The best charcoal chicken in Melbourne

Chef Alex Xinis made waves when he opened Tzaki, introducing Melbourne to a side of Greek cooking not well represented here. His spin-off Kokoras takes a more familiar format, drawing on the charcoal chicken shops found in every suburb, but with a Hellenic twist. The classic chicken shop combo – quarter or half chicken, plus sides – is the signature here. Choose from the OG, pairing roast chook with iceberg salad, lemon potatoes and taramasalata, or the KK platter, which subs in a grain salad, pickles, tzatziki and that moreish, fluffy flatbread Tzaki is known for. 

Time Out tip: If you’re dining on a budget, grab a tarama chicken-stuffed pita for $12.50, or a quarter chicken with a side for $15.

This predominantly takeaway eatery plays on two tried-and-true formats – the classic Aussie chook shop and the gai yang (charcoal chicken) stalls that line the streets of Bangkok – for a take on poultry that’s anything but boring. Inspired by Bangkok, where chef Narit Kimsat grew up, the chicken is marinated in a black pepper and turmeric sauce, then grilled over charcoal, yielding meat with no trace of dryness. It’s a touch greasy and best eaten off the bone, so prepare to get messy.

Time Out tip: Since you're in St Kilda, go on a warm day and take your haul to the park or the beach.

Housed in an ornate building with beautiful leadlights and floor-to-ceiling windows, Cookshop Rotisserie doesn’t look like your average chicken shop, and it isn’t – former Mamasita head chef Andrew Logan is at the helm. Nominate if you want leg or breast meat and be rewarded with free-range chicken that falls off the bone. The light brown gravy is smooth without being overly thick – it has the overt savouriness of chicken with a mildly sweet aftertaste.The roast veggies here cooked on a proper Japanese Hibachi grill, and we're obsessed with the whole corn on the cob with smoked-paprika butter.

Time Out tip: Cookshop has ample bench seating inside as well as outside if you feel like enjoying your chicken in the sun.

Nice owners who remember you by name, fat, juicy chooks and addictively good chippies: this neighbourhood joint has all the hallmarks of a proper Aussie charcoal chicken shop. The paper-thin, melt-in-your-mouth, rosemary-and-salt-spiked chicken skin is the crispiest of all the chickens, while the free-range Bannockburn chook itself is tender from being brined before taking to the coal rotisserie. The chips are a dead ringer for Grill’d’s due to the rosemary seasoning, the thick battered potato cakes stay crunchy beneath their generous coating of chicken salt, and the roast pumpkin, zucchini, pine nut and spinach salad is fresher than your average chicken shop salad. 

Time Out tip: Coeliacs will be pleased to know the chicken at Smokey Chook’s is gluten-free (no stuffing), and it’s also halal. 

When the first El Jannah opened shop in Sydney in the late '90s, word of its delicious Lebanese charcoal chicken spread like wildfire and a cult-like following followed suit. Over the next two decades, the franchise grew to more than a dozen locations across NSW, but it took until 2022 for the first Melbourne shop to open its doors in Preston. The signature charcoal chicken is cooked over an open wood flame to achieve the crispy and charred skin, and you can get it in serves perfect for everything from a solo meal to a family feed. 

Time Out tip: Pair your meal with a serving of chips generously sprinkled with chicken salt, a serving of warm Lebanese bread and mixed pickles and the famous creamy garlic sauce. 

We're sort of cheating here since Chargrill Charlie's doesn't exactly use 'charcoal' to cook their chicken chicken per se (it's more of a rotisserie-style barbecue). Yet this spot has a cult-like following in Sydney, and after tasting the tender, juicy, perfectly seasoned chooks now that they've set up shop in Melbourne, we understand why. Charlie clearly knows how to chargrill a chicken, having been in the business since 1989, and with 19 stores across Sydney and Melbourne today, there are no signs of slowing down. You can taste the love put into food at Chargrill Charlies, with some top-quality takeaway salads and sides on offer.

