A Bowral dad has been dubbed a hero by local shoppers after he retrieved a roast chook from a would-be thief at Coles.

In arguably the most daddish rescue in modern history, Adrian Brennan, 58, got a round of applause from Bowral Coles staff and customers on Monday afternoon after he chased a young shoplifter into the carpark, demanding the thief return a roast chicken he didn't pay for.

Adrian Brennan and the rescued roast chicken.

He got the chook back, completing the mission in his thongs.

"Friends are now referring to me as the chook man," Mr Brennan told The Land.