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Where To Get Chicken Wings To Melbourne Food Experience?

The best things in life are the little pleasures, like biting into a crispy golden piece of fried chicken or sucking the meat of a tender chicken wing. Floured, battered, seasoned, pan-fried, deep-fried, pressure fried – however, it’s made. There’s no denying that fried chicken is one of the most popular dishes in the world, and Melbourne is no exception. 

Melbourne even has its festival, ‘The Big Chicken Festival’, a three-day munch-a-thon from Melbourne’s favourite chicken fryers. So whether you’re after a quick nibble or an all-night fried chicken marathon, here’s the ultimate list of the best wings and fried chicken Melbourne’s got to offer.

However fancy you think you are, it’s no secret that everyone loves aiming their face at a sticky, deep-fried chicken wing. Of course, some of us are spice-lovers, and some of us are wimps not, but none of that matters when you're getting your hands dirty and munching on that chicken-y goodness. Clean Eating is damned. 

From American BBQ to Korean and Japanese, We’ve searched far and wide to bring you a definitive guide to the best chicken wings in Melbourne. BYO napkins.

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Chicken Wings To Melbourne Food Experience

There are some foods that as soon as you get a craving for, you have to have them. Case in point? Chicken wings. Glorious, finger-licking -good chicken wings, to be precise. Melbourne chicken wings are as good as they get, so we wanted to narrow it down to the best spots in the city.

You’ll probably want some beer to wash them down with, or maybe they are the hangover cure after a big night out? Either way, grab a couple of mates and get ready for some seriously tasty food.

Parlour Diner

Casual and quirky, Parlour Diner on Chapel street in Windsor is quintessentially old-school-cool. It resonates with a cruisy, friendly cafe atmosphere with a distinct 50's Americana theme. Parlour thrives in the eclectic mix of kitsch interiors, handmade furniture and the flotsam and jetsam of collectables on display. 

An Allpress coffee dark roast welcomes you in, where you are invited to peruse the menu to find a burger to go with those curly fries. Order a cold beer or a chocolate shake to wash this bad boy down. Sit with old mate Daryl Braithwaite on vinyl in the corner and watch the wilds of Windsor pass you by.

Crazy Wings

If it is Crazy Wings mission to show us just how delicious chicken wings can be, we’d say mission accomplished. You can get all the chicken wings you want in just about every flavour you can think of. From Honey Spicy to Delicious Curry and Orleans to Lobster flavour, you’ll be sure to find something new and exciting and undoubtedly delicious at one of Melbourne’s top chicken restaurants.

The Kodiak Club

The only Bourbon Bar in Melbourne, The Kodiak Club offers up not just the biggest ranges of Bourbon but some deliciously prepared American bar food. Crispy fried chicken wings tossed in BBQ sauce with a blue cheese dressing makeup Kodiak Clubs delicious Smokey BBQ wings. 

Or if you’re more of a traditionalist, try the Kodiak Buffalo Wings, crispy fried with American hot sauce.

Kong

Relatively new Melbourne restaurant and baby cousin to restaurant Chin Chin, Kong serves up some Korean/Japanese fusion cuisine. Try the Korean Style Fried Chicken, known for its extra crispiness with Yang Yang sauce and crushed nuts, or if its wings you’re after, Korean fried wings with honey, Hot wings and BBQ Soy are on the menu and to die for.

Recently opened Kong BBQ on Church Street Richmond is the younger cousin of Chin Chin and Baby Pizza, so you know it's going to be good.

Occupying the old Pearl Cafe spot, Melbourne restaurant, Kong has a no-reservations policy and the small space will no doubt see queues out the door every night, so delicious are the bbq ribs, pulled pork, and Korean BBQ fare. Go with an empty stomach; leave wondering if you ever want to eat again. Yum.

Gami

Gami, another Korean Style BBQ restaurant, prides itself on its chicken and beer. Gami, meaning ‘beautiful taste’ in Korean, offers some of the best-fried chicken Melbourne has available. More of a wingman? Try the Gami Wings, served with a dipping sauce of your choice, including honey mustard, sweet chilli, soy garlic and spicy.

Are you looking for the best chicken in Melbourne? Well, you're going to need to give Gami Chicken & Beer on Little Lonsdale Street a finger-licking try.

Not only do they specialise in juicy, juicy chicken, but they also have a killer list of bottled and tap beers on offer. It's the ultimate feasting spot for you and all of your chicken-loving mates.

You can grab a whole chicken to share or enjoy some little bites to yourself. 

