Food Review: Belles Hot Chicken Barangaroo

I like to think of Belles Hot Chicken as my fancier and southern upgrade of getting KFC. I sometimes find KFC wicked wings a bit spicy so oh boy – this was going to be a test. Belles Hot Chicken is quietly tucked away overlooking the Barangaroo wharf and harbour. It is definitely more casual than all the other restaurants by the water. I got takeaway to eat this back in the office as my cheat meal.

I had to go for the popular combo of 4 wings with old bay fries with blue cheese sauce. You can choose your preference of heat (I chose medium) and your own choice of side. Besides chips, there are also potato & gravy, mac & three cheese, coleslaw and pickled vegetables.

The wings are nice and succulent. However, I wish they were packed with a bit more of a punchy flavour and were more crispy.

The pickles and bread were surprisingly really good. The bread soaks up the spices really well and the bread and pickles are great to clean the palette. Wings can get really messy so I strongly recommend eating the tenders if you want a more mess-free meal. But tenders just isn’t the same is it? I don’t go to KFC for the tenders haha.

Overall, it was a really nice and tasty meal that left me full and satisfied. For $19, it is a lot. No matter how tasty it is, it just doesn’t leave me wanting more.

Unfortunately, I thought the waiting time for takeaway was a bit much. I ordered online to pick up at a certain time but when I got there, I basically had to wait another 10 minutes for my order. I understand that they wait for me to arrive for optimal freshness but it sort of defeats the purpose of ordering ahead. It was also around 4pm which is definitely the awkward quiet period where it isn’t lunch but it isn’t quite dinner.

I did notice online that they have $2 wings on Wednesdays and Thursday so maybe take advantage of that. Obviously, sold out by 4pm.

There is also another location in Glebe (Tramsheds) and two in Melbourne (Fitzroy and Elizabeth Street).

I think Belles Hot Chicken is a great place if you want to try Nashville style fried chicken with chill vibes. Maybe order the really f**kin hot if you’re up for the challenge. Or don’t. I won’t judge.