IN: When you're ordering Uber Eats, it's sometimes a bit of a mystery where your food is actually coming from. After placing my order with Chicka, a Korean fried chicken joint, I find it's actually in Kingsland, which is on the outer reaches of my Uber Eats radar. The chance of food delivery success reduces the further out you go but I'm willing to take the risk for some good wings. Korean chicken is currently having a moment and I'm trying to eat as much of it as possible.
OUT: Despite the distance, the food arrives quite promptly. It's handed over to me by a woman on a scooter and I do my usual excess thanking, accompanied by the feeling of guilt at the unethical transaction of it all. Yet I keep doing it, every weekend. It's a vicious cycle and I don't know how I fed myself before Uber Eats existed.
THE TAKEOUT: Chicken wings are my absolute favourite food. I like them spicy, I like them deep-fried, I like them sticky. Luckily for me, Chicka does all of these things very well. And for those who don't like it hot, such as my dining companion, there are other options like honey garlic. We each opted for a $11.50 pack of five wings, chips and kimchi, as well as a "corn cheesey" ($14) to share. This is a signature item, involving cheese, carrot, edamame beans and a hell of a lot of gooey and stringy melted cheese. When you order it in-house it's served on a hot plate but this is lost in delivery. It's still delicious and extremely decadent, great to dunk chips and chicken into. Plus, it's vegetables. But let's get to the main act: the wings were crispy and incredible. The spicy sauce packed a nice level of heat and the garlic honey was almost as tasty. But next time, I'd probably give the chips a miss and just go wings. Lots of them.
Chicka
509 New North Rd, Kingsland Ph: (09) 217 3719
$43, including the $6 delivery fee.