They even have a vegetarian fried soy meat option, just for the vego friends! The best part, you can wash it all down with a good brew.

Samsam Korean Chicken And Beer

How did we ever survive without so many great Korean chicken restaurants in our lives? Samsam wings come with a choice of different (all equally tempting) sauces, such as sweet chilli, soy & garlic or cheese powder.

Belles Hot Chicken

One of the OG's in the fried-chicken scene, Belles, has been a go-to on Gertrude Street for some time now. The cosy 70’s style diner space first opened up in 2014 by fine-dining chefs Morgan McGlone and Aaron Turner. 

After spending time living and working in Nashville, Tennessee, the duo knew they had to bring the city’s famous hot chicken to the streets of Melbourne

The style of the place is comfort food that makes you feel good.

Bite after bite of one of their hot chicken tenders or their spicy chicken slider, and we’re pretty sure you’ll agree. It’s the perfect spot to hang with friends while enjoying a neighbourhood style meal and washing it down with their house ale —‘Belles Original Draught’ or a wine. 

Their chicken options are simple—with four cuts of chicken and six heat levels. Served up in the American-style red trays, you can devour your chicken while soaking up the laid-back pace of the Gertrude diner with soulful tunes and good vibes. 

The atmosphere is as great as the food, and the warm interior with booth-style chairs and wooden tables make it great for a more intimate catch-up or a larger gathering with mates. Either way, good company and fried chicken? It’s a brainer.

Temple Brewing Company

When it comes to bars in East Brunswick, you’d be a fool to overlook Temple Brewing Company, one of Melbourne’s best breweries that’s also home to a delicious kitchen, cracking events space and cosy beer garden.

Tucked behind Lygon Street’s main strip, on Weston Street, the hidden bar is about so much more than beer. With a menu that’s chock full of hearty food that’s the ideal accompaniment to a freshly poured pint, it’s the sort of place that you’ll drop into for an hour to catch up with mates, end up tucking into some Sriracha-laced bao, and to stay for the entire night. Which is exactly what you want from a local, right?

Temple Brewing Company has been producing some of the best brews in Melbourne for several years, concentrating on delicious, drinkable (perhaps a bit too drinkable…) beers that cater to both beer nerds and novices alike. The latest reworking of the drinks menu sees a host of Australian wines added to the list, including local favourites from Wine X Sam and Delinquent. 

The Brunswick bar’s menu isn’t to be sniffed at either. Instead of sitting down to the usual beige fried fare served at beer venues, Temple Brewing Company’s kitchen turns out some of the most drool-worthy dishes we’ve found on the northside. 

The reworked menu is thanks to head chef Matija Stefancic, whose culinary career includes directing the prestigious Park Hotel in Werribee. At Temple, Matija has brought it back to rich, flavoursome basics—think juicy pork shoulder tacos, field mushroom sliders, and slow-cooked goat chilli served with Rye Hard IPA bread—with some regular favourites such as the Midnight. 

Burger and sticky pork ribs mixed in for good measure.

Looking to try the stand-out dish? Our pick of the bunch has to be the Singapore chilli pork belly. 

Topped with Asian style slaw and served with mantou steamed bun, this epic bowl has got the perfect combination of sweet sauce and spicy heat—proper soul food that’s best enjoyed surrounded by a group of mates with a local beer or vino.

Temple Brewing Company is also upping its game when it comes to private parties. The upstairs event space, complete with a private bar, has had some tweaking (um, hello, new dream birthday/engagement/work party venue!) and lays on an excellent spread of food and drinks that will keep you and your crew going all night long, not a thirsty party-goer insight. 

Are you stuck for a Thursday night catch-up spot or looking for your new Sunday session local? Try this Brunswick bar, and we can guarantee you’ll be moving in right around the corner in an instant.

The Merrywell

merrywell bar and dining

The Merrywell is a casual drink and dining space located at Crown Melbourne and puts mouth-watering meals made for sharing. Try the Japanese Fried Chicken with sesame and Yuzu Kosho mayo or the Panko Chicken Schnitzel. Need something more substantial? The Bird In Hand buttermilk battered chicken burger is sure to hit the spot.

Chicken ‘N’ Beer

The title says it all if you want Chicken ‘N’ Beer, you can’t get much more to the point than this place. Deep-Fried Chicken and Waffles, CnB Wings, Popcorn Chicken, Wingettes with buffalo or Korean style sauce are just some of what you can expect from this fried chicken extravaganza. Want a whole deep-fried chicken? You can have that too!

