The names given to the world’s hottest chillies always seem so intimidating. The ghost pepper. The Carolina reaper. It’s no wonder they’re the stuff of alarming news headlines. But when added to juicy, soon-to-be-fried chicken? Things get a little more enticing.

Enter Cheekies Hot Chicken, a fried-chicken project bringing some seriously spicy bird to Adelaide’s east end. Inspired by Nashville’s famous hot chicken, the birds are coated in a dry rub that, at the hotter levels, contains a blend of four different types of chillies: cayenne peppers, habaneros and those aforementioned ghost peppers and Carolina reapers. Prepare to get sweaty.

Cheekies originally began as a pop-up at CBD bar Brklyn. Co-owner and founder of both Brklyn and Cheekies, Rashaad Cézar, started dreaming up the concept after being introduced to Nashville-style hot chicken by a friend. He knew he had to go to the source and explore further. With business partner Rachael Sharples, he traversed the States in search of chicken, finding himself at iconic spots such as Hattie B’s Hot Chicken and Howlin’ Ray’s.

The deep-fryers at Brklyn are still hot, but you’ll also find Cheekies at a dedicated space on Pirie Street, opened in June 2022. Both serve tenders (which you can order at different heat levels) as well as a spicy-chicken burger, plus fries and other sides.