‘Hidden gem’: The cult Korean eatery serving up top-notch chook

In an unlikely location, this tiny fried chook restaurant is adored by keen foodies and those in the hospitality industry.

Opposite a strip club, along the end of Fortitude Valley’s Brunswick St normally occupied by late-night revellers, you’d hardly expect to find one of Brisbane’s great culinary hidden gems.

But here, in its surprising blink-and-you-miss-it location, standing out only through a series of loudly coloured stickers across its narrow, basic facade, is a Korean eatery that has those in the hospitality industry singing its praises.

Chicken of Rock is tucked away along Brunswick St in Fortitude Valley. Picture: David Kelly

Don’t get put off by its weird name, uncomplicated fit-out or less-than-enthusiastic service, if you’re after top-notch fried chicken, Chicken of Rock hits all the right notes.

Leaning hard into its musical moniker, the eatery’s emblem is a giant cartoon chook making the “rock on” sign with its wings which tops a double-sided, large menu at the counter where diners order. Music posters for live local gigs line a long canary yellow wall, with a guitar pinned to the plasterboard above, and Green Day pumping loudly over the speakers.

Chicken of Rock’s slightly grungy interior. Picture: David Kelly

It’s pristinely clean but also feels grungy – reminiscent of the Fortitude Valley of old when bands like Powderfinger and Custard were starting to make their mark and live music reverberated through the streets.

We’re there a little early to see this place probably in its prime, arriving at just after 5pm, when they trade until the highly unusual hour of 3.30am on Friday and Saturday nights and 1.30am on Thursdays and Sundays.

But our early arrival means food hits the table fast. The menu is simple – signature fried chicken in four flavours, chicken sangas, barbecue plates, loaded fries and a few other random Korean dishes like fried rice balls and dumplings. We opt for the boneless signature chook (small $16.50, medium $25.50 and large $31.50, plus $1 extra for flavours other than original and $1.50 extra for a half/half mix).

The half-half garlic honey soy boneless wings and the sweet and spicy boneless wings. Picture: David Kelly

A cardboard container arrives overflowing with chunks of chicken and chips in our choice of flavours: sweet and sour, and honey and soy.

What sets the restaurant apart from many of its competitors is that the poultry is marinated first in its said flavour before being coated, fried and lacquered.

It means the meat is not only juicier than a royal family tell-all, but punches harder than Tim Tszyu with flavour. The sweet and sour bird is tangy with vinegary goodness and the honey and soy sings with the fermented bean liquor.

It’s seriously finger licking good and it’s no wonder this place has developed a somewhat cult following.

The Hot Cheese Buldak at Chicken of Rock. Picture: David Kelly

Our other plate is the hot cheese buldak ($18.50) – saucy boneless chicken pieces glossy with the fermented Korean chilli paste gochujang, sitting on French fries, caramelised kimchi and lettuce with chunks of white onion and grated cheese scattered over the top.

The poultry has clearly been toned down to suit the Australian palate with the buldak sauce barely even quivering a lip on the spice scale compared to what you’d experience in South Korea but what it lacks in sinus-stripping heat, it delivers in flavour, with the kimchi adding both sweetness from the caramelisation and appealing sharpness from the vinegary ferment.

My fried chicken fiend friend can’t stop gushing about it all and immediately starts texting friends to share news of this hidden gem.

With those kinds of immediate endorsements it’s a surprise this place has remained a hidden gem.

Chicken of Rock

358 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley

0450 433 808

Open

Mon-Wed 4pm-11.30pm, Thu 4pm-1.30am, Fri 4pm-3.30am, Sat 5pm-3.30am and Sun
5pm-1.30am

Verdict – Scores out of 5

Food 4.5

Service 2.5

Ambience 2.5

Value 3.5