Where to Find the Best Halal Broasted Chicken in London
If you’re old-ish like me, you’ll remember when chicken shops were one of the few places offering halal food back in the day. We lived through the era of spicy, peppery wings from Chicken Cottage, the crispy tenders and chips from various street food vendors (shoutout to Mother Clucker), and the sweet-and-spicy yangnyeom chicken trend from Korean restaurants – which is still going strong. I’m sure there are several other fried chicken waves I’ve missed (Malaysian fried chicken, Taiwanese crispy chicken, the day KFC started offering halal, etc.), but what’s the new thing now? Halal broasted chicken in London.
You’ve seen all the Reels and TikToks showing off juicy, crispy broasted chicken in London. So, what exactly is broasted chicken, and where can you get it in London? Here’s everything you need to know.
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What Is Broasted Chicken?
Broasted chicken is made using a broaster – a device that combines a pressure cooker and a deep fryer. The result? Fried chicken that’s juicier, crispier, and less greasy, all cooked in a short amount of time.
Invented in the U.S. in 1956, the broaster and pressure-frying method blew up across the Middle East and South Asia. Now in London, it’s the Syrian restaurants leading the charge on this delicious trend.
What Makes Syrian Broasted Chicken Special?
What sets the Syrian fried chicken apart from KFC, who also use the same frying method, are the spices that are used in the cooking method. Emerging fresh from the fryer, each piece of hot chicken is dusted with a generous combination of secret spices – I can only really pinpoint the coriander, turmeric, cinnamon and I’m sure plenty more.
The ridged chips also face the same delicious fate; pressure-fried until they are crisp on the outside and fluffy inside. Both items are served with a mountain of garlicky toum and sometimes, house pickles.
More Than Chicken: Try the Shawarma
If you’re really hungry – or just not in the mood for fried chicken (yes, I am judging) – many broasted spots also serve Arabic shawarma. These come with either lamb, chicken or both, dipped in the shwarma roasting juices, and pressed on a hot grill so the lavash becomes crisp. Also served with those same glorious chips and a heap of toum.
Where to Find the Best Halal Broasted Chicken in London
Although broasted chicken hasn’t fully exploded in popularity just yet, a handful of restaurants are doing it right. While I haven’t included every single place (some were… not great), the list below includes spots that have been personally tried and tested by yours truly. I really do love what I do sometimes.
Note: These places pressure-fry to order, so be prepared to wait a little—good things take time!
The Best Broasted, Willesden Green and Ealing
Of course, we’ll start with the OG that kicked off the London broasted hype. You can’t miss the bright green-and-yellow shopfront or the wafts of fried chicken drifting down the street. The chicken is pressure-fried at 180°C for 10–12 minutes, then sprinkled with their signature spices and served with the classic ridged chips (seriously, the best broasted chips can be found at The Best Broasted). They also offer a spicy version, where the chicken is injected with hot sauce post-fry.
- Website: thebestbroasted.com
- Willesden Green Address: 17 Walm Lane, London NW2 5SJ
- Ealing Address: 14 Broadway, Ealing W13 0SR
Dela3 Kenshik, Harrow
Located where Two Buns used to be, Dela3 Kenshik is now churning out plates of hot, fresh broasted chicken. Service was a bit slow, even when quiet, but the chicken delivered was fresh and crispy making it a great option if you’re local to the area. A half plate is £10.95, and a full chicken plate is £16.95—great value for 2–3 people.
- Website: dela3kenshik.co.uk/menu
- Address: 2 College Rd, Harrow, London HA1 1BE
Al Beik, Acton
Al Beik is almost as good as the original and is located on Acton High Street. They are known to serve huge chicken pieces with a thick, crunchy coating. A half chicken is £11.50 and a whole is £19, both served with chips and sauce. The Arabic shawarma here is okay and can be skipped.
- Instagram: @albeikrestaurant
- Address: 78 High St, London W3 6LE
Number 1 Broasted, Marble Arch
While it may not be number one on this list, their chicken is still good and worth the mention. They also do boneless broast chicken tenders which taste just as good as the original bone-in. The chips can be hit or miss—sometimes crispy, sometimes soggy. Prices are slightly higher due to their central location, but if you’re near Oxford Street and craving broasted, this is a convenient choice.
- Address: 31 Edgware Rd, London W2 2JE
Sapphire House, Harrow
Located on Station Road, just up the road from Dela3 Kenshik, this Lebanese spot is offering a half broasted plate for £11 and a full plate for £16.99. There’s also a family size broast for £39.99 if you’re sharing.
- Website: sapphirehouserestaurant.co.uk
- Address: 237 Station Rd, Harrow HA1 2TB
Hamadia Restaurant and Sweet, Acton
This unassuming little spot in Acton Industrial Park also offers broasted chicken (available in 4 or 8 pieces) and comes with a cold starter, toum, bread, and a drink. Prices range from £13–£26 for what I’m assuming is the half and whole broasted. I’ve not yet made the trip but I’ve read it is just as good as The Best Broasted.
- Website: hamadiarestaurant.com/
- Address: Unit 10, Acton Industrial Estate, London W3 7QE
Let me know in the comments below if I’ve missed your favourite broasted spot and I’ll give it a visit!
