It’s official: Adelaide’s top chip shop is a cut above the nation’s best

It’s official – Australia’s best chippy is right here in Adelaide. And the northern suburbs institution has given us a sneak peek at their champion technique.

Locals have known for decades, but now it’s official: Adelaide’s Chicken Chef shop in Blair Athol makes the country’s best hot chips.

The Main North Rd eatery has secured the coveted title in travel site Wotif’s Uniquely Aussie Awards, as voted by Australians.

Dimi Christopoulos and Dion Mavrommatis with a bag of the best chips at Chicken Chef, Blair Athol. Picture: Mark Brake

So what makes Chicken Chef’s hot chips – which are crispy on the outside and smooth and buttery on the inside – the envy of the nation?

Owner Terry said it’s a “combination of lots of little things”, from Adelaide Hills potatoes to fresh oils and the way they double-cook their chips. “Nothing has changed for 50 years – it’s the same process,” he said.

“We still cut fresh local potatoes from the Hills every day in the store.

“We don’t use frozen chips from a bag and chuck them in the deep fryer.

“When we cook the chips, we blanch them first, let them rest, then we cook them again. That creates that crunchy outside and soft ­centre, and it also speeds up the process.”

Then there’s Chicken Chef’s famous chicken salt, a recipe which was passed down to Terry about 22 years ago when he bought the shop.

“We were the originators of the chicken salt in SA back in the early 70s. The salt was here when I got here and I guard that recipe with my life,” he said.

“You can’t buy Chicken Chef Chicken Salt anywhere. There’s only a couple of ­people that know it.”

Wotif managing director Daniel Finch said Chicken Chef’s consistency gave their chips an edge over the ­competition.

“You never get a bad batch, they’re consistently good and will leave you wanting more every time,” he said.

Sotos Fish Shop, in Semaphore, and Chicken Cave, in Fulham Gardens, also made the national top 10.

The vanilla slice at Banana Boogie Bakery, in Belair, was rated third-best in the country, while Waffles and Jaffles, in Coonalpyn, made one of Australia’s top 10 waffles.