Do Dream Chicken, Mermaid Beach: This joint is fried-chicken heaven. Specialising in authentic Korean fried chicken, Do Dream gives you the choice of chicken tenders, wings or drumsticks, which are coated in its secret recipe (how very Colonel Sanders) and deep fried to order. You can keep it plain and crispy, or spice up your life and have the pieces tossed in hot sauces.
Crafty’s, Harbour Town: It’s a relatively new addition to the coast’s food scene, but Crafty’s is already satisfying bellies and filling up Instagram feeds like it’s nobody’s business. Here there’s a dedicated ‘fried chicken’ section on the menu, which sees succulent pieces cooked Southern style in secret spices and served with your choice of ranch sauce, mash and gravy, or mash and slaw. Oof.
Chikor, Southport: Look, the Koreans do fried chicken exceptionally well, so there’s no surprise that more and more dedicated K(orean)FC joints are popping up around the place. This Southport hub slings tender fried-chicken pieces, either in crispy or sauced-up varieties. The sauces add that shiny glaze and a flavoursome zing and the coating beneath remains crispy … if you’re a true fried-chicken lover, you’ll appreciate that fact.
Lord of the Fries, Surfers Paradise: Plant-based eater? We got you. Well, Lord of the Fries has got you, we’re just giving you a friendly heads up (it’s what we do). Next time you’ve got a hankering, treat yo’self to the Chik’n & Fries Munch Box, featuring crispy pieces of non-chicken (it’s textured soyabean protein) served with its renowned plant-based fries. Get on this.
Hot Star Chicken, Chevron Renaissance: This is an insanely popular Taiwanese fried-chicken chain known for its novelty-sized fried chicken, which is cooked fresh to order then seasoned and served in an on-the-go paper bag for your convenience. It’s essentially takeaway fried chicken that’s as big as your head – give it a whirl.
8 Street, Harbour Town: Nestled within hawker-style Asian street-food laneway 8 Street is an operator called Koko Chicken where you’ll find Korean-style wings, drumsticks and boneless pieces deep-fried to perfection. Grab a boxful and get stuck in – wet wipes are a must.
Sool Sool, Surfers Paradise: Okay, so this Korean restaurant is one of those under-the-radar gems. If you know your Korean fried chicken well, then put this on your list. It’s light, crispy and juicy on the inside, and comes in varieties like soy, spicy and original. The serves are extremely generous, too. You’re welcome.
Brooklyn Depot, Surfers Paradise: If it’s true American-style chicken you crave, get around Brooklyn Depot’s Harlem Chicken Tenders, which are lightly crumbed with buttermilk and served with Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce. There’s also the famous Chicken N Waffles, which sees red-velvet bubble waffles topped with crispy Southern fried chicken pieces, before being doused in maple-cream syrup or gravy.
Burgster, Palm Beach: The bustling Palm Beach locale has rightfully earned its place on the list with its mouth-wateringly tasty pieces of BFC (that’s the Burgster Fried Chicken, in case you were wondering), which are served with Burgster’s own special sauce. Definitely don’t share these.
Mamasan Kitchen + Bar, Broadbeach: While it may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of fried chicken, Mamasan Kitchen + Bar’s KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) spicy chicken wings with parmesan almond snow is certainly a worthy contender for some of the coast’s best fried chook.
