Smoking Goat wins Kricket’s annual Fried Chicken Challenge

The Shoreditch-based Thai restaurant was up against an eclectic mix of operators including Coqfighter, Thunderbird Fried Chicken, Kanada-Ya, The Soho Hotel, Daffodil Mulligan and Tonkotsu. 

Topped with fried garlic and shallots, Smoking Goat's chicken thigh was covered in a powder made with galangal, lemongrass, shrimp paste and tamarind powder. 

The leg, meanwhile, was served with a jaew bong, a northern Thai-style smoked chilli relish enriched with egg yolks. 

The judging panel was made up of KFC chief chicken officer Jo Tivers, rapper Professor Green, ES Magazine food and drink editor Joanna Taylor, food influencer Tom Rogers and Kricket co-founder and head chef Will Bowlby.  

“Smoking Goat was a worthy winner who thought about the taste, textures and flavours that go so beautifully with fried chicken,” Tivers says. “It was like a party in your mouth - so much fun. These people really know fried chicken!”

The event was held at Kricket’s Brixton site last night (19 March). Last year, the competition was won by Black Bear Burger.​​ 

Kricket’s Fried Chicken Challenge has now collectively raised a total of £2,300 for The Childhood Trust.