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Restaurant

The Hot Chicken Project - Geelong

84A Little Malop St, Geelong VIC 3220, Australia

Recommended by 41 people

Updated

Find The Hot Chicken Project - Geelong

84A Little Malop St, Geelong VIC 3220, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 5221 8977
HoursMonday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Friday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Saturday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 – 10:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Plan your visit

About The Hot Chicken Project - Geelong

Geelong’s premier dive-bar sanctuary serves up fiery Nashville hot chicken packed with crunch, heat tiers, and cold drinks. The kitchen builds serious heat—from approachable medium seasonings all the way up to the scorching Evil spice level—served over traditional white bread to catch the seasoned drippings. Diners grab high-energy tables for chicken Royale burgers, crunchy wings, and oversized mac n cheese croquettes, washing it all down with local craft beers or a glass of natural wine.

  • Unapologetic Heat Tiers: Five tiered spice levels range from approachable seasonings up to searing tiers like So Damn Hot, Lucifer, and Evil.
  • Nashville Tradition: Crispy tenders and wings arrive atop classic white bread with sliced pickles to soak up spicy chicken drippings.
  • Craft Beer & Natural Wine: A lively, dive-bar dining room pairs spicy comfort food with natural wines, local tap brews, and raspberry sours.
RestaurantChickenRestaurant

What's On at The Hot Chicken Project - Geelong

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Diners Choose The Hot Chicken Project

Nashville-style heat, authentic dive bar energy, and thoughtful pairings in Geelong

  • Crisp execution with graduated heat profiles

    Pieces maintain a pronounced crunch and tender interior across tiers ranging from mild seasoning up to unapologetic heat options like Lucifer.

    The technical execution of the fried chicken is exceptional, maintaining a massive crunch under a heavy, front-facing heat profile that does not hold back.

    The Daily Standard

  • Five distinct tiers of unapologetic spice

    Wings, burgers, and tenders are customizable with five distinct heat levels calibrated for dedicated spice enthusiasts.

    The fried chicken at this restaurant is absolutely unbeatable—so delicious! They have five levels of spiciness to choose from, and the hottest one, “Evil,” can even send you running to the bathroom.

    Reginald

  • Lively dive bar setting for group gatherings

    A vibrant, music-filled dining room delivers high energy whether dining solo, meeting friends, or gathering as a group.

    The Nashville-inspired dive bar layout delivers an authentic, high-energy aesthetic that functions seamlessly for an intimate solo dinner, a catch-up with a friend, or a large family gathering.

    The Daily Standard

  • Pre-night-out craft beers and comfort food

    The buzzing dining room and craft taps make it a natural hub to kick off a weekend evening out in Geelong.

    Delicious local beers on tap and a really nice vibe every time you enter the restaurant. My go to every single time i'm in town on the weekend and need somewhere delicious to eat before a night out.

    Laighton

  • Natural wine and specialty craft beer pairings

    The drink list bypasses standard fast-casual offerings with curated natural wines and rotating local craft beers paired to cut the heat.

    Delicious tenders, great sides, amazing service and it’s not pretentious despite having some of the best natural wines on offer.

    Mia P

  • Distinctive southern-style side selections

    Dinners go beyond standard chips with comfort-focused sides including oversized mac n cheese croquettes and turnip greens.

    The Mac n cheese croquet was really good. It was a random side to have but I loved that you could choose from a few things what you wanted for a side rather the chip default.

    A. McC

Signature hot fried chicken tenders, wings, and burgers

  • Chicken wings

    I enjoyed some great chicken at this place—definitely the best wings I've ever tasted! They were perfectly crispy, full of flavor, and cooked to perfection.

    Ushan Liyanarachchi

  • Chicken tenders

    The technical execution of the fried chicken is exceptional, maintaining a massive crunch under a heavy, front-facing heat profile that does not hold back.

    The Daily Standard

  • Chicken Royale burger

    The chicken Royale burger with so damn hot chicken is perfectly balanced heat, flavour and texture.

    A I

  • Tenders and waffles

    We had southern tenders and waffles, and 'so damn hot' tenders and waffles - both were really tasty, and a good bit of heat on the hot ones (wasn't the hottest level, so might crank up to that one next time).

    Graeme Heatley

Other favorites

Southern sides and curated beverage pairings

  • Mac n cheese croquette

    Hot tip - the Mac n cheese croquette is enormous!

    Ingrid Sutherland

  • Turnip greens

    Would gladly drive from South East of Melbourne just to come back here to eat those delicious, delicious turnip greens!!

    Winnie Vuong

  • Potato salad

    Love their potato salad.

    Harinduni Kannangara

  • Raspberry sour beer

    Paired a medium spicy Mac Daddy with a Raspberry sour beer. It was a most welcome dinner after a flustering day of travelling for work.

    Robert Poole

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful gestures and hospitable service moments observed by diners.

  • Cross-Venue Beverage Sourcing

    When a requested drink was unavailable, the server went next door to their neighbouring sister venue to source a specific beverage pairing explicitly chosen to counteract the chicken's heat profile.

  • Hands-On Table Assistance

    Staff provided hands-on assistance by cutting and breaking up chicken wings upon request for an injured patron with a broken hand.

  • Proactive Outdoor Heating

    Staff proactively rolled out an outdoor heater for a party sitting outside when they were the only outdoor table occupied.

  • Attentive Dietary Accommodations

    The kitchen and floor team show attentive care accommodating dietary requirements, allergies, and intolerances alongside dedicated vegetarian options like seasoned tofu and mushrooms.

Before you head over

Practical ordering and seating tips to help you make the most of your visit.

  • Gauge the Heat Tiers Carefully

    The venue does not dial down heat lightly—even medium packs serious warmth, while top levels like 'Lucifer' and 'Evil' are fiercely intense. Ask staff to break down the spice scale before locking in your order.

  • Request Lower Tables for Longer Stays

    If you plan to settle in for drinks and a leisurely meal, reserve or ask for a lower table; the high bar two-tops along the wall can feel cramped and less comfortable for extended sessions.

  • Explore Plant-Based and Southern Sides

    Those with plant-based diets or specific restrictions can swap poultry for seasoned tofu or mushroom options, alongside hearty Southern sides like mac and cheese croquettes or potato salad.

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