Among the first wave of Korean fried chicken joints in Adelaide, Ban Ban has spread around the city and surrounds. The Franklin Street original is still the place to go for drumsticks, wings or boneless pieces fried golden in a signature spicy coating. Choose between five sauces (we like sweet and spicy) – or go ban ban, meaning half and half. 50 Elizabeth Way, Elizabeth; ban-ban.com.au.

Cheeky and cheerful, this cute Korean fried chicken shop has a fun playground-style fit-out and a secret recipe with 12 ingredients – that’s one more than you-know-who’s herbs and spices. The signature chicken – crisp fried, juicy wing pieces and boneless breast fillets, plus french fries and optional pickles – comes with a sweet and spicy garlic sauce that deserves a super-sized shout-out. a1/1 Margaret St, Norwood; kokko.com.au.

Midway down Hindley Street, Motherlode is a hidden gem for fried chicken. A soaking in buttermilk ensures the chicken tenders live up to what’s promised on the packet and the popular honey sriracha sauce is just potent enough. The sandos are huge (look out for the monthly special) and nugget variations traverse the globe – from tropical Kahuna to Indian tandoori. 142 Hindley St, Adelaide; motherlodenuggeteria.com.

‘Hot damn’, reads the sign at this Nashville-style fried chicken diner. Aka damn hot – especially if you tangle with the version made with some of the world’s hottest chillies. The power is in your hands, from the choice of cut (go thigh for extra flavour) to the heat level. Sample a tender for spice before committing to a larger serving. 1/86 Pirie St, Adelaide; cheekieshotchicken.com.

This brunch spot’s buttermilk fried chicken and waffles, with maple syrup and sriracha mayo, sounds so bad it has to be really good. And so it proves. A gourmet grease and sugar hit, the combination just might be the best hangover cure in the southern suburbs. Plus, if you can’t crawl there, it stands up to the Uber Eats test. 150 King William Rd, Hyde Park; helloartusi.com.au.