We've tried high street chicken shops and foodie favourite restaurants, dine-in and takeaway - hell, we've even had wings biked across town by Deliveroo - to bring you our suggestions for the best chicken wings in London. Some are bargainous, some are bougie. Ready to play chicken? Fried Chicken Shops Let's take a moment to say RIP The Orange Buffalo, but luckily there are still plenty of places to get top-notch wings in town. Chick ’n’ Sours Top pick: Kung Pao disco wings, with Sichuan chilli and peanuts Messy, sticky, quite sweet and gently spicy, these pair well with one of their signature sour cocktails or a craft beer. The heat level is lower than you'd think, but watch out for the garnish of fresh and dried chillies. Like it hot? You can opt to have the disco wings hot - or indeed with a Korean glaze, or naked. (That’s the wings, not you. Behave.) from for 6 wings Unlimited wings for on Wing Wednesday; also, check out the Icons set menu for 2+ people at the Seven Dials branch. Haggerston, Seven Dials Website Thunderbird Fried Chicken Top pick: Chipuffalo wings: chipotle-buffalo sauce with a blue cheese dip and coriander These smoky chilli-buffalo wings are crowd pleasers but we also like their Korean Yuzu wings; the citrussy zip of yuzu really lifts them. Like it hot? Go for the Habanero wings: described on their website as having ‘a borderline sadistic quantity of Habanero chilli’. Challenge accepted. for 6 wings Canary Wharf, Charing Cross, Clapham Junction, The O2, Stratford, Wimbledon Website Coqfighter Top pick: K-Wings, served with Korean hot sauce and a sweet soy glaze If you’re not sure which flavour to order, go for the K-Wings; these are the only ones that come with the sauce on the side, so if you add a couple of the additional dips you can create your own mix and match combo. It's also a good choice if you are taking them away or getting a delivery, as the wings stay crisp. Like it hot? Opt for the Nashville Hot, served with pickles and ranch dressing. from for 6 wings Soho, Kings Cross, Finsbury Park Website Wingmans Top pick: Shanghai Oriental wings with soy and sesame, topped with Kewpie mayo, spring onion, red chilli and ginger They have a branch in Soho if you’re central, but the wings are cheaper at their OG Kilburn branch plus they have some great Cheapo deals - see below. They also have a larger selection of flavours than most, including K-town Peanut Butter Crunch and Truffalo with truffle-laced hot sauce and truffle mayo. Like it hot? Try their Jamaican’ Me Crazy: carnival-inspired, with Scotch bonnet hot sauce, spring onion, red chilli, ginger, coriander cress & lime. Best left to the chilli pros; you have been warned. Deals: Bottomless Brunch menu: 90 minutes of unlimited wings, fries and drink of choice (Wingmans lager, cocktail of the month, Aperol Spritz or mocktail/soft drink) for pp. Kilburn branch only: Wing Wednesdays: buy one, get one half price on all signature wings - and there are happy hour drinks until 6pm. Weekday Express Lunch menu: available until 3pm Monday-Friday. It includes a main, side and drink - so you could get a portion of wings, some rosemary or truffle cheese fries and your choice of a glass of house Prosecco/wine, Wingmans lager or soft drink for a measly , meaning you could potentially splash out on dessert for an extra fiver. Bargain. from for 8 wings; prices vary slightly with your flavour choice. Kilburn, Soho Website Randy’s Wing Bar Top pick: Garlic Parmesan wings, in a garlic butter glaze, sprinkled with Parmesan herb mix and then drizzled with creamy garlic sauce Yes, everyone bangs on about buffalo wings and, while they're undeniably good here, we recommend trying something a little different. Garlic and cheese has always been a natural pairing, and it's a touch of genius to throw chicken wings into the mix. Like it hot? You need their Nashville Hot wings; served with house ranch dressing and pickled gherkins. for 8 wings Hackney Wick Website Cheapo Top Tip: If you're a die-hard wing fan, don't miss Wingfest in July - 45 restaurants, street food traders and BBQ teams will cook a staggering 500,000 wings in