Time Out tip: You've got three Melbourne stores to choose from to get your fix: Malvern, Richmond or Camberwell.

One of many shops bordering the Preston South Shopping Centre, Preston Chicken Shack is easy to miss – look for the plastic strip curtains. The family-run chicken shop is a local favourite, with many of them greeting owners Cathy and William by name. The portion of chicken leg includes more breast and thigh than other shops, and it has pleasantly charred skin and an immense concentration of flavour from the herbs and salt in which it’s cooked. Preston Chicken Shack serves stuffing with its chickens, which has the savouriness of Coles rotisserie chicken stuffing, but with the flavour turned up to 10. Like all the best charcoal chicken we try, it’s very moist. If you’re a potato cake fan, you’ll find that these are just as crisp as the chips. The chips are a standout, with a well-balanced chicken salt-to-chip ratio, and the chips themselves are fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the outside.

Time Out tip: If you’re looking for a green side, the tabbouleh, cucumber and tomato salad is generously dressed with olive oil and hasn’t been hanging around in the bain marie for hours.

Expect to wait a while at McManos – the crinkle-cut chips are fried fresh to order. Generous dustings of housemade ‘secret’ chicken salt cling to every ridge – which might explain why they were crowned the best chips in Melbourne in a 2019 Nova100 poll. They’re particularly a treat when dunked in the dark brown gravy. The chicken is cooked for two hours, and the buttery scalloped potatoes are the best of any chicken shop. 

Time Out tip: Craving carbs? The Keen’s curry powder-infused pasta salad reminds us of British colonial-era dishes like kedgeree.

Rooster Bar has an abundance of seating inside and outside, with bain marie salads as far as the eye can see. Rooster Bar has Portuguese chicken available, and we recommend ordering this over the regular charcoal chicken – it’s fused with far more flavour and a pleasantly caramelised, crisp skin. If you’re after a salad, stick to the predictably refreshing coleslaw or pasta salad, which is lifted by sun-dried tomatoes, parsley and a generous glug of olive oil.

Time Out tip: The texture, consistency and integrity of the chips are top-notch, but they suffer from a paucity of chicken salt, so ask for extra.

Sure, the free-range chicken here is juicy and tender, but there's plenty more to love. Single-use plastics are nowhere to be seen, and burger patties don a wholewheat bun. And seasonal salads are on offer along with classics like Greek salad and coleslaw, but a word to the wise: all are so good that they sell out quickly. 

Time Out tip: Save room for chips. Here, they're crisp and gluten-free and can be loaded with a bed of melted cheese, grilled onions, the Hot Bird's signature sauce and whorls of spring onion. 

Another inner north gem is Super Tasty Rooster, where the clientele is as diverse as the speciality wine shops and cafés surrounding it. Super Tasty Rooster’s quarter chicken is ample and tasty, and its crowning glory is its golden chips, doused to high heaven in chicken salt. The thinly battered potato cake receives the same chicken salt treatment as the chips, while the chicken croquette and a creamy pasta au gratin peppered with capsicum and streaky bacon are equally successful sides. 

Time Out tip: Owing to Super Tasty Rooster’s Greek provenance, you may also find rizogalo (rice pudding) to be a fitting dessert.

This family-owned and operated business in Malvern East is a blessing for chook-lovin' locals. Home to Roost serves up comforting home-style cooked meals, with all chickens hand seasoned and prepared, then marinated for a minimum of 24 hours.

Time Out tip: Do get a burger here. The fillets are prepared with a special family recipe marinade and the Turkish bread rolls are delicious.

Not to be confused with Super Tasty Rooster, another top contender on this list, Tasty Rooster is no less special. This old-school Coburg favourite is known for slinging consistently delicious, juicy and well-seasoned chooks – plus rich gravy, heavily salted chippies and a winner Greek salad. 

Time Out tip: Don't be deterred by long lines snaking out the door on Friday nights. Your food is worth the (short) wait; this joint is a well-oiled machine.