Georgieats’ Auckland Fried Chicken Fix

You can probably tell from my Instagram feed that I love FRIED CHICKEN.

Whenever I am craving comfort food, Pizza or Fried Chicken comes to mind. We are blessed with many eateries serving EPIC Fried Chicken around Auckland, so I thought why not share with you all my top places to get your Fried Chicken Fix! It was difficult narrowing this list down to my Top 12… may need to write another post, but hope you enjoy!

Honourable mentions go to: Poong Ra in East Tamaki, OBar in CBD, Seoul Night in Fort Lane, and Orleans (previously in Britomart and now at Auckland Airport).

#1 Sneaky Snacky

If you’re like me and love a good burger, a good donut, oh and Fried Chicken, then you are going to love Sneaky Snacky. They serve American style burgers with a Korean flare. Order their EPIC Hot Chicken Donut Burger ($16) for the ultimate foodgasm – think succulent juicy Nashville hot chicken paired with dill mayo, pickled cucumber, and American cheese.

And the best part? The bun is a fresh homemade donut!!! Choose sugar glazed or plain; I recommend sugar glazed if you love that sweet/salty combination. Also, don’t leave without ordering a side of MSG fries – yummy! Note: It gets verrrrry messy. So much so they provide you with gloves, which is super fun!

Address: Inside Lim Chhour Food Hall, 184 Karangahape Road
Open: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am-3pm, 4pm-9pm, Sunday 12pm-8pm, Closed Mondays
Socials: Instagram

#2 My Fried Chicken

I first tried My Fried Chicken literally a day before we were going into NZ’s first Lockdown – could not have asked for a better meal! Had read so many good things about this eatery so was very excited to try. At the time, they had four variations of fried chicken to choose from. I ordered three pieces of their Hot n Sweet As Fried Chicken for $13 – chicken pieces were huge, and it hit the spot! Highly recommend. Also ordered their Garlic Bread (Korean street food style), which is brushed with butter and has a garlicky cream cheese filling… you will not regret ordering this!

Since writing this post, they now offer 9 variations! Including: THE OG (original crispy fried chicken), MAPLE (maple, butter, garlic, Korean soy), SWEET N SOUR (Korean style sweet & sour sauce), HOT N SWEET (new style Korean sweet chilli), YANG NYEOM (old fashioned Korean sweet chilli),
SUPREME (yang nyeom, mayo), CLUCK SOY (Korean style dark & sweet soy sauce, garlic), THUNDERBIRD (Korean version of extreme hot & spicy) and MYTOS (cheesy snack). They all sound SO DELICIOUS XXX

I have recently tried their Chicken Burger which was amazing. HUGE piece of chicken, with sauce and pickles. Simple, yet delicious.

Address: Ponsonby Central, Takapuna & Mission Bay
Open: Monday to Thursday, 11am-9pm, Friday to Saturday, 11am-11pm, Sunday, 10am-9pm
Socials: Website / Instagram

#3 Pocha

Pocha in Chancery was on my foodie list for ages; I only tried it for the first time in 2021, and it totally lived up to the hype! We ordered the Ban Ban Chicken – half original / half coated battered chicken wings and drumsticks in Pocha’s spicy sauce, served with radish pickles and jalapenos. Their chicken is seriously juicy, super tender on the inside and their spicy sauce just explodes in your mouth. Perfect with one too many bottles of Green Grape Soju and Korean Cass Beer.

Had heard many great things about their Almond Krunch Fried Chicken, so went for a visit recently to try this – it was SO SO GOOD. The texture of the Almond Fried Chicken is like almond cornflakes… could seriously eat a plate of this every day!

Address: 2A/48 Courthouse Lane, Chancery Square
Open: Monday to Friday, 11.30am-3pm, Sunday to Thursday, 5.30pm-2am, Friday to Saturday, 5.30pm-4am
Socials: Website / Instagram

#4 Peach’s Hot Chicken

Love love love Peach’s Hot Chicken. First tried Peach’s Hot Chicken back when they were a food truck. Enjoyed their Fried Chicken Burger with fried chicken thigh on a brioche bun with aioli and pickles and Pimento Mac n Cheese. Their fried chicken is always super crunchy, and tastes so damn good.

I visited their previous restaurant in Panmure a few times and always ordered the same dish – Fried Chicken Waffles – thick fluffy waffles, drizzled in chilli maple syrup and garlic butter. Ooh la la, it is EPIC!!! Add a side of Tater Tots, Mac n Cheese and a craft beer and you are good to go! #BreakfastForDinner

Since writing this post, they have moved to a larger premises and are now located at 2 Queens Road, Panmure… counting down the days until my next visit!

New Branch Alert: 2 Queens Road, Panmure
(Previous location: 1/100 Queens Road)
Open: Wednesday/Thursday, 11.30am-9.30pm, Friday, 11.30am-10pm, Saturday, 11am-10pm, Sunday, 11am-9pm
(Closed Monday & Tuesday)
Socials: Website / Instagram

#5 Lowbrow.

Located in St. Kevin’s Arcade (and more recently Mount Eden), Lowbrow. serve finger licking chicken! Their chicken is free range Bostock so you know it is going to be good! We love ordering a bucket of their wings – either the Lowbrow Original which is their unique OG flavour or the Hot Spice (hot flavour with a sour hit). There is also two hotter flavours: ‘Numb & Spicy’ and ‘Firecracker’ if you are feeling daring.

I have also tried their OG Chicken Sando (both in the restaurant and also via Ubereats) which includes an original fried thigh, American cheese, iceberg lettuce, sweet and spicy pickles and mac sauce. YUM!!!

Lowbrow. are also my forever favourite stand at the annual Auckland Fried Chicken Festival! (More details about the event below).

