Sorry, did you say healthy fried chicken? Yes—and it’s now in Canberra

Posted on 6 July, 2021

Indulge in delicious fried chicken the healthier way, with the new gluten-free, Healthy Fried Chicken (HFC) at Grill’d Woden.

I have three words for you: Healthy. Fried. Chicken. And no, this isn’t just wishful thinking.

If you’re a fried chicken fiend, you know just how satisfying it is, but let’s face it, it’s hardly sitting at the good end of the healthy food pyramid.

That’s why Grill’d turned their attention to creating a healthy version. For the past 17 years, the Australian burger chain has been all about serving up healthy burgers with fresh ingredients, and zero artificial colours, flavours and preservatives. And this year, they added their brand new range of Healthy Fried Chicken (HFC) to the menu.

The HFC is available in four burgers—the Classic, Smokey, Hot and BLAT— or as a range of Bites, which is Grill’d-speak for nuggets. You can also take the HFC patty and use it as a base to build your own burger.

So what makes it so healthy? HFC is made from RSPCA-approved chicken breasts, that are free from added hormones, and sourced from Australian, family-owned primary producers. Instead of being flash-fried in canola oil, it’s cooked in Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which has the added bonus of containing natural antioxidants biophenols and vitamin E, which are good for the heart and lowering cholesterol.

As for the crumb, it’s gluten and dairy-free, with no secrets hiding in there, be they herbs, spices, or otherwise. There are no artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, antibiotics and hormones. Compared to fried chicken options from other eateries, the HFC Bites were found to have significantly fewer kilojoules and are lower in saturated fat, total fat and sodium.

Grill’d is so transparent about just how healthy their HFC is, they even released their recipe so anyone can cook it at home.

But how does it go on the taste test?

“It’s delicious,” says Grill’d Woden Restaurant Manager Natalie Adams.

“It doesn’t have that greasy feel that you usually get from a fried chicken burger. Just like with our beef, chicken, or Beyond patties, it’s on the same level where you feel like you’re eating well, and you’re not conscious that you’re going to feel sick later on.”

The full HFC range is available now at Grill’d Woden, which sits on the busy Bradley Street dining precinct at Westfield Woden. The restaurant has plenty of seating, including a spacious, heated outdoor area, and is tucked in right next to the cinemas (you can get a burger and movie ticket for $25, which is an absolute bargain if you ask us).

And when you eat at Grill’d, you get to do a whole lot more good than seriously satisfy those cravings. Every day of the year they run their Local Matters program, which supports local community groups.

At each Grill’d restaurant, you’ll find three Local Matters jars, and each month, they support three different local community groups. With every burger you order, you’ll get a Local Matters token to pop into the jar of your choice.

At the end of the month, $500 is split between the groups ($300 for 1st, $100 for 2nd and 3rd), with a total of $70,000 given back to the community every month nationwide. If you’re a local community group and keen to be part of the Local Matters program, you can apply here.