Why the only thing better than fried chicken is fried chicken with chips

The only thing better than fried chicken is fried chicken with chips. Here’s where to get five of Sydney’s best.

The only thing better than fried chicken is fried chicken with chips.

Clem’s Chicken Shop

Newtown

Clem's Chicken Shop. Picture: Supplied

A beloved Newtown institution since 1982, this family-run shop delivers pepper-kissed fried chicken, charcoal-grilled roast chook and chicken salt-adorned chips with zero fuss. Open until about 10pm daily, it’s a late-night staple both for dedicated locals and post-bar ring-ins alike. The space is purely functional – just your classic takeaway counter, a tiled floor and friendly chatter – but the real draw here is the honest, well-executed chicken that tastes just like comfort. Sauces, salads, pastas and a legendary potato bake fill out a meal, but it’s the pressure-fried golden-crust, juicy-meat formula that keeps queues forming on King St night after night.

210 King St, Newtown

Butter

Surry Hills

Butter. Picture: Supplied

Dripping with street-culture energy, Butter applies golden, herby batter to wings and tenders, serving them with poutine, on pillowy buns or even submerged in rich ramen broth with chewy noodles. Perched on the edge of Surry Hills’ buzzy Hollywood Quarter, Butter blends sneaker-store chic with kitchen experimentation, dishing out an addictive mash-up of fried chicken, hip-hop and high design. It’s part diner, part boutique, part late-night hangout, with a menu that leans playful but never loses its focus on flavour. Whether you’re craving heat, crunch or just a bit of swagger, this is one place where fried chicken feels genuinely cool.

6 Hunt St, Surry Hills

Pappa Flock

Various locations

Pappa Flock. Picture: Supplied

Since launching in 2023, Pappa Flock has exploded across Sydney, earning superfans who queue from dawn at new shops like the slick Rouse Hill newcomer. Each location (there are now nine) dishes out crunchy free-range chicken tenders paired with sauces – smoky hickory BBQ, spicy mango habanero, ranch – plus loads of straight-up, old-school fries. Price-friendly and fuss-free, Pappa Flock channels US-chain Raising Cane’s energy in laid-back storefronts or car-side pick-up lanes. Fast becoming a suburban staple, this is the place for reliable crunch, juicy meat and sweet-spicy dippage that fuels hungry diners from the coast to the edges of the city.

pappaflock.com.au

Belles Hot Chicken

Barangaroo & Circular Quay

Belle's Hot Chicken. Picture: Nikki To

Expect Nashville-style heat levels ranging from mild “Southern” to “really f--kin hot” coating crunchy wings, tenders or sandwiches, all served with pickles and an array of sides that promise to, at least partially, dial back the blazing burn. The Barangaroo outlet adds waterfront views and a buzzy yet casual setting where booze, beat-driven playlists and bottomless wing deals keep the energy pumping. This is a fiery destination for anyone who loves heat, laid-back vibes and zero fuss; perfect for casual dinners or commando spice challenges with friends. Choose your cut, choose your spice, choose your side and go to town.

belleshotchicken.com

Flappy’s Fried Chicken

Penrith & CBD

Flappy's Chicken. Picture: Supplied

This quickly expanding Louisiana-inspired chicken operation in Penrith and the Pitt Street Mall (with eight more locations to follow this year) batters its chicken tenders and quarters by hand for sky-high crunch that holds up defiantly to sauces and sides. Expect thick-cut fries, fluffy potato rolls, smoky Creole gravy, heaving chicken sandwiches and a line-up of house-made sauces that deliver sweet heat or tangy comfort, depending on your mood. The Penrith venue, set within the Manufacturer precinct, is dog friendly and draws weekend crowds. The store inside Westfield Sydney delivers the same consistent, satisfying Southern-spiced punch.

flappys.com.au