Belles Hot Chicken Fitzroy

It was a pleasant afternoon meal Nashville Spice sandwich on a cold clear Winter's day in Fitzroy. It was more like a burger but still excellent. Five stars to the venue and the staff member was an engaging bloke who is a music star. Thank you!

I ordered southern fried chicken, mashed potato and gravy. This all time classic is one of the best I have ever had. The chicken was so tender without having its succulence being compromised. The mashed potato was smooth and buttery and the thickness of the gravy was just right. I could see many details in this dish. The atmosphere is lovely - classic American diner vibe - and the staff members are lovely. Would highly recommend for those coming to the area. Can’t wait to go there again!

We had a fantastic experience at this chicken restaurant. The staff went above and beyond by accommodating our request to move to a booth, even without a prior booking. The chicken sandwiches were packed with flavor and perfectly cooked, while the tenders were crispy and juicy—some of the best we've had. I would also recommend the Mac n Cheese, ended up getting two servings it was Soo good. Great service and delicious food make this spot a must-visit for chicken lovers!

Great fried chicken ,sandwiches and sides. Nicely fitted out diner style. We will definitely be back to try some different options.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Bell's Hot Chicken, and it was an unforgettable experience! This Yankee-style diner truly has vibes of plenty, making for a delightful atmosphere. The chicken burger was a standout—juicy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. But the real star of the show for me was the crinkle cut chips. They were incredibly crispy, and the epic flavoring on top made them absolutely addictive. The spicy chicken and wings were also fantastic, with just the right amount of heat and mouthwatering taste. The service was lovely, with friendly and attentive staff who made us feel right at home. To top it all off, the beers were wonderful, offering a great selection that perfectly complemented our meal. If you're looking for a place with great food, drinks, and atmosphere, Bell's Hot Chicken is a must-visit. Five stars all the way!

Upbeat atmosphere, tasty food, clean amenities. Try the Mac & Cheese balls and the Supreme Sandwich - can't go wrong. The Buffalo is also great, however, it may not be for people who don't like only slightly spicy, crispy fried chicken. I certainly enjoyed it, though. They clearly do a roaring trade on Uber Eats too. Walk-ins get a seat at the bar so if you have a table of four it is advised you book a fair bit in advance to get a seat. Thanks to all for a lovely meal again! Like Arnie said, "I'll be back!"

Wandering around the area, I came across this place for lunch. The place was clean and welcoming, American style. The staff is young and available to explain the menu and answer any questions. I found the food very spicy as there was a lot of paprika in the wings and tenders so I had a bit of trouble finishing the food, I suppose it's my subjective taste. All in all the meat was good, with an extra note the sandwich. In the end I recommend it if you like spicy food and a lot of paprika.

Everything here is great. I came from Thailand where our food is decent and chicken here worth the hype. Good spice level and tasty. Mac and cheese is the best I have in ages. Overall U should try to for yourself.

The manager, a female whose name I don't know, was kind enough to hold our table even though we were running late due to a tardy tram. This was my daughter's 18th birthday celebration dinner, and the kind manager approached our table, wished my daughter a happy birthday, and asked if she could get my daughter anything special. My daughter asked for apple cider--the first time she has ever tasted alcohol--which the manager gave her on the house. I told the manager that, unlike her friends, my daughter never drank before turning 18, and tonight at Belles, was her first drink. The manager congratulated her, and gave my daughter a fist-bump, which meant so much to my daughter. Thank you for making it such a special night for my daughter.

