Chatting chooks with Adam Spencer

Adam Spencer from Chicken & Sons

Chicken & Son’s opened their first location back in 2015, in the busy suburb of Chatswood, and have been smashing out thousands of burgers ever since. After opening three additional locations in Surry Hills, World Square and Marrickville, things don’t look like they’re slowing down. We were lucky enough to sit down with Co-owner Adam Spencer to talk about where he sees the burger landscape going in the next few years, and what his brand is doing to stay ahead of the kerb.


So Adam, Have you always been designing and cooking burgers?

“No, I was a Gastro chef for 15 years back home, working and training under a Michelin star chef but I decided to come to Australia before I could finish my training. I didn’t exactly think I’d be flipping burgers here though [laughs]. You know what they say — ‘Stay in school and study’ well, I did that, became an electrical engineer, and yet, here I am, flipping burgers”.

You were one of the first ones to get in before the boom, where do you see burgers going in the future?

“I think we have reached critical mass, and it is starting to decline. I feel like the quality of the product is becoming watered down because everyone is trying to play the game.”

You were extremely unlucky with the fire at Chatswood, how did you get through that period and did you ever think of giving up?

“How could you bring that up! I struggle to even look at the fireplace over there! We didn’t think of giving up, to be honest, my ego probably wouldn’t allow it. We were just lucky to know a few people in the industry who were happy to give us as a pop up location while we rebuilt Chatswood.”

If ever someone was to catch you eating a burger that wasn’t yours, where would it be?

“Guilty, Bar Luca, or it depends on where Charles is.”

Your name implies chicken, yet you are renowned for making some of the best beef burgers in Sydney, what’s the deal there?

“It’s good beef 😉

If you could get robots to make your burgers, would you?

“Consistency is key.”

Do you think technology will begin to play a bigger part in the way consumers find, order, and rate their food?

“I hope not. But look, I think more and more people are adopting it in every aspect of their lives, including food, so it’s like anything, you need to keep up with current trends to remain relevant.”

Where do you stand on the idea that ‘burgers are just a fad’?

“I don’t think they are a fad. I think burgers will always be around. People thought Mexican food was just a fad two years ago but people still go out and buy tacos now don’t they?”

You make a burger special every week, where does the inspiration come from?

“Pop culture, music, 70’s, David Bowie. I did a Prince one called ‘Purple Rain’ once. Unfortunately, it didn’t ever make it to market. Something about it featuring a 12-inch sausage. But we’ve done 130 specials since we launched Chicken & Son’s and I’ve probably got another 200 hidden away, you have to keep thinking of new ideas.”

🔥🐔’ChickeNandO’s’🐔🔥 — 📸- Spooning Australia

Last question — Chicken or Beef?

“Beef. Without any hesitation.”


If you live in Sydney and you haven’t tried one of Adam’s burgers yet then I must question, firstly, What are you doing with your life? Secondly, get down to any of the locations below:

Chicken & Son’s Chatswood — 228 Victoria Ave, Chatswood NSW 2067

Chicken & Son’s World Square — World Square, 644, George St, Sydney NSW 2000

Chicken & Son’s Surry Hills — 381 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Chicken & Son’s Marrickville — 252 Illawarra Road, Marrickville NSW 2204

Happy Burgering 🍔

Kieran😏

The Burger Collective

Written by

Find the best burgers in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Perth all through our new app. Plus reviews, deals and community leaderboards.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade