Five new Melbourne chicken joints you must try

Feel like chicken tonight? Restaurants specialising in poultry are hatching all over Melbourne. From old-school rotisserie to fried wings slathered in hot sauce, here are the five new chicken joints you need to try now.

Belles Hot Chicken

Set to conquer the world with its Nashville-style hot chicken, Belles is doing it one suburb at a time. A roomier fitout in their new Richmond location allows for a lengthier menu, though the same premise prevails as in Fitzroy – choose your meat, your heat and a side, with the chicken's satanic red coating quenched by a selection of creamy sauces. Those with a hearty appetite should opt for the baller bucket (16 wings, four sides and sauces), while for weekend lunches chicken and waffles are the go.

Must-order dish: Medium-spiced boneless thigh chicken with cheese, lettuce and sauce in a soft milk bun.

107 Swan Street, Richmond, belleshotchicken.com

Forbidden Food at Night

Brunch spot by day, fried chicken joint by night, the sibling to Carlton cafe Eden's Backyard takes its inspiration from the streets of LA, where freak-food mash-ups are the norm and fried chicken is eaten with waffles. Choose your waffle (original or feta and parmesan), your chicken (wing, thigh, breast fillet), your sauce (Jack Daniel's, lemon, chili mayo, maple syrup), and a side (coleslaw, potato or sweet potato chips), and devour. If you want to push the mash-up line further, there's yoghurt-drizzled popcorn chicken in a waffle cone, and waffles with ice-cream or fruit for dessert.

Must-order dish: Tomato relish-rubbed waffle tower burger with chicken schnitzel, cheese, lettuce, sliced tomato, bacon and a fried egg.

161-163 Nicholson Street, Carlton, 03 9663 8887, edensbackyard.com.au

Gami Chicken & Beer

Once considered a late-night post-drinking venue, Gami is adjusting its menu – and its reputation. In addition to signature Korean-style thin-crust fried chicken (whole, boneless, ribs, wings) Fitzroy diners can chow down on vegetarian agedashi-style fried "soy meat", served with a sweet black sauce, greens and apple dressing. Its new Brunswick store also serves a vegetarian take on japchae​ (sweet potato noodles), and stir-fried mushrooms with bean curd. Pair the food with Gun:Bae pale ale, a collaboration with Brunswick's Thunder Road Brewery.

Must order dish: Gami original or spicy boneless dunked in corn cheese (corn kernels covered with seared cheese) – don't knock it till you try it.

370 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, 03 9417 5036, gamichicken.com.au

Henrietta's Chicken Shop & Bar

Recently hatched in its city laneway digs, Henrietta's is all about organic free-range chicken, slow-cooked over sustainable coals. The Albert Street Food and Wine alumni complement their injection-brined and oregano, pepper and lemon-rubbed rotisserie chooks with super salads (think greens, grains and indigenous produce). But fear not, funsters: there are gin and tonic slushies, house-made dixie cups and soft-serve ice-creams.

Must order dish: 24-hour-brined Milawa organic chicken, with a native spice rub, slaw and crinkle-cut chips.

Shop 7, Fulham Place, Melbourne, 03 9629 7886, henriettas.com

Jemima's Southern Fried Chicken

On the cusp of Northcote and Westgarth at the top of Ruckers Hill, an unassuming fried chicken joint is nailing the southern fried chicken brief. Perch yourself at the window or in a canary yellow booth and get elbow deep in drumsticks, wings and tenders covered in a heat-infused tomato sauce ranging from mild to extra hot. Burger options abound with the Missus Hippie (thyme-marinated mushrooms, haloumi, coriander, cucumber and hummus) catering well to its demographic.

Must order dish: Won't-break-the-budget lunch pack (two pieces of chicken and a side) – get the pickle-speckled potato salad.

202 High Street, Northcote, 03 9481 7248, jemimaschicken.com.au