Being well-travelled and cultured in what makes the perfect bite (the proof is in the wings), McGlone tells us where he gets his fried chicken fix down under, offering up a different place for Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.
Fitzroy, Victoria According to Morgan, these guys have “the best Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken) on the street. After Belles Hot Chicken, of course.”
It’s a really cute space, operating on a mostly walk-in basis. Tamura serves up traditional Japanese favourites, all whilst playing jazz records. It’s very Haruki Murakami vibes. You can even buy a record if that tickles your fancy. With daily specials, delicate flavours, great sake, cocktails and most importantly fried chicken, Tamura Sake Bar is an absolute must. Morgan’s rating: 4.5 stars. How to order: Bookings aren’t necessary, but this place is small and busy so it’s a good idea. Bookings are expected to spend a minimum of $80pp for food, drink or both. Book here.
Surry Hills, New South Wales Sang is an incredible Korean restaurant, known for its simplistic interpretation of Korean flavours, from drinks, to spices, to desserts. A small hole-in-the-wall type joint in Surry Hills. Sang is a family-run operation, with a real special authentic energy. They have a 9 bottle wine list, with surprisingly yum and cheap drops and a corkage of $6 if you want to BYO. The food is natural, with no flourishes and it totally speaks for itself flavour-wise.
“I’m not a huge fan of Korean fried chicken generally,” Morgan tells us, “but this KFC (Korean fried chicken) is made with love, and by my favourite restaurant in Sydney.” Morgan’s rating: 5 stars. How to book: You can book a dine-in spot here, or order takeaway here.
Photo: A crispy hot chicken leg from Drasko’s Hot Chicken
Mount Hawthorn, Western Australia “Drasko carries the torch for Nashville hot chicken in Western Australia.” states Morgan, quite seriously.
“It has legit spice level and the crunch is insanely good.”
I mean, what more can you want from some good Nashville hot chicken? Perth-raised journalist turned chef Drasko discovered his love for hot chicken in Copenhagen while working at Michelin-starred restaurant Noma. He then became obsessed with creating the perfect mouthful and we’re not mad about it. Drasko’s operates on a walk-in’s only capacity, and is total BYO. Love. Morgan’s rating: 4.5 stars. How to book: They don’t take bookings, but you can order takeaway or ask any questions by calling them on 0451 921 319
Hyde Park, South Australia “Close your eyes and take a bite… honestly you feel like you’ve been transported back to Tokyo. Special shout out to Chef Yumi-Chan.”
According to Morgan, Adam Liston’s play on chicken karaage is damn delicious, served up at Adelaide Izakaya-style restaurant ShoSho. ShoSho is the sister restaurant to Adelaide’s beloved Shobosho (Leigh St), but with a focus on the ancient art of tempura and inspired by Izakaya dining. Morgan’s rating: 4.75 stars. How to book: This is a bit more of a casual restaurant vibe, so we’d recommend making a booking here.
Darlinghurst, New South Wales Chaco Ramen serves dine-in and takeaway, with a no bookings policy. Chaco’s owner Keita Abe converted his original Darlinghurst Chaco Bar into Chaco Ramen early last year, creating a restaurant completely dedicated to Japan’s unbeatable soup.
“I’m a sucker for Japanese-style fried chicken, and no one does it better in Sydney than my main man Keita at Chaco Ramen. It’s on the bone, which is the only way to go.” Morgan’s rating: 5 stars. How to book: They don’t take bookings, however you can order pick-up by calling (02) 9007 8352, and just walk-in if you’d like to dine there.Â
The cold weather in most parts of Australia coinciding with EOFY celebrations is the closest thing that we’ll get to snowy Christmas vibes. And if you’re in dire need of some festive cheer after the first six months of 2023, grab your ugly sweater and head to your nearest Red Rooster for Xmas in July deals.
From June 29 – July 31, 2023, Red Rooster is serving up free food items, a chance to win $10,000 or one of 10 merch packs valued at $400 and other fun prizes. All you have to do is sign up as a Red Royalty member and spend $5 on at a location near you or online.
Each week there’ll be new delicious deals and prizes to win. The week one deals have already dropped and they’re looking pretty tasty. You can get access to them via your Red Royalty account. The more you purchase, the more chances you have to win.
Spoiler alert: you can get 10 chicken nuggets for free, right now. Brb running to Red Rooster.
