Much like my article about tacos in Amsterdam, this list wouldn’t have been possible to come up with even just a couple of years ago. But fried chicken is having a moment in Amsterdam, and who am I to count calories when there’s serious research to be done?*
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New York-style fried chicken: Ladybird FC
Next to Sarphatipark, Ladybird FC has got New York written all over it. There are no reservations, tables turn over quickly, and the service is definitely more American than Dutch. In that you won’t have to wait to get attention, but equally you won’t be hanging around after your meal. We tried their crispy fried wings and their regular six-piece set of fried chicken, and all came in a tasty and crispy coating (although they could’ve been served a little warmer). I enjoyed all the sauces we tried, particularly the J&T house-made hot sauce (by now you know I’m a sucker for hot sauce). Their collard greens and mac & cheese were pretty authentic, though Ladybird’s biscuits could’ve been fluffier and and more buttery. Drinks include a good selection of beer and bubbles – which is what you want to cut through the crispy-skinned greasiness of fried chicken.
Surinamese fried chicken: Naskip
For something a little spicier, head to Dapperstraat and pay a visit to Naskip. We tried their fillet strips, wings and a few larger, bone-in pieces, and all were moist and full of flavour with a perfectly crispy coating. The star of the show, however, has to be Naskip’s Surinamese hot sauce – which is fiercely spicy yet fruity from (I assume) the Madame Jeanette chilli peppers. But why wasn’t there more of it? We ordered over €30 in chicken and only received one tiny pot of the spicy gold. The side dishes – regular fries, sweet potato fries and corn on the cob – were all pretty decent, but again could have come with some sauces. Chips and mayo, anyone?
Korean fried chicken: Gangnam Chicken
Possibly the crispiest of the bunch was Gangnam Chicken – now with two locations, in West and Oost respectively. I’d wanted to eat inside (which is only possible at the branch in West) but at the last moment it was pouring with rain so we ended up getting takeaway from the Oost location. The crispiness apparently comes from the fact that Gangnam Chicken’s wings are double-coated-and-fried. And the small format (drumettes, wings or boneless) means that there’s plenty of surface area for the coating to cover. They offer three sauces, all of which were a bit sweet for my taste, but the Korean pepper sauce was at least moderately spicy. I also loved their kimchi!
More Korean fried chicken: SOJU
Opening in 2023, SOJU is relative a newcomer on the fried chicken scene – but it’s got very popular very quickly. From the fried chicken point of view, I can see why: their spicy-sweet sauce-laden chicken, sprinkled with crushed peanuts, was the business. The rest, however, left a lot to be desired: the other menu items we tried (be it the bulgogi beef rolls or the chicken salad) were pretty lacklustre, and I wasn’t a fan of the soju itself (a Korean distilled, grain-based spirit) – though that may just be personal preference. Where they really fell down was the service: trying to order was like an endurance sport, and when our second round of food did come to the table, the wait staff failed to take the dirty plates from round one away. These are pretty basic issues. That said, the fried chicken was fantastic – so perhaps order it to go?
Fried chicken with vegetarian friends: Feed Amsterdam
More than just food, Aussie restaurant and bar Feed combines a radio studio and a focus on music and community with delicious all-day dishes (not to mention a popular weekly pub quiz). And while the menu overall now features far more veg-led dishes, one meaty item that’s still going strong is the buttermilk fried chicken. A generous portion of hot, crispy, delicious chicken that’s served with (what I think is) siracha mayonnaise. It’s a good sharing-sized plate for a couple of friends having a borrel. And if the rest of your friends are vegetarian, they’ll be equally happy with the cauliflower wings.
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