This was my second time at Belle's as I needed to try the "really f**kin hot" and shared a medium heat tenders with my boyfriend last time. Came in a group of 8 and the staff were accommodating and got us 2 tables. The tap beer is decent value for money as it's slightly larger than a schooner. Now for the chicken. The wings are actual wings and seems like all the chicken comes in 4 pieces and solid portion of sides. The "really f**kin hot" has a good kick. For me it wasn't melt my mouth hot but still gave a decent chilli sweats. It is heavily coated in the spice seasoning which is rather powdery and sticks to your fingers. The medium is still rather spicy though for those without the desire to die by chilli. The winter is a good side and a slightly spicy seasoning on the fries. The blue cheese sauce was pretty eh. Diffuses the chilli but was more like ranch sauce. I would say it's worth the hype, plus you get to take home any leftovers. Also avoid touching your eyes or sensitive skin after as even hours later my eyes still felt line they were on fire when I took my contacts out

Wow, I enjoy some of these reviews that are saying chicken and chips are too salty. That's what you want when you eat chicken and chips genius!!! My friends loved the f#@**ing hot chicken. I had the regular flavour as I can't handle a head fire. My friend is now aware of a hotter flavour so we are planning to return shortly. I had the home made lemonade and will be ordering it again. See you soon guys.

Belle's was a nice treat if you are looking to indulge in some not-so-healthy food. They have a good range of options that can cause indecisiveness, such as wings, tenders or dark meat. On the weekends you can add in chicken and waffles. I didn't know where to begin. Thankfully the menu helped with the fried oysters entree with a dab of ranch and sprinkle of pickled fennel. Really yummy! Their cocktails were reasonably priced, so I tried the Southern Charm. Bourbon with iced tea and it was refreshing! They boast a large and very expensive wine list which is why it stands apart from most other traditional American chicken joints. I am not sure how much business they get with a $100 bottle of wine and chicken wings, but whatevs! I opted for the medium dark meat with old bay fries. It was flavourful but it left me thinking I could have gone for the hot level and not been too bad off. My mate on the other hand went big and got the 'Really F**kin Hot' level which created a slow and steady burn that intensified with each bite. Her advice was to start with the Really Hot and try not to show off if you want to save your tastebuds. We asked for mac and cheese because you can't quite have fried chicken without it and even though it is no longer on the menu you can get it. However, they were out so sadly, I did not get to try it. The most disappointing part of the meal was the service. It took awhile after they brought our drinks to get our food order placed and then even longer for the food to arrive. This was during an off peak time when there were maybe two other tables. The wait staff just took their time cleaning up other tables and talking amongst each other, so we sat and had to smell the fried goodness in the air, like a slow torture. Same when it was time to pay and leave. If they speed up their service and put mac and cheese back on the regular menu they could earn the extra star.

*Burp* oh hallo, I just came back from Belle's hot chicken. The portion size are enormous!!! But the chicken was so succulent and delicious. For $16 you get a choice of part of meat (wing, thigh, tenders etc), one side and you get to choose a varying degree of spiciness. From Southern (lame... Ahem I mean original recipe) to really fcking hot. I decided to go all out and chose really fuking hot and debated whether I wanted chips or a very healthy broccoli & almond salad. Given that I am having the deep fried stuff I decided to be healthy, which turned out not being very healthy cos it's made with a creamy dressing! :/ The really fuking hot chicken was not spicy at first then it gave me a somewhat slow burn but the more you ate it the more non-spicy it became so really it's just medium hot for me. Then again I do love my chilli so don't use me as a benchmark for your Hawtness. We also shared a plate of fried oysters which was good but not great. It didn't have enough plumpness so it was a bit dry post deep frying. I wanted to come back and try their chicken and waffles though ($18, weekend only)! Must come back early one weekend before the crowd kicks in!

Only do Thigh Meat, VERY salty and they charge $5 for a slice of coles brand white bread... No breast chicken or options for a healthier serving everything is too salty, had to buy four over priced drinks for one lunch sadly Customer service was next and fantastic with staff easy going and happy to help, which earns them 2 stars... Food is missable especially for the prices and lack of options

