Empire Chicken

Entering the world of fried chicken is not the easiest of quests. Especially when you-know-who is kicking around... ol’ Bernie, sorry, Colonel Sanders. Empire Chicken, located at Riverside Market in Christchurch, is not afraid of a challenge. Spying the chance to up the ante – and produce quality fried chicken here in the city – was a shrewd move.  

Owner (and master fried chicken creator), Jayden Smith, took his time honing the recipes at Empire Chicken, starting with the simple question, “what is the ideal piece of fried chicken?”.  Well, it’s free-range, crispy, juicy with the right amount of salt and spice. The result is just downright delicious. What’s more, at the heart of Empire Chicken is a genuine desire to forge a sustainable way. The goal: to recycle all customer-facing waste and use innovative solutions to minimise waste throughout the business. It’s about happy customers and a happy planet. 

When something claims to be “a little different” it can be disconcerting but not at Empire Chicken. With blues humming, a steady flow of customers (with the option to sit-in or takeaway), an ensemble of awards, mighty fine food, they have created a fried chicken establishment to rival the big dogs.