Ari Chicken is a small, focused Korean fried chicken shop on Elles Road in Invercargill, built around one simple promise stated on its own sign: the chicken is fried right after you order. Nothing sits under a heat lamp — every batch goes into the oil when you ask for it, which is exactly what Korean-style fried chicken demands.
The menu leans into the signature Korean flavours that set it apart from a standard takeaway: crispy wing nibbles and boneless chicken thigh finished in Original Fried, Sweet Korean, Soy Garlic or Hot Korean, with a Half and Half option for anyone who wants two sauces in one order. Around the chicken there's a proper Korean snack line-up — kimbap in three versions, topokki rice cakes, Korean corn dogs, All Mozzarella, cheese balls and more.
Regulars have clearly found it: on Uber Eats the shop holds a 4.8 rating from 55 reviews, with the Ari Bowl, All Mozzarella and Boneless Sweet Korean among the most-liked items. Whether you're grabbing a Single Set for yourself or putting together a spread of nibbles, boneless and kimbap for the table, orders can be phoned through on 03 214 0641 or placed via Uber Eats for delivery or pickup.
Ari Chicken opens Monday to Saturday from 11am to 9pm and closes on Sundays, making it an easy stop for lunch through to a late dinner run in Invercargill.
Tucked along Elles Road in Invercargill, Ari Chicken has become the city's home of Korean-style fried chicken — the kind with shatteringly crisp coating, glossy sauces and that unmistakable sweet-meets-spicy kick. The kitchen's promise is simple and printed right on its homepage: the chicken is fried **right after you order**. Nothing sits waiting under a lamp, so every box comes out at its crunchy, steaming best.
That made-to-order approach shapes the whole visit. You can phone your order through on 03 214 0641, place it on Uber Eats for delivery or pickup, or walk in and wait a few extra minutes — and that short wait is precisely the point.
Ari's fried chicken comes two ways: **nibbles (wings)** for fans of classic bone-in eating, and **boneless thigh** for easy dunking. Both are available in four finishes:
Can't commit to one? Order the **Half and Half** and split a single order between two flavours — a customer favourite with a perfect rating. Solo diners can go for the **Single Set**, while the **Ari Bowl** and **Ari Cup** hold down the house specials; the Ari Bowl sits at #1 most-liked, the clearest signal of what regulars reorder again and again.
There's plenty here for a full Korean-style spread. **Topokki** brings chewy rice cakes in a savoury sauce, and the **kimbap** comes three ways — original, chicken or prawn — making a lighter counterpoint to the fried stuff. The menu also carries a **Korean corn dog** section, true to street-food form.
The snacks deserve their own moment: **All Mozzarella** is the menu's #2 most-liked item, golden **cheese balls** disappear fast, and there's **Original Sausage**, chips and onion rings for the classic sides. Finish with an **O'Jelly Grape** for something sweet.
Ari Chicken keeps things easy to remember. Doors open **Monday to Saturday from 11am to 9pm**, and the shop is **closed on Sundays** — so plan the chicken run accordingly. On Uber Eats, the shop holds a **4.8 rating from 55 reviews**, with delivery and pickup available from 253 Elles Road; note that the delivery service window runs slightly earlier, to 8:30pm.
Whether it's a Single Set for one, an Ari Bowl lunch, or a table loaded with nibbles, boneless, topokki and kimbap, the formula stays the same: Korean flavours, cooked fresh the moment you order. That's what has Invercargill coming back — one hot, freshly fried batch at a time.