Belle's Diner is gone, with new iteration 'Belle's Hot Chicken' now in its place with a completely different offering. Similar fit out, but entirely different business. The menu is simple. Select a cut of chicken, the degree of heat and a side. There's also fish and mushroom options for the pescetarian and vegetarian crowd. This can be paired with natural wine in anything from a glass to a magnum. Or some cheap, nasty beer options if you're into that kind of thing (and it's Fitzroy, so many will be). We had it on good authority from a friend that the chicken was really hot and that 'medium' would be enough. So I played it safe and ordered medium, my fire-loving partner going straight for 'Really F***ing Hot". The RFH option had heat, but didn't cause either of us to shed a tear or really bat much of an eyelid. The order decides how much of the chilli oil coating your chicken gets cooked in, so the RFH had good flavour but the medium was just bland. Covering it in ranch sauce and a mix of the sides helped add some flavour. I think it's best to eat it all together. The BF liked the chicken and the flavour of the spice, but admitted he wouldn't eat it again. He was more than just a tad disappointed in the heat levels. I didn't enjoy it at all. I know a few people who have come here and loved it, all younger males. I think if you were here for the booze and were in the mood for a greasy, oily meal to go along, this place would be right up your alley. Nothing wrong with what they have going on, but it definitely wasn't my thing.

Southern fried chicken. What more do I need to say. Came here for the first time tonight and the food was pretty good and the staff friendly and helpful when picking what to order. I had the chicken wings southern style with a side of bayside seasoned fries. Our table also got a side of mac and cheese to try. The chicken - crispy golden coating on the outside, succulent moist chicken on the inside. Pipping hot and just yum. The 'fries' were crinkled cut chips, so if you are craving shoestring fries, stay clear. The mac and cheese on the other hand wasn't my favorite. Personally found it lacking flavour and seasoning and probably could have given it a miss. Overall food was good but unfortunately the time from the kitchen to the table was a bit too long for my liking and for the friends I was with. If you are in the area and craving some crispy chicken wings, give it a go.

The fact that the majority of reviews for this restaurant are positive in a culinary capital like Melbourne is worthy of sociological research. Reviews include enthusiastic reactions such as "best. chicken. ever", "chicken is amazing", and "delicious". Seriously? SERIOUSLY? What is wrong with you people? The food is atrocious. Possibly the worst dining experience that I have had in Melbourne over the last 20 years. Where to begin? 1. The chicken batter was thick, flavourless (we got the medium), and so salty that a few bites was all that I could stand. There was so much salt in the batter that I was beginning to think that the restaurant was playing a practical joke on us. No kidding. 2. The fries were crunchy but stale, oil soaked, and without substance or flavour. There is a special place in culinary hell for any restaurant that can screw up something as easy as fries. 3. The blue cheese dipping sauce was more like a cheap, watered down, ranch salad dressing 4. The lemonade cocktail (with Melbourne moonshine, allegedly) was nice as a lemonade. If there was alcohol in it, the quantity was so minuscule that it was not detectable. Going back to the other patrons who reviewed and loved this restaurant, I would like to speak to you directly. If you "oh, so loved" this joint I have an affordable three Michelin star recommendation for y'all. It's called McDonalds and it's easy to find.

Finally good chicken wings!!!! These are proper full chicken wings, none of that drumstick tiny bits of meat stuff. I could only eat 2, so leftovers for dinner, score! Fries were tasty as well but I really wish Mac n cheese was an option for a side or you could pay extra to get the special side. Ketchup wasn't very flavorful and I hate having to pay for something that should just come with fries to begin with, I'll bring my own Heinz next time. This is the type of place you take a date to see what they are really like... Everyone loves a new potential partner covered in chicken wing sauce, right?!? I think the bucket is the best deal, 16 wings, 4 sides and free sauces for $60 instead of the individual $16. Not too busy at lunch on a week day which is great because I now work around the corner.

God damn those chickens were delicious! So bummed I didn't get the mac n cheese sides! But the coleslaw and pickles were just as good! Chicken wings southern and medium were delish.

I actually really liked this place. I got the medium tenders to start out with and then tried the "hot." They must have upped their game, because even with the medium the spice starts to come through. Hot is pretty much the extent I'd go, let alone another 2 scalings in heat rating. It's pretty good that you can get meat with the choice of one side for $14, and there's other sides available as well. Flavour wise, it's pretty darn good. They seem to have got the right proportions of everything, and its damn tasty. Love the paprika. Belle's is very busy on a Sunday and be warned, not only will it be a struggle finding a seat, but your food may take a bit longer than usual with all the back orders before you. Its very popular with families, of all things, and well, just about everybody else. They may specialise in one thing, but really, it's some darn good chicken. Tap beers and drink available too.

