When it comes to the hunt for chicken wings, we’ve got skin in the game.
There is little more satisfying than a properly delicious chicken wing – the sauce-slathered crunch of skin giving way to tender succulent meat – but a poorly made, under-flavoured wing is a deeply distressing experience.
Happily, London boasts an increasing number of places that do justice to the dish, and even its own festival – Wing Fest, which takes place in London Stadium and is “the world’s largest chicken wing festival” (yep, makes you proud to be British).
Finally, in a bid to answer to that trickiest (and stickiest) of questions – “Where are the finest chicken wings in London?” – we have assembled the definitive list.
So take our word for it. Otherwise, you’d just be winging it.
FOWL | St James’
In-keeping with the ethical philosophy of its founders, the chicken at FOWL is sustainable (well, not fully sustainable; it is ultimately still dead). With birds sourced from The Ethical Butcher and Rare Breed Meats, FOWL operates a beak-to-feet policy, using as much of the chicken as possible in all its dishes (yes – that’s ‘chicken fat tarte tatin’ on the dessert menu). But none of that detracts from the sensory pleasure of its koji hot sauce wings with guindilla pickled chilli, or Sezchuan honey wings with crispy chilli.
Details: 3 Norris St, London SW1Y 4RJ | Book here
Wingmans | Soho & Kilburn
Wingmans – which winningly describes itself as an ‘Authentic Wingery’, and gets points for that alone – is a hugely reliable place to fulfil your wing-related needs. Its signature buttermilk wings come in an array of sauces including classic Buffalo, Shanghai Oriental and perhaps its crowning glory – Thai sriracha, honey and lime topped with Kewpie mayo (the world’s best mayonnaise). Crucially, they also offer a Wing Wednesday – buy one get one 50% off each week, plus the inspiring-slash-dangerous ‘unlimited wings, fries and booze’ deal each weekend. Are they ‘London’s best wings’ as their slogan audaciously claims? It’s not out of the question…
Details: 332 Kilburn High Rd, London NW6 2QN | 29-31 Old Compton St, London W1D 5JS | Book here
Shack-Fuyu | Soho
One of the all-round greats. It’s easy to get lost in Shack-Fuyu’s crowd-pleasing menu – with its array of baos, sandos, bibimbaps, and its beef fillet hot off the robata grill – and forget that it also offers some of the best Korean fried wings in the city. But they do, and they should absolutely be on your list – just as they’re on ours.
Details: 14A Old Compton St, London W1D 4TJ | Book here
Ling Lings | Tottenham
Jenny Phung and her partner James Shepherd are the brains behind Ling Lings, the “no rules” modern Chinese kitchen that has popped up at a dizzying array of restaurants around London, leaving rave reviews in its wake, and is now installed in the beautiful Bluecoats pub in Tottenham. Here, amongst many other hugely desirable dishes – aromatic duck salad, and a majestic take on the Sunday Roast – there are Sichuan chicken wings – piquant, deliciously moreish and well worth the trip up to N17.
Details: The Bluecoats Pub, 614 High Rd, London N17 9TA | Book here
Smoking Goat | Shoreditch
Fish sauce chilli wings. That’s all you need to know, really. If you haven’t yet been to Smoking Goat, you’re in for a massive treat; it’s a top-tier Thai street-style restaurant that’s been delighting East London since 2017. Every dish on the menu zings with flavour – the Massaman smoked short rib is particularly strong – and the creative cocktail list is loaded with instant classics – try the ‘Locked and Loaded’, combining Mekhong, mango, almond and makrut. But back to the fish sauce chilli wings. They’re an inspired creation, and they’re worth heading to Shoreditch for one their own – though you may as well order a side order of fried chicken skin, whilst you’re at it.
Details: 64 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JJ | Book here
Fish, Wings & Tings | Brixton
The legendary Caribbean restaurant in Brixton Village is still going strong. The fish is great – look out for the cod fritters – as indeed are the Tings – everything from curried mutton to stewed oxtail to jerk chicken. The reggae wings, with pineapple and mango chutney, are a delight, best washed down with a ‘Tina’s rum punch’, which combines fruit juices with “copious amounts of Wray and Nephew”.
Details: Granville Arcade, Unit 3, Brixton Village, Coldharbour Ln, London SW9 8PR | Call to book: 020 7737 4888
Mexican Seoul | Victoria Park
Over in Bow, you’ll find Mexican-Korean street food being cooked with immense panache. They’re the winner of 15 awards at Wingfest, and it’s not hard to see why – their soy garlic butter wings, sitting on a bed of crispy chicken skins and topped with candied Jalapeños and Purple Shiso, are sheer poultry poetry. Eat here to feel truly content – chicken wings are Seoul food, after all.
Details: Bow Wharf, 221 Grove Rd., London E3 5SN | Book here
El Pollote | Carnaby & Camden
A Latino restaurant and cocktail bar that’s serious about flavour, El Pollote is the fried chicken spot that Soho at this point probably doesn’t deserve, but is nonetheless lucky to have. Here, chickens march nobly to their death in service to a number of brilliant dishes – like the peligrosa crispy chicken thigh in hot chilli pepper, and the half fried chicken in beef dripping chilli oil – but we’re here to talk wings, and on that front they truly deliver. Think mouth-watering dulce de leche wings, with caramel sauce, parmesan cheese, chicken skin, chilli dust, and ‘buffanero’ wings with habanero sauce, queso fresco.
Details: 13 Ganton St, Carnaby, London W1F 9BL | Camden Lock Market – Unit WY22, London NW1 8AF | Book here
Only Jerkin’ | Hackney Wick
If you like your chicken triple dipped and loaded with Caribbean flavour, then Only Jerkin’ is likely to be up your street (doubly so, if your street happens to be Roach Road in Hackney Wick, where their residency is based). The batter is golden, the marinades are home-made, and for the long-suffering vegetarian in your life accompanying you on your pilgrimage, there’s fried jerk cauliflower.
Details: Two More Years, 7 Roach Rd, Fish Island, London E3 2PA | No bookings
Jang | The City
Chicken wings, fine-dining style. In the luscious environs of the Royal Exchange, Korean-born chef Dana Choi serves up Korean & Japanese cuisine – including but not limited to phenomenal ‘Jang KFC’ served with gochujang sauce and ssam-mu pickled radish paper, accompanied by, if you fancy it, some Royal Beluski Caviar and crème fraiche (we did say fine dining).
Details: The Mezzanine, First Floor, Royal Exchange, City of London, London EC3V 3LQ | Book here
Coqfighter | Soho, King’s Cross, Finsbury Park, Croydon
Snigger at the name, delight in the twice-fried wings, which come in some superb variants – including chicken wings tossed in fragrant laksa and coconut-milk butter. What began as a series of pop-ups and a space in Boxpark has evolved into a handful of restaurants across the city, plus a place in Brighton – and they even deliver. It might just turn you into a coqlov.
Details: Across London | Book here
Loved our wing tour? Check out our guide to the best ramen in London.
