15 Best Fried Chicken Spots In Melbourne (2026)

MELBOURNE | Fried chicken continues to be a crowd pleaser that’s outlasted the trend that started a decade ago, when I first created this post. Whenever I’m looking for the best fried chicken in Melbourne there is no shortage of venues vying for my attention. Whether it is American, Japanese, Korean or any other kind of fried chicken I can think of, Melbourne has me covered.

I have taken on the task of trying a lot of fried chicken over the past 10 years, and have narrowed down the contenders to a list that I think showcases some of the best fried chicken that Melbourne has to offer. Is your favourite spot on this list?

At-A-Glance: Melbourne’s Best Fried Chicken

Inner North & North

Le Bon Ton (Collingwood)

Do not let anybody tell you that there is nothing better than a serving of Le Bon Ton’s Southern-style buttermilk-soaked, cracked-pepper-seasoned fried chicken tenders at 3:00am at the end of a big night out. The tenders are super juicy, the coating has a great crispy, almost crumbly texture to it, and the seasoning and sauce work really well together. Of course, the burgers, American BBQ, craft beer, fantastic spirits, and overall fun atmosphere make this a place worth going to in any case, but if I go, I order the fried chicken.

51 Gipps Street, Collingwood VIC 3066

Bird Bang’n Chicken (Brunswick East)

Bird is a casual Brunswick East spot that focuses on simple, quality poultry. Alongside their signature rotisserie birds, they serve up fried chicken in pieces, or as part of a rotating selection of different flavoured sandwiches and burgers.

179 Weston Street, Brunswick East VIC 3057

Juanita Peaches (Brunswick)

It’s always the dilemma when at Juanita Peaches. Do you go for the cheeseburger, one of the best in town, or do you grab some fried chicken, also some of the best in town. You can’t go wrong either way. My advice if you can’t decide? Grab a cheeseburger and chips, and a side of popcorn chicken.

12 Edward Street, Brunswick VIC 3056

Looking for more QUICK comfort food? Check out my guide to the Best Burgers In Melbourne for more top picks.

ChickyBoi (Fitzroy)

ChickyBoi specialises in fried chicken sandwiches, featuring what many consider to be some of the best fried chicken sandwiches in Melbourne. Founded by Adriel Reddy after successful pop-ups, the permanent Fitzroy venue serves hand-breaded, double-dredged, and rested chicken thigh on soft Martin’s potato rolls. Options include the ChickyBoi OG with dill ranch, pickles, and iceberg lettuce, or the SpicyBoi dipped in Nashville spicy oil.

375 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065

F.A.T Fried and Tasty (Brunswick East)

F.A.T Fried and Tasty serves up old-school Southern-style fried chicken, buttermilk waffles, burgers, and beer to the people of Brunswick in a funky, hip-hop-inspired space. I can order chicken standalone or as a bucket with a choice of side across various styles like original, hot wings, and fried tenders. The chicken is moist, tender, and nicely coated with great crispiness, and the fried chicken burgers serve as fantastic centrepieces.

360 Lygon Street, Brunswick East VIC 3057

Ramen Misoya Sake Bar (Brunswick)

Ramen Misoya focuses on ramen as its main drawcard, but this little Japanese bar also features an exceptional selection of izakaya-style snacks. Their Japanese fried chicken (karaage) is very moist and tender, coated in a light, crispy batter and served with a rich shiitake mushroom sauce. It is a brilliant twist on standard karaage found across the city, and it pairs wonderfully with their excellent bowls of ramen.

165A Sydney Road, Brunswick VIC 3056

CBD & Central

Gami Chicken & Beer (Melbourne CBD)

Gami has grown into a well-known home-grown Korean fried chicken favourite across Australia. Menus vary slightly by location, but the signature 17-herb fried chicken is a permanent fixture. The chicken provides great value, remaining tender with a crispy, flavour-packed coating designed to be washed down with cold beer. It is affordable, no-nonsense food that hits the spot every time.