the world’s biggest chicken wing festival, here in London. Morleys Top pick: BBQ wings You can’t mention London and fried chicken in the same sentence without immediately thinking of Morleys. The iconic OG shop was founded on Sydenham High Street in south London in 1985 and is now one of over 100 in London. Like it hot? Go for the spicy option. from for 3 wings Multiple sites across London Website El Pollote Top pick: Dulce de Leche wings, with caramel sauce, Parmesan cheese, chicken skin and chilli dust This is a Latino/South American twist on fried chicken. We like the sweet and salty Dulce de Leche wings but the Buffanero, below, are also good. Like it hot? Opt for the Buffanero wings: buffanero and habanero sauce, with queso fresco. per portion Soho, Camden Website Dave’s Hot Chicken Top pick: This cult US Nashville-style hot chicken brand is known for having seven levels of spice, ranging from No Spice to Reaper - the last of which requires a signed waiver. You can also get a 'Hot Box Roulette' of 10 tenders: 4 mild, 5 medium and 1 Reaper. If you survive that, they have a 'Frequent Fryer' loyalty app so you can do it all over again. NB: these aren't all that cheap and also aren't actually wings, but tenders; however, Eater LA raved about them so we thought you should make your own mind up. Like it hot? Sign the waiver. per tender Shaftesbury Avenue Website Peck Peck Chicken Top pick: Gruffalo Blue wings Peck Peck Chicken is from the same people behind the successful chain of east London fish and chip shops, Sutton & Sons. The award-winning Gruffalo Blue wings come with a gochujang-buffalo sauce and dried chilli as well as the more traditional blue cheese ranch dressing. These were a delivery and arrived still crispy. Like it hot? The Miso Butter Magic sauce has the flavours of Thai red curry, scotch bonnet chilli jam, spring onions and red chilli. for 5 wings Hackney Website Insider tips for other restaurants Here’s the thing; some of the contenders for the best chicken wings in London are not actually from specialist chicken shops but from bars and restaurants serving up a wide range of cuisines, from Thai to Chinese and Indian to Mexican/Korean. IYKYK - and now you do. Smoking Goat Cuisine: Thai Wings: Vietnamese-style Fish Sauce Chilli Wings Smoking Goat is basically a Bangkok drinking den in the middle of Shoreditch. Their legendary wings are a strong candidate for the best chicken wings in London: sweet, salty funky umami bombs with a shatteringly crisp fish sauce caramel coating and utterly addictive. each Shoreditch Website Mexican Seoul Cuisine: Mexican/Korean Wings: Gochu-Gang wings Buffalo wing fans, try the Honey Buffanero wings: double-fried free range chicken wings coated in an award-winning buffalo sauce, topped with chipotle blue cheese dip and micro coriander. Alternatively, dial up the heat with our pick, the Gochu-Gang wings: double-fried wings with Gochu-Gang sauce, topped off with sesame seeds, spring onions and gochu-mayo. per portion Bethnal Green Website FKABAM (Formerly Known As Black Axe Mangal) Cuisine: Hard to pin down - think Turkish meets Asian flavours meets flavour bombs Wings: Mission Spiced fried chicken Okay, these are chicken thighs rather than wings, but try them and you'll see why they absolutely need to be on this list. Ridiculously crispy, crunchy, spicy coating with the juiciest chicken inside; served with house-made pickles and aioli. Jaw-droppingly delicious. for 3 pieces Highbury & Islington Website Ling Ling’s Cuisine: Chinese Wings: Spicy Sichuan With a new permanent residency in The Bluecoats pub in Tottenham, you should now be able to get your fix of Ling Ling’s legendary spicy Sichuan chicken wings on a more predictable basis. One note of warning; currently you will only find them on match day, when there is a different menu. If you have your heart set on their addictive, tingly, numbing wonderfulness - and why wouldn’t you? - you might want to call ahead and check they are available. per portion Tottenham Website Supawan Thai Cuisine: Thai Wings: Fried chicken wings stuffed with minced chicken, prawns, mushroom and glass