There’s nothing more Australian than heading to your local pub for a pint and a chicken parmi with a massive side of chips to finish it all off.
Luckily for us, Adelaide-based food creator Marcus Costanzo has been doing the research for more than four years, hopping around South Australia, and even the country, trying chicken parmi after chicken parmi.
With more than 40 reviews under his belt, he’s decided to answer the one question that most people ask: “What’s the best chicken parmi you’ve ever had?”
“It’s the thing I’m recognised most for on the street, almost every day,” Marcus said. “I stumbled upon the ‘parmi guy’ title.”
Here are Marcus’s top five parmis, based on flavour, price, size and the best “vibes.”
5. The Earl of Leicester, Parkside
The Earl of Leicester is a classic Parkside pub and one of those Adelaide venues people often bring up in parmi conversations because of the size of its “Earl” schnitzels, which come in a 600g option.
Back when Marcus reviewed the parmi it cost $33, but thanks to the size and flavour it was given a 9.2/10.
“The way I would describe this is…. I was having a bad day and now i’m having a good day,” he said when reviewing.
Where: 85 Leicester Street, Parkside
Cost now: $39
4. Schnitz Hub / Pizza Love You, Seaton
Images: Pizza Love You,Facebook
This low-key Seaton takeaway joint has a bit of a following for oversized, value-packed parmis, making it stand out from traditional pub schnittys.
“The more I think about it, the more i’m confused this parmi didn’t get a 10/10.”
At the time of the review, it was $25, massive and “pretty much faultless with some of the best sauce (he’s) ever tasted.”
Where: 358A Tapleys Hill Road, Seaton SA 5023
Cost now: starting from $26.50
3. The Macclesfield Hotel
Images: Macclesfield Hotel/Facebook
The Macclesfield Hotel, aka the Maccy pub, is a classic Adelaide Hills pub within the town of Macclesfield. The Hotel’s own website calls it “home of the best Snitty in South Australia, voted by you people.”
At the time of Marcus’ review he gave it a 9.4 rating for “some of the freshest chicken (he’s) ever tried.”
“You bite into a crunchy parmi and what you’re met with is a wet, sexy piece of chicken and a cheese that drags right away.”
Is it lunchtime yet? Because a trip to Macclesfield may be on the cards.
Where: 31 Venables Street, Macclesfield
Cost now: $34
2. Yorktown Pizza, Elizabeth Park
Yorktown Pizza is a suburban pizza shop that has become part of Adelaide’s parmi conversation thanks to its big portions, value-driven prices and classic takeaway-style comfort food.
It was $24 at the time of Marcus’s review, and the chips, cheese, little slices of ham and flavour earned it a rating just behind the top spot.
“It was probably the best individual schnitzel i’ve ever had,” Marcus said.
Where: 2a/110 Yorktown Road, Elizabeth Park
Cost now: $24.90
1. Pienza Pizzeria, Pooraka
Images: Pienza Pizzeria/facebook
Coming in at number one is Pienza Pizzeria, another suburban pizza shop that has become one of the surprise names in the parmi conversation, and at the time is was just $22. After the first bite, Marcus said it was “so f*cken good.”
The chicken was perfectly cooked, the cheese warm and gooey and the schnitzel crumbing was “perfectly crispy.”
After enjoying nearly every bite, Marcus gave the Pienza Pizzeria parmi a whopping 10/10.
“I guess the reason that one won, or that one got the highest score, is that it’s the best price for the most food in return for probably what was one of the most unique flavours,” Marcus said.
Where: 4/2 Montague Road, Pooraka 5095
Cost now: $22.90
The one thing Marcus found each venue had in common between the reviews and now was that they had all risen in price.
“I never thought that I would measure inflation by parmis,” he said.
To watch Marcus’ whole review and let him know what to check out next, click here.