RocoMamas

RocoMamas might be famous for their smashed beef burgers, but the wings here can stand on their own. Pick from Mofo spicy (f*cking hot!), buffalo, honey & soy or old school BBQ sauces. The best bet is to go with a group and get all the flavours to share.

Ferdydurke

When on the hunt for a tasty chicken wing, you can’t go past Ferdydurke. Set in a lofty New York-style space and with a nice glowing fireplace, you can find a comfy spot to stop and try the Smoky Chipotle BBQ Wings with Blue Cheese Ranch. Not only that, the bar offers a comprehensive list of classic cocktails and imported beers.

Chick-In

Delicious Korean fried chicken is on the menu at the aptly named Chick-In. You can expect to have your poultry every which way including, battered juicy wings in a soy sauce glaze and Korean fried chicken, but what you really ought to try is what they are most famous for, the Gang Jung; a plate of spicy potato wedges, Korean fried chicken breast and thigh and silky rice noodles.

Chick-In is a popular Korean fried chicken and beer restaurant – the ideal combination of our two favourite foods. Dig into their ultra crispy wings with Gochujang sauce to blend sweet, spicy, tangy, and savoury flavours.

The B.East

Seven days a week, Brunswick East bar The B.East is open for business and serves up some of the best-fried chicken in Melbourne. From baby buffalo chicken to fried chicken with a dark beer hot sauce, you can get all the crispy goodness you can fit in your belly. 

Get your hands on the ‘Clint Eastwood’, a southern fried chicken fillet burger with pickles, thousand island sauce, buttermilk slaw, or the Southern fried chicken ribs, buttermilk brined and fried to perfection.

Munich Brauhaus

Just opposite the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Munich Brauhaus is not just for the steins and sauerkraut, and it also offers a range of tempting chicken wings. 

Get half a kilo of some of Melbourne’s finest chicken wings in either BBQ, Buffalo, or the spicy Diablo served with a side of rich blue cheese dipping sauce, and wash it all down with a few steins of cold beer.

F.A.T Fried & Tasty

If you’re looking for fried and tasty American style chicken with an Australian twist, you’ve come to the right place. Just a few years old, this Brunswick East restaurant has garnered a reputation for its superb family recipe for fried chicken. 

Peach and cayenne chicken, Fried tenders, hot wings and Buffalo wings are just some of the things you can expect at F.A.T.

Hint: the wings here are exactly what the restaurant's name suggests. Fried. Tasty. Very, very tasty. They specialise in Southern American style fried chicken with an Australian twist. Their Peach and Cayenne Hot Sauce is essential.

The St Kilda Branch

Melbourne bar and restaurant The St Kilda Branch offers up some of the best chicken wings in Melbourne. Try the fried chicken wings with your choice of smoky BBQ, Frank's hot sauce and sweet chilli or the Dirty Bird, a BBQ fried chicken burger served with double American cheddar, bacon and relish.

Northcote Social Club

Northcote Social Club offers live music, booze and fried food, the holy trinity of a good local. Korean fried chicken wings with pickled Daikon, Ssamjang mayo and sesame wakame salt or a fried chicken burger with fennel slaw and Jameson’s BBQ sauce are just some of the fried treats you can expect at this trendy pub.

 Up In Smoke

Featuring a $20,000 smoker, Up in Smoke truly is giving the smokehouses a run for their money. With a 60 seater dining area and outside beer garden, you’ll find a comfy spot to pull up a chair and order some smoky goodness. 

Be sure to try the smoked hot wings and wash it down with one of their stellar craft beers.

The brilliant mind who delivered 8Bit to our salivating mouths has struck gold again in Footscray with his new BBQ joint, Up In Smoke.

It boasts a 60-seat dining room plus a street-side beer garden space and casual bar seating. So take your pick between 10 beer taps, order some grub and sit back; up In Smoke will do the rest for you. Indulge in overnight-smoked Brisket, a life-changing baked potato or some BBQ rubbed fries. Best of all, their BBQ sauces are all made in-house—now that's what we're talking about.

Ziggy’s Eatery

Ziggy’s Eatery is the ideal place to come for a hangover cure or cheat meal, with a menu full of good things to eat. Their wings are a true highlight; fall-off-the-bone tender meat and a spicy kick. Try the Hot Wing Challenge if you dare…

Change Canteen

If the name Changz rings a bell, it’s probably because you’ve screamed it at some point in your life while searching for a glass of milk. These guys do, hands down, the best hot sauce going around. The hot sauces became so popular, appearing at burger joints all over the country, that Changz founders decided to open their American-inspired digs in Elsternwick: Changz Canteen.

