Wanted Chicken is a well-regarded Korean restaurant situated inside Rydales Tavern in West Ryde. True to its name, the venue specialises in Korean fried chicken, but also offers a range of Korean staples, from tteokbokki to traditional and Chinese-style noodle, rice, and soup dishes.

Sweet and Spicy Golden Fried Chicken (Bone) ($27.00)

This dish featured their classic fried chicken coated in a glossy, sweet and spicy sauce. The flavour began with a honeyed sweetness before developing a moderate heat that lingered toward the back of the palate. No adjustable heat levels were available.

The batter was somewhat thick and, in places, had softened to a slight chew due to the sauce, though the meat remained juicy within. While enjoyable, this version did not reach the level of execution found at Joy’s Fried Chicken.

Haemul Pajeon ($27.00)

A standout seafood pancake packed with prawns, squid, mussels, and vegetables. This version delivered a superior filling-to-batter ratio, resulting in a pancake that was both structurally cohesive and maximally crisp. The seafood was fresh and abundant, while the zucchini, spring onion, and onion had caramelised edges that contributed a mellow sweetness to offset the brininess. The dipping sauce—possibly sand lance-based—added a tangy savoury depth that complemented rather than overwhelmed the dish.

The banchan consisted of a modest selection of four items: sweetened tofu skin, yellow pickled daikon, white pickled daikon, and kimchi.

These provided a variety of textures and flavour profiles: sweet chewiness (tofu skin), crunchy savoury-sweetness (yellow daikon), crisp acidity (white daikon), and a sharp, spicy crunch (kimchi).

Overall, the pajeon was particularly strong and reason enough to return. The fried chicken was decent and would be eaten again if convenient, but not a destination item.

Wanted Chicken is located inside Rydales Tavern, 18 W Parade, West Ryde NSW 2114.