The Hot Chicken Project

Nashville-style hot chicken done well — pick your heat level and expect crispy, flavour-packed bird in a casual counter-service setting.

The Hot Chicken Project at 84A Little Malop Street is a compact, busy venue with a long copper bar and neon signs, where you order at the counter. The chicken is Nashville-style, seasoned with a spice blend developed by co-owner Aaron Turner, and each serve comes on a slice of white bread with pickles and a side of fries or coleslaw. There are several heat levels, from the milder Southern up to the face-melting Evil, and tofu coated in the same spices is available for vegetarians.

Natural wines and craft beers line the wall behind the counter, and takeaway is available. Turner, a chef known for Igni and Loam, brought the concept to Geelong with Kate and Nathan Veach after falling for fried chicken while living in Nashville.

Sources: Broadsheet (broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/geelong/restaurants/hot-chicken-project); The Hot Chicken Project (thehotchickenproject.com.au). Details can change, so confirm hours and prices with the venue.