noodles served with a tamarind and chilli sauce Fancy, and a foodie favourite, technically they are wings but it's a very different eating experience; in other words, they are about the only wings on here we would even consider eating with a knife and fork - or while wearing a white t-shirt. for 2 wings King’s Cross Website Viet Grill Cuisine: Vietnamese Wings: Anchovied chicken wings with caramelised fish sauce and sesame seeds This Vietnamese barbecue restaurant cooks its dishes over charcoal on robata grills, so you've already got that flavour foundation before the funky fish sauce hits. If you're looking for a side or small plate to go with your wings, try the Piggy Grilled Aubergine; you'll be happy you did. Also the cocktails here pair well with the flavour profile of the food. per portion Shoreditch Website Brigadiers Cuisine: Indian Wings: BBQ butter chicken wings Brigadiers is justifiably legendary for their butter chicken and, by extension, these butter chicken wings. The sauce is rich and creamy, with a gentle warmth of spice and the smoky BBQ kiss of the tandoor. for 6 wings Bank Website Rasa Sayang Cuisine: Malaysian/Singaporean Wings: Halved chicken wings marinated in prawn paste and then deep-fried There's so much to love at this excellent restaurant inspired by the street food hawkers in Malaysia and Singapore that these wings often get overlooked. We're here to put that right. per portion Chinatown Website Passyunk Avenue Cuisine: American Wings: Buffalo wings This Philly dive bar in the middle of London is a solid choice for good buffalo wings, and you get a generous portion for your money. If you're pining for classic American wings these will hit the spot, as will the BBQ and Old Bay options. Feeling brave/unhinged? Their Insanity wings are tossed in their house-made hot sauce which they describe as 'very f*cking spicy' and delivering 'a Balboa-esque uppercut to your tastebuds'. In what is perhaps a nod to another famous American purveyor of hot wings listed above, they add, 'No gloves. No waiver. Just your BIG balls'. for 6 wings Waterloo & Fitzrovia Website Kachori Cuisine: Indian Wings: Sticky chicken wings Tandoori chicken wings with a sweet & spicy pepper glaze and green onions With an Executive Chef hot from the Michelin-starred Gymkhana kitchens, it is perhaps unsurprising that Kachori made the list. The deliciously charred and smoky tandoori flavour of these wings provides an excellent base for the layered spicing. for 3 wings Elephant & Castle Website Bone Daddies Cuisine: Japanese Wings: Sticky black pepper wings These three-joint wings are also available in Korean and Buffalo versions, but try these and thank us later. The coating is like sticky, savoury popping candy. Cheapo Top Tip: If you're already hooked on their Korean-style wings, you can always try recreating them at home; there is a recipe on their website. for 3 wings Bermondsey, Bond Street, High Street Kensington, Leicester Square, Old Street, Soho, Victoria Website Meatliquor Cuisine: American Wings: Buffalo wings Famed for its iconic Dead Hippie Burger (read more in our Best Burgers in Soho & Covent Garden post) the wings here are also pretty good, if a bit small. for 8 wings Soho, Shoreditch, Queensway, Islington, Battersea, East Dulwich Website Cheapo Top Tip: If a wing craving hits in the early hours, the Soho branch is open until 3am. Head over to our guide to Late-night Dining in London for more after-midnight refuelling options. Best money-saving deals The Famous Three Kings Pub I don't think you'll find a better deal in London than this; on Wing Wednesdays, wings are just each. Choose your sauce from BBQ, Korean BBQ, Frank's hot sauce with garlic & herb sauce, or inferno hot. per wing Fulham Website If you've starved yourself and plan to go hard, then check out the unlimited wings for deal at Chick n Sours and the 'buy one get one half price' at Wingmans - details in the listings above. Tag us on Instagram with your messy chicken wing pics and let us know if we've missed any of your favourites!
A Cheapo's guide to London
A Cheapo's guide to London
A Cheapo's guide to London