Dining
The 6 Best Fried Chicken in London
Six proper fried chicken kitchens across London, from buttermilk classics to Korean double fry and Caribbean jerk marinades.
In short: our top picks are Butchies, Coqfighter and Wing Wing. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
London’s fried chicken scene stopped being an American import a while ago. Korean double fry, Caribbean jerk marinades and buttermilk Southern batter now sit on menus a few streets apart from each other, and the difference in technique between them is obvious the moment you bite in. None of the six places below chase novelty for its own sake. Each one has built a following on doing one style of fried chicken properly, whether that means a 24 hour brine or a spice blend nobody else has managed to copy.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Butchies | Shoreditch | ££ |
| Coqfighter | Soho | ££ |
| Wing Wing | Bloomsbury | ££ |
| Rudie's Jerk Shack | Brixton | ££ |
| Mother Clucker | Clerkenwell | ££ |
| 20ft Fried Chicken | Marylebone | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
Butchies
Why we pick itButchies brines its chicken for 24 hours before double frying it in a seasoned buttermilk crust, and the burger with a slick of chipotle mayo has built a proper following since it opened on Rivington Street. Portions are generous and the queue at lunch tells you everything.
Buttermilk fried chicken shop
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Coqfighter
Why we pick itCoqfighter fries thigh meat in a light batter and coats it in sauces that range from a sticky soy garlic glaze to a fiery Nashville hot, closer to Korean and American styles crossed together than a single tradition. The Beak Street branch gets loud and cramped by 8pm, which is part of the appeal.
Fried chicken with Asian inflected sauces
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Wing Wing
Why we pick itWing Wing turns out Korean style wings and drumsticks fried twice for a shatter crisp shell, then coats them in soy garlic, hot or liquorice glaze depending on what you fancy. It is a proper chimaek spot, built for eating chicken with a cold beer rather than a quiet dinner.
Korean fried chicken and beer
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Rudie's Jerk Shack
Why we pick itRudie's Jerk Shack marinates its chicken for a full day in a scotch bonnet and pimento jerk rub before it goes over charcoal and finishes with a fry, giving the skin a deep smoky heat that few other kitchens in London manage. The Brixton Village stall gets through trays of it on a Saturday afternoon.
Caribbean jerk and fried chicken
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Mother Clucker
Why we pick itMother Clucker started life in a converted US Army ambulance and still fries chicken the same way it did then, tea brined and buttermilk soaked before a twice battered fry. The Rosebery Avenue site keeps the sauce range from a mild jalapeno lime to a properly hot Bajan pepper sauce.
Buttermilk fried chicken strips
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20ft Fried Chicken
Why we pick it20ft Fried Chicken was named the best in Britain at the 2026 Fried Chicken Championships, and the hot chicken burger, double fried thigh meat with habanero honey mayo and vinegar slaw, explains why. It trades from a stall inside Market Halls, so expect to eat standing at a shared table.
Award winning buttermilk fried chicken
Before you book
Most of these kitchens do not take bookings, so turn up before 1pm or after 8.30pm if you want a table without a wait. Cash machines are rare inside food halls like Market Halls, and several spots such as Rudie’s and Butchies run mostly on card or contactless anyway.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Butchies is our editor's choice: Butchies brines its chicken for 24 hours before double frying it in a seasoned buttermilk crust, and the burger with a slick of chipotle mayo has built a proper following since it opened on Rivington Street. Portions are generous and the queue at lunch tells you everything. Butchies, Coqfighter and Wing Wing lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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