Chick'n'sours (Seven Dials)

Co-founders Carl Clarke and David Wolanski started Chick’n’Sours with a simple ambition: to serve delicious, high-welfare fried chicken alongside lip-smacking sour cocktails with a party atmosphere. The pair had a background in food and nightlife and opened the first Chick’n’Sours on Kingsland Road in Haggerston before adding other Chick’n’Sours locations alongside a fast-casual outlet Chik’n.

The dining room in Seven Dials is slick and spacious, with seating available at the bar for those just wanting a drink. Music is turned up loud, creating a fun vibe that’s more down-and-dirty than polished.

Food-wise, it probably goes without saying that the standout is the fried chicken that made the group’s name, sourced from a family farm in Suffolk. Sandwiches are full of umami flavours, with kewpie mayo and gochujang sauce, while on a Sunday you can even get a whole deep-fried chicken served with sides. The sour cocktails are built around gin, whiskey, rum and tequila.