I wandered around Dunedin’s CBD alone before a pre-conference talk at Otago University. I was feeling a little hungry and decided to stroll down George Street, looking for somewhere to eat. That’s when I came across Mum’s Chicken. I wasn’t explicitly craving fried chicken, but the place was bustling, and it seemed to be the busiest spot on the street, so I figured I’d pop in and check it out.

I ordered at the counter and went for the Galbi fried chicken. Surprisingly, I could choose between bone-in or boneless—naturally, I opted for bone-in. After a short wait, my dish arrived, drenched in sauce. At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. The Galbi sauce, while flavorful, leaned a bit too heavily on tomato sauce and was sweeter than I expected. I was hoping for more of the gochujang kick, but it was a bit subdued.

I liked the crispy chicken, but I couldn’t help worrying about the excess sauce spilling onto my clothes. I could see why this place is popular, though. I regretted not ordering rice—had I known it was on the menu, I would have skipped the fries and paired it with the sauce. Rice would’ve been perfect to soak up all that extra Galbi sauce.

The service was good, and overall, it was a solid experience. Next time, I’ll try a different sauce flavour—hopefully, something with a bit more of a spicy punch.

Website: Mum’s Chicken