Restaurant
Tasty Rooster (Charcoal Chicken)
265 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
Find Tasty Rooster (Charcoal Chicken)
265 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Plan your visitAbout Tasty Rooster (Charcoal Chicken)
Real charcoal, blistered skin, and change left over—Smith Street’s benchmark chicken counter holds out against inner-north inflation. Fitzroy regulars routinely bypass supermarket rotisseries for chooks turned directly over glowing coals until smoke reaches the bone. The fried pieces deliver a satisfying crunch, but the chips command equal billing. Cooked in clean oil only when ordered—never left idling under heat lamps—they land on the counter hot, dusted with chicken salt, and capped with a ladle of warm gravy.
- Real Charcoal Roasting: Whole and half chickens roasted over real coals for distinct smoke flavor that outclasses supermarket rotisseries.
- Made-to-Order Chips: Fried fresh to order rather than kept under heat lamps, dusted with chicken salt and served with gravy.
- Substantial Value Combos: Bountiful quarter and half chicken combos with fresh salads and complimentary counter sauces keep dining affordable.
What's On at Tasty Rooster (Charcoal Chicken)
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
No events or specials listed right now.
Why Diners Choose Tasty Rooster
Discover why Fitzroy locals swear by this Smith Street institution for authentic charcoal chicken, hot fresh chips, and unmatched value—plan your visit today.
Real Charcoal Rotisserie Cooking
Chickens are slow-roasted over genuine charcoal embers rather than cooked in electric rotisseries, ensuring genuine smoky flavour penetrates right through the meat.
Unlike a lot of other chicken shops, they actually use charcoal, and boy are their birds delicious.
Martin Hand Generous Combos with Free Condiments
Generously portioned chicken packs are served with complimentary self-serve sauces and gravy without nickel-and-dime surcharge fees.
Free tomato or bbq sauce at the counter.
Zac Whenuaroa Freshly Fried Chips, Never Kept Under Heat Lamps
Hot chips are prepared fresh to order instead of sitting under warming lamps, keeping them crisp on the outside, steaming, and well-seasoned with chicken salt.
the chips don’t sit under the heat lamps all day they make them fresh and put just the right amount of chicken salt.
Gabrielle Jackson Melbourne-Benchmark Chips and Savoury Gravy
Crispy, fluffy hand-salted chips served alongside rich, piping-hot gravy create Melbourne’s ultimate comfort-food fix.
Crispy on the outside, fluffy in the middle, perfectly salted and next level with a side of gravy.
Addy Unmatched Everyday Value on Smith Street
A rare pocket of genuine affordability along Smith Street, serving filling, honest feeds that bypass trendy inner-city markups.
One of the (if not the) last places on Smith St where you can get a good feed for $10.
Mr E View Reliable Portion Sizes Without Fitzroy Price Tags
Substantial, unpretentious portions at approachable price points make satisfying lunches and takeaway dinners accessible to Fitzroy diners.
solid portion size and prices are very affordable - which is a rarity for Smith St!
Hanna M
Most popular items
From real charcoal rotisserie chicken to freshly fried chips in savory gravy, plan your visit to Smith Street for Melbourne's ultimate comfort feed.
Chips and Gravy
Omg the chips and gravy here are 10/10 and at a reasonable price.
Gabrielle Jackson Roast Charcoal Chicken
Unlike a lot of other chicken shops, they actually use charcoal, and boy are their birds delicious.
Martin Hand Fried Chicken
Their fried chicken is exceptional—crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and seasoned to perfection.
Matteo Curcio Chicken Souvlaki
I especially enjoy his chicken souvlaki. It’s affordable and good value too.
Remy Darham
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