Hot chips are a quintessential Aussie favourite if you’re sharing them with friends over drinks, grabbing them by the pool or as a late-night snack after that fancy dinner didn’t quite fill you up.
We asked our Instagram followers to share the best chips in our local area. Here’s what they told us.
1. Late night chips
Mary’s
Circular Quay, Entertainment Quarter – Moore Park
Aside from chips this casual joint is famous for its burgers, fried chicken and craft beer. Often open till midnight, Mary’s is located near live music venues like their own Mary’s Undergound and the Horden Pavillion. Come for the chips as a late night snack after a night out, or get in earlier and make a meal of it. Hot tip: add hot sauce and gravy to level up your chips.
2. Chunky steak house chips
Elements Bar and Grill
Daringhurst, Pyrmont, Woolloomooloo
This one’s for the carnivores. Specialising in premium steaks like tomohawks and hearty meals, come hungry or bring a crowd to share. There’s also an extensive cocktail and drinks menu to pair with your potatoes.
3. Chips with a view
Pyrmont Bridge Hotel
Pyrmont
This old school pub in Pyrmont boasts views of the city and Darling Harbour from the outdoor terrace. Grab a plate of chips with aioli, pick a beverage and you’re set.
4. For those on team chicken salt
Clem’s Chicken Shop
Newtown
This family-owned chicken shop has been around for more than 30 years, with many of its homestyle recipes from the 80s still going strong. A local favourite, serving roast chicken, pasta bakes, salads and of course, hot chips! Dash in for your fix. Pro tip: Ask for chips fresh out of the fryer.
5. Kebab shop chips
Golden Pide
Surry Hills
Golden Pide is family-owned corner takeaway shop offering kebabs, pide and gozleme. The only one on our list that has a halal snack pack on the menu. This combines kebab meat and various sauces atop a serve of hot chips, like Australian loaded fries.
6. Chips that stay crisp
Pablo’s Charcoal Chicken & Ribs
Surry Hills
Pablo's is an unassuming neighbourhood gem serving burgers, grilled chicken, salad and ribs. One of our followers said “Even delivered, they have worked sorcery to keep the chips crisp”. There’s only one way to find out!
7. Middle Eastern inspired
Henrietta
Surry Hills
Another chicken shop! This one has a Lebanese bent and slightly fancier dine-in seating. Henrietta’s chips come with sumac chicken salt adding a lemony twang to an old classic. Sauce lovers rejoice, Henrietta’s options offer something different from the same old, including garlic toum, zhug, tahini, fermented chilli and chilli mayo.
Favourite hot chip toppings
Speaking of sauces, our followers voted on their favourite chip toppings: tomato sauce: 31% barbecue sauce: 6% chicken salt: 40% aioli: 23%
With chicken salt on top and tomato sauce a close second, it can’t hurt to hedge your bets with both.
What did you think of our hot chips round up? Share your choice chips that didn’t make the cut by tagging us on Instagram @cityofsydney.
Take your hot chips to greener pastures
Read about the best picnic spots in our area.
Find more food and drink events.
Published 4 January 2024, updated 28 February 2024