Unlike a lot of burger and fried chicken joints, Changz makes everything in-house. The tangy dill pickles, the tongue-scorching hot sauces, the ketchup and the cured bacon—it’s all made right here at the Canteen. And you can taste the difference. The burgers are built on Japanese-style milk buns (rapidly overtaking brioche as our burger bun of choice) and come with a max of four fillings in each.

Beef fans should probably start with the Double Cheeseburger (beef, cheese, pickles, onion and Canteen Sauce). Still, the Karaage Chicken gives it a serious run for its money (think nuggety-fried Japanese chook served with snow pea slaw, mustard greens and miso mayo).

Of course, the real story at Changz is the hot sauces. Eating a Changz burger without lugging on a good spoonful of hot sauce is a crime against nature. Spice wimps will be happy with the Green Jalapeño or the smoky Chipotle BBQ, but we’re digging the Red Habanero. It kicks like a mule and hits all the right mouth notes.

The Big Daddy of them is the BBQ Reaper, made from the dreaded Carolina Reaper Pepper. Change experimented with a sauce even hotter than The Reaper but called it off when people cried, vomited, and hallucinated after consumption. Probs a good call. 

The guys have also just launched a brand new Reuben Burger. We're suckers for anything, and as soon as we heard about this one, we drove to Elsternwick with our head out the window like ravenous dogs. The burger lived up to expectations too: double beef, double cheese, house-smoked pastrami, fresh horseradish sauerkraut, pickles, and the famed Canteen Sauce. It's a bit of a beast.

Change is on UberEATs, but we highly recommend heading down and eating in-house. The timber-lined atmosphere is cosy, and Tom is a legend behind the register. Set up by the window with a double-stack burger and two cans of Strangelove smoked cola. Happy days. 

Sparrow’s Philly Cheesesteaks

At Sparrow’s Philly Cheesesteaks, take your pick from the fried chicken menu with golden fried chicken wings, Buffalo wings or the sweet BBQ wings, all brined, poached and coated, or the 24 hours brined pieces of the thigh, fried to perfection with herbs and spices. Plus, it’s not just cheese-steak on the sandwich menu; try the Fried chicken sandwich with Kale slaw and BBQ sauce.

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Phat Chicks Fried Chicken

There’s a lot to love about Phat Chicks, West Footscray’s latest nod to the growing chicken-and-ale movement. This place is all about two things: birds and beer. And it does them bloody well. But, of course, before you even get to the menu, you have to pull yourself away from the big Namco Point Blank 2 machine in the corner, a machine responsible for about 63% of all the happiness generated in the 90s.

Get to the counter, and you’ll find a compact and inventive menu with enough chook-tailoring to please both white and dark-meat fans. Pick from breast, drumstick, thigh, wing and spare rib, then whack on your sauce of choice (spicy, sesame or original).

After that, it gets really interesting: owner Jenny Nguyen has gone and made a Mi Goreng fried chicken (covered in a proprietary spice blend and based on the iconic 65-cent Indomie packs that got you through uni). She even crushes up Kettle Chilli or Salt n Vinegar chips to create a zingy mega-crunch coating. Fried chicken covered in Kettle Chilli chips...further proof that not all heroes wear capes.

For sides, you’ve got a good mix of regular fries, onion rings and cheese-covered corn kernels. We’d recommend the mac n’ cheese, though: gooey, creamy and super addictive. Wash it all down with over 20 craft beers, including Two Bird’s taco beer and Hop Nation’s IPA.

FAQs About Chicken Wings in Melbourne

Melbourne bar and restaurant The St Kilda Branch offers up some of the best chicken wings in Melbourne. Try the fried chicken wings with your choice of smoky BBQ, Franks hot sauce and sweet chilli or the Dirty Bird, a BBQ fried chicken burger served with double American cheddar, bacon and relish.

Floured, battered, seasoned, pan-fried, deep-fried, pressure fried – however, it’s made. There’s no denying that fried chicken is one of the most popular dishes globally, and Melbourne is no exception. Melbourne even has its festival, ‘The Big Chicken Festival’, a three-day munch-a-thon from Melbourne’s favourite chicken fryers.

Of course, not all chicken wings are created equal, and there's nothing more disappointing than ordering this fabulous dish only to receive subpar—or, in some cases, downright bad—wings. Sampled wings from five chain restaurants to see how they stacked up.

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