Mmmmm what can I say? Southern Fried Chicken and only the best sauce to go with it. Best chicken I'd had in a long time which left me with nothing but smiles. The staff was hella friendly and the setting was chill honestly can't complain. Chips were great but I've had better. Great lace to come with friends, chat and grab large bits of chicken and a nice refreshing drink to go with it. Must check out for sure.

Belle's Hot Chicken is worth a try, because I don't think you can get hot chicken anywhere else in Melbourne, but maybe wouldn't be a place you'd frequent. $16 gets you a choice of chicken part - wing/white meat/dark meat on a scale of mild-really f'in hot. We both went for the dark meat with the "hot" level of spice, or whatever was in the middle. I got a side of mac n cheese, my favorite. The chicken was great, spicy and actually quite filling. I was pretty disappointed by my mac n cheese. It was so soft and creamy, not really cheesy and had no bite. I really needed the mac n cheese to balance out the spice of the chicken but it was a struggle to put down more. They offer this British cider that is really good though. Worth a visit to see what hot chicken is all about. You can decide whether you want to return :)

Awesome chicken and all the sides are perfect! Also don't miss the fried oysters or fish and mushrooms if you are vegan.... Great beers on tap! Cool vibes on the turntable! Don't go too hot unless you want an inappropriately close relationship with your proctologist:) A must visit!

I lived in Nashville, Tennessee from 2004-2014 and I gained quite the passionate love for Nashville hot chicken. When I moved to Melbourne I was surprised to find a hot chicken joint just around the corner! Having had several mediocre "American BBQ" experiences in Melbourne I was skeptical of Belle's, but I was also hopeful since they had a former Nashvillian co-founder. For my first visit I ordered the dark meat (a leg and a thigh), very hot, with the coleslaw and a tallboy PBR. It was perfect! The spice heat was just right and the chicken was hot out of the fryer! Absolutely delicious. I found the very hot to be tolerable, but it did require a few breaks to catch my breath. Later I went back and tried the hot, and it was appropriately less spicy, but still with a good deal of heat. Overall I love this place, I will be trying to visit several times a month!!!

I think this is the best Fried Chicken Iv ever had in my life. Nuff said. Also ordered one of their delicious iced teas and added a shot of buffalo trace bourbon, just to cool down the old gob from the spicy chicken.

I haven't been to Nashville so I can't comment on the authenticity of them there wings, but they ain't bad. I ordered the "hot" wings with blue cheese sauce and mac & cheese. The mac & cheese wasn't particularly cheesy, which was a bit of a let down. The sauce seemed a bit watery almost and the mac itself was a bit on the soft side, to the point of being overcooked. As for the wings, I like that they're fairly large (compared to, say, Buffalo wings). But I found the wings too powdery tasting for my liking. I suppose that's typical, but it just doesn't work for me. I'd say it's worth a visit if you're in the area but I don't really see why everyone's so into it.

I had the really f#*@ing hot chicken tenders, it really not that hot, but I suppose just got enough to send those endorphins racing. I had my meal accompanied with blue cheese sauce and bay chips. The chips are crinkled cut steak chips sprinkled with pripaka they were cooked well. I dunked my tenders in blue cheese sauce to the point that my taste buds were overwhelmed with the taste of blue cheese...yum! The pints of draught beer and cider were like $8.. Cheap for Melbourne standards. I recommend this place if you like fried chicken. There are also fish options and mushrooms for vegetarians.

Just had some drumsticks delivered from über eats. They were very quick and hot and delicious. Chips were hot and crunchy too

So so good!! As a massive wings fan, I can't recommend this enough... Chicken wings with waffle is to die for!!! The staff were really friendly and I'll be back for sure.

