Melbourne’s five best rotisserie chicken places you need to try

The rotisserie chook has never tasted this good as a new crop of chicken shops bring their own secret blend of seasonings to town.

Let’s hear it for the rotisserie chicken shop. A beacon of the old-fashioned food virtues, it turns the equation of slow-turning sizzle and time into the perfect balance of golden skin, tender meat and salty goodness.

Food fashions come and go but a good rotisserie chook is always in style.

The most versatile of things, a roast chicken is a family meal, a picnic or a Sunday lunch.

It plays a strong leftovers game, too, from next-day sandwiches and tacos to a composed salad or a guilty drumstick nibbled by the light of the open fridge door.

Melbourne’s chicken shop scene is thriving. Every suburb has its own favourite that’s been serving customers for generations (and if it doesn’t, why are you living there?).

New chicken shops, like El Jannah, have made their way to Melbourne. Picture: Instagram

But nipping at their heels is a new guard bringing their own secret blend of seasonings to town.

Whether you prefer the wings or the legs, there’s something for everyone at these five winning chicken shops in Melbourne. Just make sure you ask for extra chicken salt on the chips!

Take our poll below or head to the comments section to tell us which chicken shop tops your list.

1. El Jannah

600 High St, Preston

Since this Sydney import opened in Preston in April, Melbourne has been quick to catch on to the beauty of its crunchy-skinned, smoke-perfumed charcoal chickens (you can also get it fried, but the rotisserie rules).

As well as the chicken salted chips, you’ll want to be chasing that chook with a host of Lebanese sides, from a silken hummus to a tangy garlic sauce and zippingly fresh tabouli – don’t forget a little pot of the purple pickled radish.

El Jannah tops our list for best chicken shop in Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Monique Harmer

Spread it out into the fluffy flatbreads and you’re ready to roll. Choose from a quarter or half chicken or go all out with a family pack. And just when we thought we couldn’t love it more, there’s also a drive-through option.

eljannah.com.au, 1800 491 838

2. Victor Churchill

953 High St, Armadale

You can count on these butchers of distinction to deliver a roasted bird with impeccable credentials.

The secret card up their sleeve is the first Josper rotisserie in Australia, which magics brined Milawa chickens into golden-skinned gorgeousness.

Try the chicken at Victor Churchill. Picture: Supplied

Grab a whole or half bird to take home, or sample the goods in a hot chook roll with house-made gravy. Chicken lovers will also appreciate the premium free-range birds for sale, including the heritage Somerlad chickens from Grassland Poultry.

victorchurchill.com, 9978 1968

3. Super Tasty Rooster

123 Scotchmer St, Fitzroy North

Like the label on the tin says, this humble Fitzroy North stalwart is one tasty chicken HQ.

That’s largely thanks to the marinade (it’s a closely guarded secret, but they will reveal it takes a number of days) and a breadcrumb stuffing that’s almost as good as the bird itself.

Super Tasty Rooster drumsticks. Picture: Supplied

Beyond the chunky chips, there’s roast potatoes and eight different salads (including a healthy beetroot, quinoa and bean option) so you can easily turn a takeaway feed into a dinner table-ready meal.

facebook.com/supertastyroosternf, 9486 2774

4. Korr Jee Chicken

92B Acland St, St Kilda

After treading the boards at Melbourne luminaries Vue de monde and Bar Lourinha, chef Will Tang set out to deliver Melbourne the perfect roast chicken.

Korr Jee roast chicken pack. Picture: Supplied

An east-meets-west recipe sees the South Gippsland free-range chicken brined, spiced, dry-aged and slow roasted.

The sides are equally impressive, from creamy mash with the house chicken jus to a cult-worthy crusty garlic bread. Skip the usual Pepsi for a cool crisp glass of Petaluma chardonnay from the bar.

korrjeechicken.com.au, 9939 9566

Chicken, chips and gravy at Smokey Chooks. Picture: Supplied

5. Smokey Chooks

312 Bridge Rd, Richmond

Seasoned in a secret spice mix for 24 hours before being slow roasted over charcoal, the free-range bird from this Richmond favourite is a winner, winner chicken dinner.

The salty, rosemary-dusted skin is another highlight, while the ridiculously crunchy chips – cooked to order each time – also deserve their name in lights.

The menu celebrates the humble chook in all its forms from the barbecued bird to chicken burgers, rolls, nuggets and dim sim.

smokeychooks.com.au, 9429 2016