110 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Bandak Chicken (West Melbourne)

Located on Rosslyn Street, Bandak Chicken is a hidden gem dishing up some of the crispiest, most flavourful Korean fried chicken near the edge of the CBD. The chicken is fried to perfection, offering a shattering crunch on the outside while keeping the meat exceptionally succulent inside, complemented by a solid lineup of traditional sauces.

203 Rosslyn Street, West Melbourne VIC 3003

Sonny’s Fried Chicken & Burgers (Carlton)

Housed inside the John Curtin Hotel, Sonny’s Fried Chicken & Burgers focuses on unfussy, high-impact comfort food. Expect deeply satisfying buttermilk fried chicken burgers loaded with crisp lettuce, pickles, and house sauces, alongside perfectly seasoned sides.

29 Lygon Street, Carlton VIC 3053

Seven Star Pocha (Melbourne CBD)

Seven Star Pocha brings vibrant Korean pocha culture to Little Lonsdale Street, complete with an energetic atmosphere and top-tier late-night eats. Their Korean fried chicken is a standout, featuring shatteringly crisp skin and juicy meat tossed in sweet, spicy, or soy-garlic glazes that hit all the right spots after dark.

Shop H/535 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD VIC 3000

Geprek In Melbourne (Melbourne CBD)

Geprek is a Melbourne CBD restaurant specialising in Indonesian-style smashed boneless fried chicken, known locally as ayam geprek. Crispy fried chicken is smashed right on the spot and smothered in a fiery, freshly ground chilli sambal, delivering an intense and authentic kick for spice enthusiasts. There’s also a mild option if spice isn’t your thing.

Shop 13 Midtown Plaza, Melbourne CBD VIC 3000

Ayam Penyet RIA (Melbourne CBD)

Ayam Penyet RIA on Exhibition Street specialises in traditional Indonesian smashed bone-in fried chicken (ayam penyet). The chicken is seasoned with aromatic spices, fried until golden and crisp, and then lightly smashed to tenderise the meat before being served with raw cabbage, fried tofu, tempeh, and a fiery bowl of house-made sambal.

168 Exhibition Street Unit 2, Melbourne CBD VIC 3000

Sam Sam (Melbourne CBD)

Sam Sam is conveniently located on Swanston Street and specialises in casual Korean food, including top-tier Korean fried chicken. Available on the bone or boneless in whole, half, or wing portions, I can select from four different glazes. While the original and sweet-and-spicy options are mild, the hot-and-spicy and soy-and-garlic versions are absolute standouts that deliver exceptional crunch and flavour.

209 Swanston Street, Melbourne CBD VIC 3000

South & East

Mr Miyagi (Windsor)

Chapel Street’s Mr Miyagi is constantly packed with diners queuing up for inventive Japanese and Asian fusion food. Their signature MFC (Miyagi’s Fried Chicken) is available in six or ten-piece servings, served alongside Kewpie mayonnaise. The taste and texture hit the mark completely, featuring a secret seasoning blend that keeps crowds coming back line after line.

99 Chapel Street, Windsor VIC 3181

Leonard’s House of Love (South Yarra)

Stepping inside Leonard’s House of Love feels like walking into a 1970s ski chalet log cabin. The retro space is matched by top-tier food and drinks, including some of Melbourne’s best fried chicken. I can choose from popcorn chicken with ranch, original tenders with chipotle mayo, or hot glazed tenders. I never miss the South Side Fried Burger, which stacks a fried chicken thigh with ranch, bacon, American cheese, pickles, and green oak lettuce.

3 Wilson Street, South Yarra VIC 3141

Closed But Not Forgotten

Little Oscar (Brunswick East)

Formerly a staple on Lygon Street, Little Oscar was celebrated for its fantastic Korean-style fried chicken, Gangnam-style burgers, and cosy neighbourhood bar atmosphere before closing its doors.

41 Lygon Street, Brunswick East VIC 3057

Rockwell & Sons (Collingwood)

A beloved Smith Street neighbourhood favourite, Rockwell & Sons was legendary for its Wednesday night fried chicken specials featuring three-day brined organic chicken, Myrtleford Butter Factory buttermilk, and homemade biscuits.

288 Smith Street, Collingwood VIC 3066

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