Our favourite London fried chicken joints

Nothing quite pairs with spicy fried chicken like a cold glass of beer, which is why Mikkeller Brewpub in Exmouth Market has brought Lucky’s Hot Chicken into their kitchen. Here, you’ll find Nashville-inspired chicken sandwiches, strips and wings all served in Instagrammable style with classic red and white checked branding. The chicken is double fried and then spiced on a scale of one to six (which are aptly named ‘country’ and ‘good luck’…), while the sandwiches are stacked in a brioche bun with vinegar slaw, comeback sauce and pickles. Our mouths are watering at just the thought.

Coppa Club Tower Bridge is a real crowd-pleaser when it comes to its food and drink offering, plus it boasts some of the best views along the Thames from its sunny terrace. You can sit back and marvel at Tower Bridge as the sun goes down and the landmark’s lights reflect upon the water. The all-day menu offers a range of cuisines and drink options, including sharing platters and small plates, which feature melt-in-the-mouth buttermilk fried chicken served with sriracha mayo and pickled red cabbage.

This underrated Korean spot is tucked away in a skyscraper on the Isle of Dogs, and has been named a real hidden gem by a number of food bloggers and influencers. You’ll find plenty of chicken-based dishes including succulent fried morsels and wings with a selection of flavourful sauces. You’ll also be able to slurp brothy, umami hotpots and even try out a traditional Korean table bbq, where you cook the ingredients yourself on a hot plate in front of you!

Stratford is rapidly becoming one of London’s most exciting new cultural hubs, with sprawling green spaces and picturesque waterways to explore. Riverside East is a new social space with an inviting rooftop terrace and garden that offers views across the city as well as a calendar full of vibrant markets, musical performances and seasonal events. Here, you’ll find food and drink options that have been curated with sustainability in mind, so you can be assured that their buttermilk fried chicken with fermented hot sauce is made with ingredients of the highest quality.

Korean cuisine knows a thing or two about fried chicken. What makes it special and separates it from other cuisines is it’s crispy without the trace of grease, and arrives smothered in traditional sauces. Sound appetising? At Kimchee, you can spoil yourself with Korean chicken wings soaked in garlic and soy sauce or hot and spicy sauce or go for the original plain option. Bonus: it’s served with a cold beer, just like it should be. The dining experience is one of a kind.

Fried chicken is also a hallmark of Taiwanese cuisine. Found on almost any corner of Taiwan street food areas, it’s one of the most sought-after night snacks that was popularised in the western world as popcorn chicken. Monga puts a different spin on the westernised version by marinating their chicken fillets with honey and finishing it off with four seasonings to choose from: seaweed, chilli, chee-z (cheese) and original flavour.

As the name implies, Chick ‘n’ Sours is all about chicken and sour cocktails. We don’t mean to sound biased but it’s a dreamy combo that will leave you obsessed. Known for using strong flavours, this cosy establishment tempts diners with unique chicken sandwiches. Their K-pop sandwich is the bow towards the Korean fried chicken, incorporating gochujang traditional paste along with Asian ‘slaw and sriracha sour cream. For vegans, we urge you to try crispy vegan patty filled with kimchi, beloved fermented cabbage. And finally our personal favourite, the General comes with kewpie mayo, cheese, lettuce and pink pickles.

Mother Clucker is a food truck that can be found in several London locations. It makes a frequent appearance in top fried chicken lists and we’re inclined to agree. Just imagine the perfectly crispy but slightly moist inside, twice-battered chicken strips soaked in buttermilk with a sauce of your choosing. Be it BBQ or lime mayo finish, the options are bound to satisfy the most demanding chicken lovers. Don’t hesitate and check out one of their shops for a southern-style treat.

Chicken at Oka belongs to the small dishes menu but it’s worth the trip just to experience the Japanese delight. Karaage crunchy thighs are a popular part of a Japanese meal, incredibly crispy and served with spicy ketchup sauce. The portion might not be enough to satisfy your hunger (two portions it is!) but you will be unable to forget the wonderful flavour. Yum.

At pan-Asian restaurant Chi, they opt for a classic sweet and spicy Korean gochujang glaze on their fried chicken and serve it alongside Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise, which is made with egg yolks, giving it a creamy, umami taste. You can choose between a few different iterations too, from a burger or a cloud-soft bao bun, to the chef’s special, where the hot and crispy chicken is served atop a bubble waffle. With an enticing drinks menu that features cocktails and bubble teas too, we reckon this could easily become one of your regular spots.

This Korean corner venue specialises in Tiger fried chicken, and offers a selection of different styles, including boneless, Tiger Kick Original with cashew nuts, Tiger Punch Spicy and Tiger Padak with spring onion salad and Korean spicy vinaigrette dressing. You’ll find refreshing Korean beers here too, including Kloud and Cass—a welcome cooler after a plate of zesty chicken. If you want to really make a night of it, then you can rent out one of their karaoke booths too and keep the ice-cold beers and fried chicken flowing well into the evening!

The first mention of a schnitzel was apparently in a German cookbook in 1831, making it surely one of the earliest examples of a fried meat dish. While the traditional filling is veal, the chicken schnitzel is now an incredibly popular alternative! At the sleek speciality restaurant Schnitzel Forever, they’ve really perfected the art of the delicacy and each one is freshly prepared per order. You can choose between the classic, or if you’re feeling adventurous, there are Mexican, Katsu and Cordon Bleu alternatives—the latter is wrapped around Emmental cheese and ham and served with mashed potato! If it’s good enough for The Guardian restaurant critic Jay Rayner…

At The Pig’s Head, a fancy carbon neutral boozer in Clapham, you can guarantee that you’ll be served some of the best cuts of meat that are sourced from local and organic suppliers. The buttermilk chicken, for example, is sourced from Lyons Hill Farm in Dorset and is butchered onsite. It comes with an intriguing treacle and malt vinegar glaze and some Earl Grey yoghurt to dip into—it might sound unusual but it’s one of the most raved about dishes on the menu!