Bestsellers: The sticky, spicy fried chicken people just can’t resist
Thursday, 29 May 2025
Mr Pickles, 298 Victoria Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton
Along Hamilton’s riverside, where craft cocktails meet bold, modern cuisine, there’s one dish that’s quietly taken on cult status.
At Mr Pickles, the vibe is all urban polish with a side of playfulness - but the star of the show is pure comfort: a plate of golden fried chicken, slathered in sticky chilli garlic caramel, kissed with Szechuan heat and topped with Kewpie mayo.
In a venue designed with Melbourne inspiration and a killer river view, this dish stands out not for flash or fine-dining finesse, but for its unpretentious joy.
It’s the reason people keep coming back. Some even drive down from Auckland for a hit of the ‘sticky chicken’, says bar manager Javiel Duncan.
Tell us about your bestseller
Sticky chicken.
“It has been on the menu since day one,” says Duncan.
While Mr Pickles prides itself on refreshing the menu every few months, this dish is untouchable. “We’ve had people drive down from Auckland just because they want to try it. It's very cool having just like a reliable item that brings people back.”
It’s prepared fresh every day - “out of necessity as much as quality,” Duncan says - the dish is a harmony of crunchy fried chicken, spicy-sweet caramel, Kewpie mayo and that unmistakable sticky finish.
“The chicken itself is amazing, but the caramel on top is what really sells it.”
Even on a slower day like Tuesday, sticky chicken flies out of the kitchen. “I could see us getting 20 to 40 plates going out easily,” Duncan says. “Friday, Saturday - I couldn’t even fathom that number.”
Why do you think it's so appealing?
“It is the simplicity,” Duncan explains. “You might look at some other dishes on our menu and we get pretty creative here … but it’s something someone can just read and understand.”
The idea of fried chicken on a fine dining-style menu might raise eyebrows - but at Mr Pickles, it makes perfect sense, he said.
“I love putting it in front of people and I love checking on them after and watching that big grin on their faces.”
Who’s attracted to them?
“Honestly, it is everybody,” Duncan says. “Hamilton is like a student town, but obviously surrounded by the rural areas, so we do kind of get a bit of everybody.”
From students to out-of-town foodies to farmers chasing a decent beer, sticky chicken is the one thing they all agree on.
How much does it cost?
$27
What's your favorite item on the menu?
“My favorite, it's probably going to be a sticky chicken. I'm very, very simple,” he says.
Second favourite: duck fat crushed potatoes.