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Hitting up 13 Charcoal Chicken Joints

By Adrian / August 21, 2011

I don’t know what my fascination has been with charcoal chicken lately. Its actually come to the point where I’m slightly obsessed but of course, I blame the Melbourne weather forcing me into hibernation and take away food options.

To cure my OCCCD (Obsessive Charcoal Chicken Disorder) condition, I decided to trek the Melbourne suburban landscape, from the Wisteria lanes of the east to the ruff neck streets (kidding!) of my hood, the west, hitting up 13 charcoal chicken joints. Now, if you’re  thinking “Er, Adrian, wouldn’t that make it worse?” Yes, you would be right. I’m busted. I don’t want a damn cure! For this mission, suggestions poured in from friends, family, cool readers and of course, the twitterverse. I did find however, that many of the suggested places had recently shutdown which was sad to see – especially the ones I used to visit when I was kid. I have such fond memories of eating the chips doused with magical chicken salt and the extra dim Sims during the trip back home in the car.

Sunshine Charcoal Chicken Melbourne

Sunshine Charcoal Chicken Sunshine Megaplex

It’s All About The Chook

Something’s been cooking up in Melbourne’s west and in an unlikely place too. Smack bam in the middle of the food court at Sunshine Megaplex, I was lured by the aromatic whiffs of straight up meat on charcoal hitting the atmosphere.  Shining like beacon with its ultra yellow décor lies Sunshine Chicken. Yes, yes, yes, you’re probably thinking – food court food? Seriously?  But hear me out and give a brotha a chance to explain. When it comes to finding the best charcoal chicken in town, I don’t mess around and made a promise to thy self not to write about it until I did.

As promised in my last post, I’ll give you the 411 as to why I go ape over Sunshine Chicken. Since my first visit, I’ve been back ten times to ensure consistency. One time just ain’t enough folks. The chickens are extremely moreish and plump in size too, though, I would usually eat one to myself. The crispy skin is marked with beautifully charred tattoos and is sticky sweet and not overly salty. The marinade seeps all the way in ensuring a juicy and flavoured flesh. It’s perfectly cooked the whole way through with subtle hints of smokiness throughout. I say this as a few of the birds I tested on this mission were still showing signs of blood. Eew!

I make sure I glance over at the rotating spit on each visit salivating as the juices hit the bed of charcoal –  it’s like poetry in motion. Art even…. It’s best eaten at home so you can shamefully get YO hands on and get dirty with the chook plus it’s better for photos too. Priorities! You probably know this about me by now, but I save the skin till last of course. I can still taste the chicken skin yakitori skewers I devoured over and over again in Japan.  On that, do you know of anywhere in Melbourne I can find such charms?

Close up of Sunshine Charcoal Chicken

Juicaaay!

Cap Off

So after eating 13  chickens and a hell of a lotta salt, my hunt for Melbourne’s best charcoal chicken has now ended. Consider this to be part one of this ongoing challenge. I was flipping as to whether I should include the 13 places I visited but came to the conclusion that considering most were actually pretty average, I thought I’d save you reading time (my Breakfast Indigestion posts are long enough!) and only showcase what pulverised the competition out the window so to speak. Don’t get me started on as to which one had the best chips with chicken salt!

If you’re after some very decent takeaway fare, then head to Sunshine Chicken- as the name suggests, your day will become that much better because of it.

Details: 30 City Place, Sunshine VIC 3020 Phone: (03) 9312 2559 Facebook page To find the place, head down to the main food court and spot a brightly coloured shop front to your left.

Your thoughts?

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Keep eating,

Adrian

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59 thoughts on “Hitting up 13 Charcoal Chicken Joints”

  1. That’s so cute… charcoal chicken quest. Something I won’t crave for, but I definitely agree, things cooked over charcoal fire just tastes amaziiingggg…! That pic of chicken flesh looks wonderfully juicy too, will tell me friends about this place. 🙂

    Reply

  2. Mmmmm chicken…. I know the one place in Sydney to get my charcoal chicken fix. It’s a lebanese place and omg… The garlic sauce! Slathering your chicken with loads of delicious garlic sauce is with being able to fend of vampires

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  6. Wow, that’s some serious OCCD you have there, Adrian. But if it got you to this juicy conclusion, then your quest will have been worth it. Oh god, what I wouldn’t do for a piece of that fire-tattoed chicken!

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  7. Lucky number 13 to get the perfect charcoal chicken. Now why couldn’t it be closer to where I live? The proliferation of Nando’s in the city doesn’t make for very inspired chicken-eating 🙁

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    1. Are you serious?! OMG Vee. Within the cbd…not really. All the places I hit up were in the burbs. What side are you on so I can suggest a place?

