Five to try: South East Queensland’s best fried chicken spots

From an inner-city hidden gem to “all-you-can-eat” buffets, we’ve scoured the best fried chicken joints across Brisbane, Gold and Sunshine coasts.

KCS Chicken, East Brisbane. Photo: Instagram @kcschicken

From an inner-city hidden gem to “all-you-can-eat” buffets, we’ve scoured the southeast corner for the best fried chicken joints around.

Your GP mightn’t be happy about this list but we reckon your soul will.

See our top five to try below.

KCS ChickenEast Brisbane

KCS Chicken, East Brisbane. Five SEQ Fried Chicken to Try. Photo: Instagram @kcschicken

Ask any seasoned local where you might find the best fried chook and most will be quick to guide you east, to KCS Chicken. Just on the outskirts of Wooloongabba you will find this hidden gem of a Korean fried chicken joint. The venue will blow away any preconceived notions about a fried chicken shop, offering a classy European diner interior, with hanging bulbs, warm lighting and staff decked out in popping yellow aprons. A long way from any greasy corner takeaway. And their food is just the right balance of indulgent comfort, cultural experience and innovation. Whether it’s boneless fried chicken or battered wings oozing incredible sauce combos, this place has it on lock.

2/888 Stanley St E, East Brisbane

KaiKai ChickenSt Lucia

Kai Kai Chicken, St Lucia. Photo: Instagram @kaikai_chicken_stlucia

This one is for all those hungry tums (or uni students on a budget). At St Lucia and Springwood, they have been operating for almost 20 years and their offering is anything but simple. Aside from being one of the only “all-you-can-eat” buffets dedicated to fried chicken, the team is constantly coming up with wilder and whackier creations that are a taste sensation. Their famous buffet boasts 14 flavours of fried chicken, never frozen I might add, seven varieties of loaded fries, a huge spread of sides and their iconic fried doughnut sandwiches in flavours like cherry ripe and cinnamon jelly. Your GP mightn’t be happy about the visit, but your soul will.

1/225 Hawken Dr, St Lucia and 25 Watland St, Springwood

Seoulful Chicken Everton Park

Seoulful Chicken, Everton Park. Five SEQ Fried Chicken to Try. Photo: Instagram @evertonplaza

A cult favourite for fried chook aficionados, Seoulful Chicken is tucked in among the unexpected foodie mecca that is Everton Plaza, in Brisbane’s inner north. This little laneway joint has more awards than you can throw a drumstick at. Seoulful Chicken was launched in 2020 by a husband and wife who pride themselves on authenticity, the traditions of Korean comfort food and the provenance of their products. Nothing at Seoulful chicken is outsourced; the flour and seasonings to salts and sauces created in-house. And chicken is hand-cut and prepared on-premise. Despite the intense effort in every aspect, each dish is perfectly simple and beyond delicious.

6A/791 Stafford Rd, Everton Park

Momo Chicken Maroochydore

OK, I hear your thoughts ... “A chain chicken store? You may as well just say KFC”. But read on. Momo Chicken, which has eight stores across SEQ and one in NSW, has managed to maintain its quality and small-biz energy, despite its expansion. And the Maroochydore venue brings together convenience and quality. It might be in the Sunshien Plaza precinct, but it is far from a whistlestop fast food joint. It has a sleek, functional restaurant fitout and a menu packed with Korean street classics and trendy bites. From simple fried chicken to “snowing orange chicken” – decked out with fried kadaif noodles and orange sour sauce – to chicken bao and burgers, it’s an adventure.

Shop GD 093A, 154-164 Horton Parade, Maroochydore

Juniors Deli Mudgeeraba

Junior's Deli, Mudgeeraba. Photo: Instagram @juniorsdeli_

I don’t know about you but fried chicken feels synonymous with the US of A. So, it’s no surprise this incredible little Gold Coast joint oozes a retro American dream vibe and dishes up proper quality fried chook. Now Junior’s might not be solely a fried chicken shop, with its specialist sandwiches and homemade pickles, but each of their fried chicken offerings absolutely delivers. Whether you choose to chomp down on some super crisp buffalo tenders or indulge in a chicken sandwich, you are in for a treat. Each of their signature chicken sandwiches, the pesto and standard, feature panko-crumbed brined chicken thigh fillets as their hero ingredient.

2/51 Railway St, Mudgeeraba