Address: St Kevin’s Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road
New Store Alert: 130 Main Highway, Ellerslie
Open: Sunday to Thursday, 12pm – 9pm, Friday to Saturday, 12pm – 10pm (Closed Mondays)
Socials: Website / Instagram

#6 Gochu

In 2020, Commercial Bay and its amazing food hall opened, including Gochu, a modern Korean eatery, which happens to be the perfect place for a late dinner (after one too many tequilas next door at Ghost Donkey). I had heard many good things about their fried chicken… let me tell you it did not disappoint!

We ordered a few dishes, but Jason’s Fried Chicken, But Spicier (like, a lot spicer) was the top of our list. Super crunchy and juicy chicken, and the sticky glaze a killer. Beware, it is also bloody spicy, so order a nice cold beer to help you through it. Worth every bite.

I don’t know who Jason is, but I love him a lot.

Address: Level 2, Commercial Bay
Open: Monday to Sunday, 11.30am-late
Socials: Website / Instagram

#7 Ziggle

Ziggle’s Korean Holy Spicy but Sweet Fried Chicken is the bomb.com.

Crispy chicken, delicious marinade and VERY spicy… so you are going to need a lot of soju or soda to help you get through it!

Since my original visit, they launched their burger menu – love their OG Fried Chicken Burger, which is perfect with one too many beers.

Ziggle have recently opened a third store in Panmure (same road as Peach’s Hot Chicken), so you can now get your fix around Auckland, with another store in Manukau opening soon!

Address: 97 Karangahape Road and 374 Great North Road, Henderson
New Store Alert: 139 Queens Road, Panmure
Coming soon: Manukau
Open: Monday to Thursday & Sunday, 11.30am-9pm, Friday to Saturday, 11.30am-11pm
Socials: Website / Instagram

#8 Hello Beasty

Hello Beasty serve the crispiest Karaage Chicken I have ever had, in my opinion. Perfectly tender, seasoned, and served with a flavourful red dragon sauce – a must order when you dine at Hello Beasty!

On my second visit to Hello Beasty, a friend and I had their Karaage Chicken and Heart + Soul cocktail for afternoon tea – an ideal situation!

Read more about Hello Beasty here.

Address: 95-97 Customs Street West, Viaduct Harbour
Open: Every day, 11am to 11pm
Socials: Website / Instagram

#9 The Candy Shop

Go here for one dish only – Gochujang Korean Fried Chicken.

Yes, there are other dishes you can order at The Candy Shop, but as they have been a bit hit and miss in the past (although as I write this I am yet to try their croffles!), I generally just order their Gochujang Korean Fried Chicken as it has never failed me, with its crunchy, sweet, salty, and slightly spicy flavours. It is sticky and saucy… just how I like it.

Accompanied by tteokbokki (Korean fried rice cakes and super delicious), it is the perfect dish for brunch or lunch!

Address: 2/8 Osborne Street, Newmarket
Open: Monday, 7am-4pm, Tuesday to Friday, 7am-9pm, Saturday, 8am-9pm, Sunday, 8am-5pm
Socials: Instagram

#10 Mexico

As well as being obsessed with Fried Chicken, I also love Mexican food, in particular the food at Mexico, which has many branches around Auckland, and New Zealand.

My favourite dish on Mexico’s menu is, and always will be, the Mexico Fried Chicken. Flavourful, spicy and finger licking good! Served with the perfect sauces, chipotle and jalapeno mayos. On Tuesday’s, you can get a Mexico Fried Chicken Taco and your choice of margarita for $15 (or soda for $12) – delicious as a light lunch or pre-dinner snack!

Read more about Mexico here, here, here, and here.

Address: Several branches, my favourites are Britomart and Ponsonby
Open: Monday to Thursday & Sunday, 12pm-9.30pm, Friday & Saturday, 12pm-10pm
Socials: Website / Instagram

#11 No.1 Chicken

So much love for No.1 Chicken who are dangerously located just down the road from my house! They serve Korean Fried Chicken, full or half bird, bone or boneless, original, seasoned or spicy.

I must admit, I have only ordered one item off their menu (many times!) – their Seasoned Cup Chicken, which is essentially a Hot Chips-esque cup filled with bite sized pieces of crispy fried chicken. It is not spicy, but seasoned well, and a little sweet. I believe it is the perfect takeaway or walking snack in Newmarket.

In 2021, No.1 Chicken also opened a second branch on Queen Street opposite the IMAX Centre… YAY !!!

Address: 40 Remuera Road, Newmarket and 6/350 Queen Street
Open: Tuesday to Thursday & Sunday, 10.30am-9pm, Friday & Saturday, 10.30am-9.30pm, Closed Monday
Socials: Instagram

#12 Tiger Burger

Last not least, Tiger Burger. My sister and I first tried Tiger Burger back in 2016 when it first opened and LOVED our burgers – she ordered the Vegetarian Crispy Shiitake one and my pick was the Kimcheese, with a grilled beef patty, sautéed kimchi, aged cheddar and chili mayo. The buns also tasted like doughnuts… not complaining!

Fast forward to today, I have since dined at Tiger Burger’s eatery and have ordered their burgers through the Delivereasy app… more specifically their Gang-Jeong Burger with double fried free-range chicken thigh, chili-soy glaze, pickled radish, shredded lettuce and gochujang mayo.

My oh my, this burger is melt in your mouth delicious.

Side note: You know how takeaways somehow taste different, I suppose when they are not piping hot out of the oven, or the bun/pizza gets a little soggy on the way to your house? Well, let me tell you, Tiger Burger’s Gang-Jeong Burger tastes bloody amazing every time we order it via takeaway – yeeyah!