Previously known as CHICK’N, Chicken Shop are aiming to completely redefine fast-food fried chicken shops. True to its goals, Chicken Shop Soho truly is a fried chicken sandwich joint like no other.
Emphasis is placed on both quality and sustainability. All meat is sourced from the finest quality producers and mass-produced commodity products are avoided at all costs. You won’t find any mainstream soda drinks here; instead, they offer a range of craft beers from sustainable company Good Things Brewing, as well as some ethical sodas from Square Root Soda.
Of course, the star of the show is the chicken itself. Brined overnight in buttermilk, covered in the impossibly crunchy secret coating and fried in British rapeseed oil with zero trans fats (the healthiest way to fry chicken), these birds are truly unique. Everything is crunchy and juicy, and there are also vegetarian and vegan options for any plant-based eaters.
The chicken is served up in a variety of ways, from the classic 'Straight Up’ (chicken fillet, lettuce, buttermilk and herb mayo and pickles) to the more experimental ‘Sticky Sichaun’ (chicken fillet, lettuce, sticky Sichuan glaze, kewpie mayo and Chinese pickled cucumbers) and ‘Cali Hot Chick’ (chipotle ranch, lime hot sauce, guacamole, cheese, pink pickles, chicken fillet and lettuce). And it’s not just burgers either; check out the range of wraps, wings and tenders, accompanied by loaded fries, handcrafted dips and milkshakes.
The location has a surprisingly rustic feel, far from the usual chicken shop décor of fluorescent hospital-esque lighting, plastic tables and sticky counters. Instead, you can find wooden furniture, pendant lights and a modern open kitchen, all garnished by fairy lights. Look up and you’ll see some industrial fittings and exposed ceiling pipes. A redefinition indeed.