Why Britain Can't Resist the Crispy, Saucy Fried Chicken Craze

Britain is quickly becoming a nation that loves fried chicken. Young people, in particular, are driving this trend, with many choosing fried chicken as their favorite fast food. Sumayyah Zara Sillah, a 19-year-old nursing student, is one of these fans. She often visits Ragin' Bird, a takeaway in Leicester, where she enjoys boxes of Nashville-style hot chicken tenders. Even though she tries to eat healthy, she admits that fried chicken is just too tasty to give up. She first saw American-style fried chicken in TikTok videos, and now she can enjoy similar food in her own city.

The popularity of fried chicken is changing the British High Street. According to data from Meaningful Vision, the number of chicken shops in the UK grew by 7. 2 percent in one year, which is much faster than the 1. 7 percent growth for other types of takeaways. Young people are the main customers. In 2025, 52 percent of Gen Z fast food eaters and 47 percent of Millennials said they had eaten at a chicken shop in the past year, compared to 39 percent of all fast food eaters.

People like Till, a 33-year-old digital creator from Bristol, make TikTok videos reviewing fried chicken from different places. She says fried chicken is popular because it is crunchy, looks good, and comes with many sauces and flavors. Even pizza and Italian restaurants are now selling fried chicken as a side dish. Many American chains, such as KFC, Popeyes, and Wingstop, have opened in the UK, making fried chicken even more popular.

One reason for chicken's popularity is that it is cheaper than other meats. Andrew Crook, who owns a fish and chip shop in Lancashire, says that high fish prices and rising energy costs are making it hard for traditional fish and chip shops to survive. Many are adding fried chicken to their menus to attract more customers and make more profit. There used to be about 25,000 fish and chip shops in the UK, but now there are only about 9,000.

Millers Fish & Chips in Haxby, near York, is one shop that has changed with the times. The owner, David Miller, and his son Nick started selling fried chicken under a new brand, Millers Chicken, two years ago. This helped them attract younger customers and keep their business strong. They also added trendy items like the Irish Spice Bag, which is fried chicken and chips with special seasoning.

However, not every shop that sells fried chicken is successful. The market is crowded, and big chains have more money for advertising and buying supplies. Wasim Hussain, who owns Ragin' Bird in Leicester, started his shop as a passion project while he was a medical student. He says the big chains actually help his business by making more people interested in fried chicken. Some customers, like Sumayyah, prefer his shop because the food tastes homemade and is crispy.

Fried chicken seems to be more than just a passing trend. Fans like Till say they will always love it. As more people try fried chicken, it looks like this food will stay popular in Britain for many years to come.