakes, kimchi stew, and fish cake soup.
Even better, you can end your meals with their pleasantly sweet dessert selection that includes soft serve ice cream and bingsu (shaved ice topped with Oreo, taro, honeydew, and more).
| Pro tips: Looking for something filling to eat with your chicken? The kimchi stew and kimchi pancake are great choices because they come in large servings. “Ban Ban” stands for half-half, and the shop is named as such because you can request the chicken to be served with 2 different sauces. |
NOLA Adelaide
Website: https://www.nolaadelaide.com/
Address: 28 Vardon Ave, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Contact details: https://www.nolaadelaide.com/contact-us/
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 4:00 PM-12:00 AM
- Friday to Saturday – 12:00 NN-2:00 AM
- Sunday – 12:00 NN-12:00 AM
- Sunday – Closed
While NOLA’s main offering is their impressive selection of whiskeys, their fried chicken deserves its own spotlight. Largely inspired by Creole food, they serve Cajun-style fried chicken that oozes spiciness.
Their secret lies in one simple ingredient: garlic aioli. This unassuming sauce brings out the best of the juicy meat cooked with spicy butter.
With wooden stools, bare brick walls, and gentle lighting, the shop’s New Orleans-inspired architecture gives a cozy feeling.
| Pro tips: The restaurant doesn’t take reservations. Go there early to ensure you get a seat. NOLA has many live music events lined up on the regular. A list of scheduled performers is available on their website. |
Cheekies Hot Chicken
Website: https://www.cheekieshotchicken.com/
Address: 1/86 Pirie St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Contact details: https://www.nolaadelaide.com/contact-us/
Operating hours:
- Wednesday to Friday – 11:00 AM-2:30 PM, 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
- Saturday – 6:00 PM-9:00 PM
- Tuesday – 11:00 AM-2:30 PM
- Sunday to Monday – Closed
When talking about Cheekies Hot Chicken, there should always be emphasis on hot. After all, the shop is home to meals with intense spiciness levels that’ll definitely leave a scorching mark on anyone’s tongue.
With cayenne peppers, ghost peppers, habaneros, and Caroline peppers available for all their chickens, there are plenty of ways for you to sweat with just a couple of bites. The heat levels range from No Heat to Damn Hot.
My advice is to sink your teeth into The Sando—fried chicken thigh in a brioche bun with pickles and cheese. They cook the chicken to make every bite easy, and its Comeback sauce is a Texan blend of spicy and sweet.
| Pro tips: The shop gets crowded around noon. If you plan on having their chicken for lunch, it may be a good idea to have it for pick-up instead.A serving of their fried wings come with 4 pieces, and they’re way bigger than you may expect!If their spiciest isn’t enough for you, their servers are more than happy to add more spice. Just be sure to ask nicely and ask for a nice cup of cold water afterwards! |
Bread & Bone
Website: https://www.breadandbone.com.au/
Address: 15 Peel St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Contact details: +61 8 8231 8535
Operating hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 11:30 AM-10:30 PM
Bread & Bone’s chickens have a signature flavor that only a wooden grill can provide. They serve an all-star menu of classic meat dishes that includes fried chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, and crab burgers.
Their buttermilk fried chicken burger is where succulent, crispy fried chicken meets a symphony of slaw, hot sauce, pickles, and creamy ranch. It melts in the mouth easily because of how well cooked the meat is.
The chic, dimly lit ambiance of the restaurant sets the perfect stage for a relaxed conversation. The aroma of sizzling chicken in the restaurant can also entice anyone’s appetite.
| Pro tips: Their tasting menu is only available for 8 people, and it’s priced at $39 per person. If you’re looking for cocktails to end your meal, visit Bread & Bone’s sister bar named Maybe Mae.It’s best to book your seats in advance, as the place gets full regularly. |
