Fortune Fried Chicken: A Bold Thai-Inspired Take on Fried Chicken in London
Fortune Fried Chicken, nestled within the bustling Old Spitalfields Market, has quickly garnered attention for its uncompromising approach to Thai-inspired fried chicken. This review delves into whether the hype is justified, exploring a menu that promises bold flavours, serious crunch, and authentic heat.
Standout Starters and Sides
The Shake Shake Fries emerge as an essential side dish, featuring a perfectly crunchy exterior that gives way to a pillow-soft centre. The shaker seasoning adds a sharp tang and extra depth of flavour, making them dangerously moreish when paired with creamy mayo.
Corn fritters provide another strong supporting act, crisp on the outside with a gentle kick of spice. They shine when dipped in ketchup or sweet chilli sauce, and can even be slipped into burgers for added texture and sweetness.
Main Attractions: Burgers and Wings
The chicken burger stands out as one of the better options at a casual London eatery, striking a confident balance between sweet and spicy. It is lifted by a crunchy homemade slaw and soft, well-chosen buns, though the slice of American cheese feels unnecessary and slightly distracts from the Thai-inspired flavours.
Plain chicken tenders serve their purpose but feel like the weakest option on an otherwise adventurous menu, better used as a benchmark for chicken quality than a recommended order.
The true standout dish is the Sweet Chilli and Kaffir Lime wings, which earn a full must-order seal of approval. The sweet chilli sauce is impressively balanced, delivering heat and sweetness without leaning too hard into either, while the kaffir lime adds acidity that cuts through the richness beautifully.
Spicy Nam Jam wings live up to their name with genuine heat that even seasoned spice lovers will notice. However, extra sliced chillies can overpower the sauce's complexity, making them more about challenge than flavour.
Refreshing Drinks and Overall Verdict
To cool things down, the lemongrass lemonade is a smart choice and well worth the small upgrade from standard soft drinks, offering a refreshing complement to the spicy dishes.
Overall, Fortune Fried Chicken is confident, flavour-led, and refreshingly uncompromising. It offers some of the best Thai-inspired fried chicken in London, providing a compelling reason to keep returning to Spitalfields Market for those seeking bold, authentic tastes in a casual setting.
