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Sunday, May 10, 2015

Crispy Cluckers, Newington

Korean fried chicken with soy at Crispy Cluckers, Newington

Have you ever been to Newington? The development that was once the Sydney Olympic Village is now a quaint suburban neighbourhood that seems to suddenly appear out of nowhere. There's a Korean grocery store, a Woolworths supermarket and a whole row of restaurants and cafes catering for locals. It feels like we're in a university town with its quiet cosiness. What brings us here? Korean fried chicken. Of course. But with a name like Crispy Cluckers, how could we resist?

Korean fried chicken diners at Crispy Cluckers, Newington
Young crowd at Crispy Cluckers

Newington is the second branch opening for Crispy Cluckers, expanding on its Lidcombe original. There's a small range of chicken burgers and salads (the deep fried prawns with garden salad sounds like my kinda health kick) but really, everyone is here for the fried chicken.

There's a huge group of uni students booked in when we arrive, decimating endless platters of fried chicken. Unfortunately they were yet to receive their liquor licence but are allowing BYO beers and ciders for the thirsty.

Korean fried chicken with soy at Crispy Cluckers, Newington
Deep fried chicken with soy Selection one on our half n half chicken for $30

There are only three of us tonight so we go for tactics, opting for the half n half chicken to maximise our research options. The chicken doesn't take long to arrive, served on rectangular platters that soon jostle for space on our table. The batter has a deep golden colour, with promising curls of crispy bits at the edges.

Our first half order is the soy fried chicken coated in a sweet soy marinade. It's a touch too sweet for me but the sauce does add extra juiciness to the flesh.

Korean fried chicken with spring onion at Crispy Cluckers, Newington
Deep fried chicken with shredded spring onion Selection two on our half n half chicken for $30
($5 surcharge for the spring onion)

The other half options are hot n spicy or sweet chilli but the kitchen is happy to provide our requested spring onion for a surcharge of $5. We're happy to pay it, and our fried chicken is draped in a mountain of finely shredded spring onion, soy and garlic. There's as not much of a wasabi kick as you find in similar dishes at Naruone or Sparrow's Mill.

Complimentary daikon pickled white radish at Crispy Cluckers, Newington
Complimentary pickled daikon (white radish)

We don't have beers to wash down our fried chicken but we do pounce on the refreshing cubes of pickled daikon. They're an essential palate cleanser and oil-overload reset. Staff will also provide you with free replenishments if you ask nicely.

Kkan Pung boneless fried chicken at Crispy Cluckers, Newington
Kkan Pung boneless chicken $27

We commit to a complete blowout with the the kkan pung boneless chicken too, a Beijing-style sauce that reminds me of sweet and sour. It's spicy, sweet and tangy with a medley of finely chopped shallots, carrots and red chillies thrown into the mix.

Korean fried chicken with soy at Crispy Cluckers, Newington
Deep fried chicken with soy

We'd heard people wax lyrical about the chicken here, but it must be an off night. The chicken is reasonably good but not, shall we say, groan-worthy. Yet between three females we still manage to finish almost everything. Only three lonely pieces defeat us. Staff cheerfully pack this in a takeaway box and insist on giving us some free pickled radish with it too. We'll strike that up as a win.

Crispy Cluckers, Newington


Crispy Cluckers on Urbanspoon

Crispy Cluckers
Shop C03/3 Avenue of Europe, Newington, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9648 8282

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday 11.30am-10pm
Closed Sundays


Also at:
20 Joseph Street, Lidcombe, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9649 8282


Related Grab Your Fork posts:
Korean fried chicken - Arisun, Haymarket
Korean fried chicken - Beschico, Epping
Korean fried chicken - Kim, Potts Point
Korean fried chicken - Moon Park, Redfern
Korean fried chicken - Naruone, Sydney
Korean fried chicken - Red Pepper, Strathfield
Korean fried chicken - Seoul Orizin, Haymarket
Korean fried chicken - Sparrow's Mills, Sydney
11 comments - Add some comment love

posted by Helen (Grab Your Fork) on 5/10/2015 12:00:00 am


11 Comments:

  • At 5/10/2015 12:44 am, Blogger K said…

    LOL at your list of related posts.
    Shame it didn't live up to expectations :(

     
  • At 5/10/2015 10:12 am, Anonymous Bianca@forfoodssake said…

    Man!!!! Why didn't I know about this place when I was living in Wentworth Point!!!

     
  • At 5/10/2015 3:43 pm, Anonymous Gourmet Getaways said…

    Crispy Cluckers is a fun, apt name. Your photos show a lot of that! Love it crispy and spicy :)

    Julie & Alesah
    Gourmet Getaways xx

     
  • At 5/10/2015 8:00 pm, Anonymous Sara | Belly Rumbles said…

    Free pickle added to your leftovers for takeaway, I would say that is win win.

    I never knew Newington had a Korean supermarket let alone places to eat. I really need to get out of The Shire more ;)

     
  • At 5/11/2015 8:11 am, Blogger Ramen Raff said…

    Whoa!!! I gotta hit up Newington for this joint ASAP! Coating looks good too!

     
  • At 5/11/2015 2:23 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I find the chicken wings in their family pack to be the best. It's just a shame they done sell it as it is, only in the family packs :(
    Otherwise I still like this place, considering it's location to my place of living.
    And the lady that runs the place is always friendly and smiling!

     
  • At 5/11/2015 2:37 pm, Anonymous Hotly Spiced said…

    The chicken certainly looks amazing so what a shame you found it a little disappointing. I haven't been to the new Newington yet xx

     
  • At 5/12/2015 12:17 am, Anonymous Sashimiso said…

    Omg, that looks delish! KFC is popping up everywhere!

     
  • At 5/12/2015 7:45 am, Anonymous Cindy (a foodie's joy) said…

    The fried chicken does look good!

     
  • At 5/15/2015 12:58 pm, Blogger Cassie | Journey From Within said…

    oh! more fried chicken! they're almost everywhere now, that we can get fried chicken ANYTIME, ANYWHERE! XD

     
  • At 5/16/2015 9:14 am, Anonymous ChopinandMysaucepan said…

    Dear Helen,

    Too bad the chicken didn't live up to the hype. I prefer "original" over the soy or spicy options so I won't be here in a hurry.

    But a winner must surely be the term oil-overload reset 👍👍

     

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