"Is the 'really f**ing hot' actually hot?" Was my question to the bemused waitstaff who responded with a non-emphatic "well...yeahh...I guess". Turns out yes. It is. It is really f**ing hot. My nonstop hiccups and mainlining of beer is a testament to just how excellent the wings and the sides (oh baby, the sides) at Belle's are. Fried chicken is that thing we all love (except if you're a vego (gross)). Get here and get some wicked chicken inside you, then head upstairs to the Everleigh to get your food-pipes cleansed by delicious liquor.

Belle's is conveniently located along Gertrude St. Parking is easy to come by on the weekend and of course trams stop outside the door. A select menu of fried chicken (and 1 item which is fish) with a selection of sides, spices and drinks. I ordered the chicken & waffles (available only at lunch on weekends). Dark meat (drumstick and thigh) with southern seasoning (salt and pepper). Good portion size and very tasty. Washed down with the house lemonade. Expect to pay $20-25 per person and feel quite satisfied at the end of it. I'll be back.

I've been meaning to try Belle's for quite a while now and finally had the chance yesterday. Service was friendly and quick, and the menu certainly sounded promising - fried chicken in a southern-style menu is difficult to refuse! I chose the dark meat to go with fries, and tried their mac n cheese as well, and the food was delicious! So far so good, but as I finished my meal, I came to the realisation that it is $16 for essentially fries and two pieces of fried chicken. I'm sure some have no problem with this pricing, but I do which is why I've rated this three stars. Again, the food itself was good. But at these prices, I won't be returning.

Fried chicken, done really well. The broccoli salad doesn't rate next to that of Bluebonnet though (or even my humble facsimile). Still, the chicken so so finger licken, just give me a few more interesting beer choices and I might add another star.

Put simply: the chicken really isn't anything special. There are several better chicken places in Melbourne, some Southern, some not. While the service was friendly and the atmosphere happening, the chicken itself was relatively flavourless. The hot sauces have real heat but no real flavour. Sides were pretty mediocre. I wouldn't go back.

Amazing wine selection and great staff. The chicken is the best example of its genre in Melbourne. I almost thought I was in the USA...almost.

Had so much good to say about my last visit, I made sure to go back this trip. I'm American and a die hard buffalo wing fan, if you are too follow me carefully. They serve great wings, but they are not buffalo style, rather they are the drum and flapper together (cool) as one piece and are dry rubbed and grilled. Okay, so they are not sloppy sauced as I prefer back home, but I will definitely give them kudos on the rubs. Had the Really F**ing Hot, and it does not disappoint for heat and flavor factor. Smaller place, welcome to Fitzroy so come early, but the chips and wings are damn good. Decent beer and liquor selection

I've gone here once, just before a lunch-time rush, and maybe I caught everyone on a dud day but it just wasn't the delicious Southern fried chicken I was promised. My overpriced, tasteless and dry chicken was paired with an okay-ish Mississippi comeback sauce, flavourless ice tea and soft, mushy chips. I'm hoping the chef was having a bad day because the atmosphere was fun and the waitress super friendly, but it just wasn't enough to make me come back a second time.

Yesssss. I think fried chicken is possible a fad we've been going through for the last year or so in Melbourne, but I have no problem with that! Belle's is one of the best. There's heaps of different types of chicken, sauces, sides and so on, so going to be something to suit you. Highly recommend swinging by this fun little joint, then heading upstairs for a drink at The Everleigh.

If you after hot food with a quirky atmosphere this is a great place? I had the entry level hot and that was plenty for me. Very friendly service and busy! Great prices as well and a chance to taste different foods because of it.

Never been to "The South" but if it tastes like this I'm now considering it. Fun and funky ass wines. Can be a little slow but well worth the wait.

best. chicken. ever. a staple in my restaurant rotation. a heat scale that bested even my most spice-tolerant friends. The chicken is amazing, the fish isn't half bad either. The sides are also great, particular favourite being the broccoli when you need to cut the heat. love the decor, staff are approachable and friendly. all food is made fresh so the wait times can vary if it's busy, but its worth it!

Phenomenal! The hot is friggin above and beyond - wouldn't even attempt the level higher. Interesting focused menu - love the broccoli & almond salad as a side. Expect a queue, but well worth it.