This chilled-out coastal city has been stepping up its burger game lately. With juicy beef burgers grabbing all the attention elsewhere, we thought we’d show the unassuming chicken bun some love as we count down delicious poultry-filled burgers on Durban’s sunny shores. Topped with everything from cooling pineapple to fiery peri-peri and bourbon barbecue sauce, here are our favourite five chicken burgers in Durban.

Afro’s Chicken (South Beach, Umhlanga Ridge, Windermere)

It started off in the famous yellow container on the beachfront, and now this buzzing chicken shop has three branches serving up their popular chicken burgers. Their soft, freshly baked and flour-dusted bread rolls are filled with succulent chicken breast that has been braaied to perfection. The chicken is then topped with either the ‘koel’ tangy lemon sauce or the ‘hot’ option with fiery chilli. If you are a heat seeker, we suggest you try yours spicy. Best served with a side of their rustic tjips (chips) to mop up all the sauce (R39).

Afro’s Chicken burger and tjips. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

The Coop (Durban North)

Mackeurtan Avenue’s new takeaway chicken hatch has a menu that’s dedicated to succulent poultry bites. The fillets are marinated in a delicious basting sauce of your choosing and cooked to order on the grill. Flavours include spicy peri peri, zingy lemon and herb, and smoky barbecue marinade. The tender chicken is then served in soft, floury buns with a side of chunky chips, buttered corn or crunchy slaw (R45).

A chicken burger and chips at The Coop. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Freedom Café (Morningside)

Freedom Café presents all burgers on a brioche bun (from much-loved Glenwood Bakery), accompanied by hand-cut fries. Try the Durban burger (R70), which consists of a spicy marinated chicken breast topped with a cooling pineapple-and-chilli salsa. Optional add-ons include bacon, avo, feta, rocket and cheddar cheese.

A photo posted by Nadine Blunden (@nadine_blunden) on Dec 12, 2015 at 8:39am PST

Republik (Durban North)

This popular burger joint not only celebrates beef, but shows appreciation for poultry patties, too. Try their bourbon chicken burger with its hit of boozy sweetness: beer-battered chicken is dunked in a molasses-and-bourbon barbecue sauce, sandwiched in a golden Republik roll, and topped with crisp onion straws. This piece of decadence is also served with a side of shoestring fries.

Waffle burgers at Republik. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Surf Riders Food Shack (South Beach)

This laid-back restaurant is a winner after a surf or a long walk on the promenade. Try their Chicken Deluxe burger, made with a free-range chicken fillet marinated in a lemon-and-garlic Portuguese-inspired basting. The chicken is nestled between two soft sesame buns on a bed of fresh lettuce, rocket and creamy house-made mayo (R59). It’s best served with a side of their ridiculously cheesy fries, a craft beer, and a view of the beach.

A photo posted by Lesha Govender (@leshagovender) on May 31, 2015 at 1:20am PDT