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  9. Holy moly! 13 chickens?! Woah… but such a great adventure! I’m going to do a coffee adventure run soon with a friend.. from Hawthorn to Spotswood back to South East, we’re going to be soooo jittery!

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  10. Oh good Lord! I thought I was the only one with this type of obsession! I would definitely try Chicken Sunshine and I sure hope you have a post on the salted chicken chips – it’s like the perfect mix up for me: salt and chicken! Hahaha

    I also save the skin for the last course because I’m a firm believer of ‘saving the best for last.’ I’m pretty sure you are thinking of the same thing, too!

    Thanks for posting this. It sure was a sigh of relief to see your adventures!

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  13. Woaaah, that’s a lotta chicken! I was somewhat looking forward to seeing a very long post with all the ins and outs and where to go and where not to go, but I suppose if there’s one that stands out above all…that’s all you need. 😉

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    1. I was gonna do my typical battle post with all the featured joints but I swear, I think writing up 13 comparisons would have been long winded! For you and me…:P

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  15. Hey Adrian, great blog you’ve got going here. Constantly amazed by all the talent in the local food blogging community and you’re definitely one of them! Definitely have to pay this place a visit after reading this =)

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    1. Great idea! That would be too funny! I was gonna do my typical battle post with all the featured joints but I swear, I think writing up 13 comparisons would have been long winded!

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    1. I think we should create the OCCD Club. Where all chicken addicts congregate every month over a table full of Charcoal Chicken LOL

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  22. I agree with you. i live 10 mins away from Sunshine and no other chicken place has come close. except Gami in melbourne CBD.

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    1. Agreed! Oh, I haven’t been to Gami yet. I’ve heard really good things. I didn’t know they did Charcoal Chicken?

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      1. I love the burnt bits too – so delicious I add to the simply indulging feast hot chips with chicken salt & gravy….simply divine

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  24. Wow, I live in Sunshine but have always overlooked this place. Guess must try it now! Have you also tried the Charcoal Chicken in the Avenue?

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  26. Hey Adrian,

    Awesome post!! My parents used to take us to Sunshine Charcoal Chicken when we were kids and even though the Marketplace Shopping Centre has changed heaps since then, the sweet sticky goodness that is their chicken, still remains. This place has been a favourite for as long as I can remember and I even take my kids there before we check out a movie.

    Love it that you voted it No.1 on your list as if I had to think about it Sunshine would rank highly on my list too…although I put it in a league of its own as the others do border on saltiness rather than the sweet flavour as found in Sunshine.

    Have you ever had Korean Fried Chicken (KFC???) I recently checked out this unsung delicacy and let me tell you – the Colonel has forever lost a customer. Check out my blog on Gami Chicken & Beer if you like.

    Cheers

    ngizee

    Reply

  27. My man is obsessed with Charcoal chicken. Maybe he has OCCCD too… seriously he gets sms updates from his charcoal chicken joint from where he grew up. It’s not like it’s even close to our home now. It’s a problem. I feel it’s my duty to share this post with him. And then accompany him to Sunshine 🙂 Thanks for doing the hard yards to find this gem!
    Heidi xo

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    1. I’ve tried their chicken a lot of times as we live in the area. It’s really good and it’s way better than other chooks cooked with stuffings on it 😀

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        1. Back in mid 2012, I moved from ACT to melbournes inner west for one year.
          Having come from a strong family hold in the charcoal chicken industry, my
          Quest began to hunt some quality charred chook.
          The sunshine store you mention is pretty good, I had devoured a lot
          Of chook there in my opening weeks, until I discovered hot wings in
          Williamstown on Melbourne rd.
          Honestly in my book the salivation process must begin at least one block away
          from the store with absolute atmospheric aromatherapy of that lovely
          distinctive smell, otherwise I won’t go in and chances are its not scorched on coals.
          The happy staff there are always eager to hook you up with an enormous portion
          of awesome old school chips with your chook purchase, by that stage of my every
          visit I’m critically drooling.
          Another test of mine as a charcoal chook conisseur is the chook chip test. I lay
          out a sheet of well charred skin, put a stand of drumstick meat, three chips and
          a pinch of stuffing and roll it up..mmmmmm
          The stuffing, the chooks and even the chips are insane and many of my guests
          were left as gob smacked as I once was.
          Now back up in sydney, my quest is renewed and I miss my
          weekly hot wings experience.

          Reply

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