Overview
Do you ever get a feeling of euphoria after eating something devilishly delicious? You know, when your eyes flutter, your smile widens and your mind, body and soul are totally refreshed? I experienced this ten times while compiling this list of hot chips, which in my opinion, deserve their own group on the food pyramid. Chips, chippies, fries, hot chips, crinkle cuts, whatever you call 'em, one thing we can probably all agree on is that chips are the créme de la créme of snack foods. Get ready to be shook by the humble potato.
THE GREEN MAN
What do you get when a bit of Ireland finds a spot in Wellington? The Green Man: an explosive pub that makes you want to jig to fiddle music with a Speights in hand. With a menu that's filled with UK pub grub staples, there was no way I was leaving without chowing down on an absolute classic – curry fries. The chips are thick cut, piping hot and perfectly seasoned with a touch of salt. The curry sauce is sweet and mild. I recommend getting a little messy with it and dumping the sauce all over the chips. Served in a paper tube-like holder, you'd feel more at home if you were at Wembley Stadium. However, this makes the portion deceivingly large so make sure you bring your mates (or your Green Street Hooligans).
25 Victoria Street
MR GO'S
Renowned for their magical Asian-fusion mashups, Mr Go's hot chips are heaven on earth. Like, gasping "oh my god" involuntarily kind of good. Their kimchi loaded shoestring fries are a combination of salty, crispy shoestring fries, complimented with a savoury dollop of bacon mayo topped off with gorgeous crunchy kimchi which served as a refreshing palate cleanser. Hot chips with a twist indeed, plus, kimchi is a vegetable which automatically makes this dish healthy — a guilt free treat.
59 Taranaki Street
LUCKY
Yes, it's now common knowledge that Lucky serves up fried chicken that would make our supreme overlord – Colonel Sanders – proud, but you are missing out if you overlook their hot chips. The Tommy Million's extension serves up golden, crinkle cut chips absolutely smothered to death in a thick, rich gravy that could take a few ticks off your tocker. These chips will have you stuffing your face when you thought you couldn't eat a single chip more.
Courtenay Place and Taranaki Street
COZY CAKE SHOP
Cozy Cake's hot shoestring chips are a no-frills, simple and delicious answer to your hot chip craving. Served in a brown paper bag and with the most fabulous secret seasoning (I think it's just salt and pepper – and love), the hardest thing for you to do is decide if you want a small or large (always go large).
101 Manners Street
ARO CAFE
I love Aro Café — the menu is contemporary and filled with your favourites as well as having a friendly, community vibe to it. Although no "traditional" hot chips feature on the menu, they do have polenta fries which I couldn't say no to. This is for all of you who want something a little, different, that isn't a potato but is still essentially a fried morsel of goodness. Marvellously crispy on the outside with a fluffy and smooth texture on the inside, these fries pair fabulously with the aioli. At first you may think the portion is on the small side, but these fries are so filling that you'll be rolling out the door – trust me.
90 Aro Street, Aro Valley
KEBABS ON QUEEN
Stumbling home after one too many vinos, your pitstop should be Kebabs on Queen, and ironically, not for the kebabs. Their hot chips are just ridiculous, imagine a large punnet of greasy and salty chips with your choice of shredded lamb or chicken (you can choose both if you want) and any three sauces. These hot chips are the best way to help recover after a night of cutting shapes on the dancefloor and what's best is that they're open until six in the morning on Friday's and Saturdays — breakfast is served.
89 Courtenay Place
TE ARO FISH SUPPLY
What kind of hot chip compilation list would this be without a classic kiwi fish and chip shop? Te Aro Fish Supply has some of the best hot chips around and is a crowd favourite for the locals. Make sure you ask for your chips extra crispy, this way they come out so golden that they look like they belong in Fort Knox. What's best is that you have a choice of seasonings — chicken salt, garlic salt and lemon pepper. Fluffy and crispy, these chips are perfect to take home to share with the flatties or scoff by yourself as you watch reruns of Love Island in bed. Don't worry, no judgement here.
85 Aro Street
BURGER LIQUOR
It's safe to say that Burger Liquor has absolutely mouthwatering burgers and I'm happy to report that they have fries to match. Burger Liquor's Firecracker Fries are a definite must on any hot chip connoisseurs to-do list, however, they are not for the fainthearted. Talk about potato with a punch, these crinkle cut fries are smothered in oozing mozzarella, smoked paprika and "lit" up with their house made "firecracker sauce". These fries have a kick, but they are deliciously moreish with full-bodied flavours.
129 Willis Street
PICKLE AND PIE
One of Wellington's newest eateries, Pickle and Pie, this New York deli-style establishment has a deli fries dish that would do the Big Apple proud. Hearty thick-cut fries showered in mozzarella with chunks of pastrami ends and a drizzle of gravy. Salty and savoury, these hot chips are a serious contender for my new favourite comfort food.
2 Lombard Street
SWEET MOTHER'S KITCHEN
An iconic fixture on Courtenay Place, you will struggle to find someone who hasn't tried Louisiana's finest at Sweet Mother's Kitchen and, of course, their curly fries. So simple but so addictive. Seasoned and fried to perfection, these chips can stand alone, be paired with aioli or if you're feeling like teasing your wild side, splash a bit of tapatio on them.
5 Courtenay Place