The wings are brined overnight and then fried twice in Coqfighter's own seasoned flour blend, resulting in a very crisp exterior while staying juicy inside. You pick from house sauces — the Nashville hot and the Korean gochujang are the most popular choices. The twice-frying technique makes these noticeably crunchier than standard pub wings.
Tips from diners
Go for the Korean gochujang sauce if you want sweet-spicy, or Nashville hot if you want pure heat. The wings are brined overnight so they stay juicy even with the double fry.
Order wings as a starter for the table while you wait for sandwiches. Six wings between two is a good ratio — they come out faster than the mains.
The chicken breast is dipped in Nashville-style hot oil after frying, giving it a deep red colour and a slow-building heat that coats your lips. Served in Coqfighter's signature squishy sesame bun with creamy ranch to cool things down. Multiple reviewers call this the sandwich to start with if you like heat — the spice level is real but not punishing.
Tips from diners
The Nashville Hot has genuine heat that builds — if you're spice-shy, start with the OG or Green Chilli Cheese instead. The ranch helps cut through it.
The express lunch deal (Mon-Fri, 12-3pm) gets you any fried chicken sandwich plus fries for £12.50 — much better value than ordering separately at dinner.
The American cheese melts over the fried chicken breast and the pickled green chillies add a vinegary kick that cuts through the richness. The chipotle mayo adds smokiness rather than heat. Reviewers call this the most balanced sandwich on the menu — it covers savoury, spicy, tangy, and smoky in one bite.
Tips from diners
If the Nashville Hot is too much heat for you, this is the one. The pickled green chillies give enough spice without the Nashville burn, and the melted cheese makes it feel more substantial.
A warm sub loaded with pulled roast chicken that's been slow-cooked, then drenched in miso gravy — the miso adds an umami depth to what would otherwise be a standard roast chicken sandwich. The sub is buttered and toasted until crisp, and the Grana Padano grated over the top adds salt and sharpness. Reviewers say this is comfort food territory and works well on colder days.
Tips from diners
The miso gravy is what sets this apart from any other chicken sub — it adds a savoury depth you won't expect. Eat it quickly before the sub soaks through.
You choose grilled thighs or fried chicken on top. The dressing is a roast sesame twist on classic caesar — nuttier and less acidic than a standard caesar. Romaine lettuce, crispy panko breadcrumbs for crunch, and shaved Grana Padano. Works as a main if you want something with vegetables on the plate.
Tips from diners
Go fried chicken on top rather than grilled — the contrast between crispy chicken and the creamy sesame dressing is what makes this better than a regular caesar.
An alternative for anyone who doesn't want fried chicken. The thighs are marinated overnight in Thai herbs and soy, then grilled rather than fried, and served on fragrant coconut and lemongrass rice with fresh cucumber. Reviewers note this is lighter than everything else on the menu and the lemongrass rice carries the dish.
Tips from diners
This is the dish if you want Coqfighter but not fried food. The coconut lemongrass rice is surprisingly good and the grilled thigh has real flavour from the overnight marinade.
Started by three Australian friends in a South London flat who were frustrated by London's lack of quality fried chicken. They built Coqfighter from pub pop-ups into a growing chain with five London locations. The Soho site on Beak Street opened in 2019 and remains the flagship, with communal tables and a dark, stripped-back interior.
The express lunch deal runs Mon-Fri 12-3pm: any fried chicken sandwich plus fries for £12.50. Best value way to eat here, and the queue is shorter midweek at lunch.
The interior is dark and stripped back with communal seating. It's tight — you will sit near strangers. Not ideal for a quiet dinner, but the energy is part of the appeal.
Beak Street is easy to walk past — look for the black facade. The restaurant is halal-certified, which is rare for a quality fried chicken place in central London.
Friday and Saturday evenings get busy after 7pm. Booking a table through their website is worth it, especially for groups. Walk-ins are fine on weekday evenings.
Available on Deliveroo and Uber Eats, but the sandwiches are noticeably better eaten in — the bun stays squishy and the chicken stays crispy. Delivery prices are higher than dine-in.
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