Some context first: Sparrow’s Mill is another name for Incredible Chicken, a brand of fried-chicken eateries that was created as a more fast-food orientated spinoff of Strathfield’s fried-chicken institution, Red Pepper Bistro (you’ll see the same Incredible Chicken branding at Red Pepper, too). Whether you call it Sparrow’s Mill or Incredible Chicken doesn’t matter, the two are used almost interchangeably.
We bring this up simply to introduce one of the Incredible Chicken brand’s many slogans, which we feel is a good way to summarise the Sparrow Mill meal – Incredible Chicken & Good Food. You’re going here for the quality and consistency of the chicken and that’s about it. It’s classic Korean style so that means double-frying for medium-thick, lightly flavoured but extra crunchy batter and soft, juicy interiors. Depending on the flavour you pick, you’ll get a dry batter with a garnish loaded on top (maybe spring onions, powdered cheese or flecks of chilli) or a sauce-covered-but-still-crisp bit that’ll taste either garlicky, sweet, spicy or all of the above.
Like most Korean fried chicken eateries around the world, servings are massive and the ambience is pub-like, so plan on a group outing with a few drinks (beer and fried chicken are spiritually aligned in Korean culture) rather than a quiet date.
NB Sparrow's Mill also has outlets in North Ryde and Haymarket.