KFC or Korean fried chicken is one of the most gloriously compelling eating experiences there is. It can turn the modern eater into ancient hunter-gatherer, where only bare hands will do, shovelling crisply coated flesh in to our salivating mouths. However chic you are, however much of a compulsive clean freak, it’s out of the question to use cutlery. It’s a sleeves-rolled-up, hunker-down operation that requires coming up for air when you’re ready for the next piece. It’s commitment to the cause and my god it’s worth it. To be this good, the chicken lends itself to slow cooking, each portion is made to order so be prepared to wait, but again it’s worth it. The finished product is the colour of tantalising tan with a fiendishly crispy coating. You can have yours covered in their lustful sweet-salty-soy or chilli glaze, the latter can be adjusted to levels of scalp burn and delivers a kick coming out the next day. If neither tickles your fancy then get them naked, ya big woose.
We start with Jinro Chamisol soju coming in at 17.2%, a clear alcoholic beverage of Korean descent. The sweet liqour is usually glugged chilled and neat, but some mix it with their beer, most often Hite.
We start with “half and half”, a whole bird is expertly dismantled and then is fried until the craggy batter its dredged in becomes golden and the flesh within steams. Cooking chicken on the bone always gives a moister result – it’s no exception here. It’s called “half and half” as one half is glazed in sweet soy and the other a sticky amber coloured sauce, then it’s served in roasting pan with folding handles. Every bite gives a virtuous combination of snap, crunch, chewy rendered skin and steaming hot chicken. It’s a wonder of culinary engineering.
Our second visit
This time we try their sides, decent sweet potato fries £4.80 and onion rings £4.80. These aren’t items that induce shredded abs but they will induce a smile or two.
Their chilli glazed chicken £18.50 is a scalp-tingling, mouth-watering miracle. If you’re after a serious kick of heat, this dish is an absolute must-order – fiery, flavourful, and impossible to resist.
Here’s the half and half £18.50
We also try their half and half sticky nuggets £12.50 which are made exclusively with breast meat, it’s ideal if you don’t fancy nibbling around the bones.
Chick & Beers isn’t all about chicken – they also serve a full rack of oven ribs £18.50 that get blasted with high heat, caramelizing the sugars in the glaze and intensifying the sauce’s rich, sticky body. The ribs come with crispy, rustling chips and the meat is tender enough to slide right off the bone. Still, we wouldn’t order them again, not because they’re bad, but because they feel more like a box ticked. When the chicken is this good, it’s hard to look elsewhere.
We grin and graze
Visit three involves nieces and siblings in tow
We order sticky nuggets in chilli glaze £12.50, tempered on to a sweeter side to satisfy the sweet tooth’s on the table.
The sweet potato chips are a staple £4.80
And so are the onion rings £4.80
Mozzarella sticks £5.20 are fresh from the test kitchen, it’s the very definition of teenage dirt bag filth.
We also ordered some half and half spring onion chicken £19.50 which is exclusively breast meat, it’s great for those who don’t want to nibble flesh on the bone.
Another item fresh from the test kitchen are the spam fries, they were a two finger salute to January’s good diet intentions and come with the same crunchy overcoat which did exactly what it says on the tin, speaking of tins they were served in their original tins to remind you of the mystery swine that you were consuming.
Three years later – I’m back to get another fistful of chicken.
First up: a large basket of spring onion chicken £22.50. Thinly sliced spring onions are soaked in ice water until they curl and bloom, creating a pungent, eye-catching garnish that brings a sharp freshness to the craggy, fresh-from-the-fryer chicken. They use breast meat here, not juicy but not dry and well protected by the crust. I went in hard on the honey mustard sauce, sweet, tangy, and boldly nostalgic. The kind that takes me straight back to childhood McNugget dunking, with enough sinus-clearing pep to remind you it means business.
Their heart-shaped jumbo crusted wings (£13.50 for 12) arrive dusted in Cajun seasoning and looking every bit as indulgent as they sound. Big, meaty, and aggressively crisp, the crust clings on with intent while the Cajun spice brings warmth, savouriness, and a gentle hum of heat rather than outright fire. They’re the kind of wings you eat with full commitment, fingers slick, jaw working, and zero regrets.
The Half Half whole chicken £22.50 is pure indulgence, served bones intact and proudly messy. Served in an oval tin, deeply crisped and golden – one half comes in a spicy chilli while the other is glazed to a glossy sheen garlic soy. The sauce clings lovingly to every curve, pooling slightly at the joints, and the whole thing is finished with a scatter of crispy shallots for extra crunch and aroma. It’s bold and built for hands-on eating, the kind of dish that turns the table silent except for crunching and satisfied sighs.
Onion rings £4.90 and sweet potato fries £4.90 two sides done right. The onion rings are golden halos of crisp, light batter that crunch satisfyingly with every bite, revealing sweet, tender onion inside. No greasy sogginess here, just a lovely snap and moreishness. We’re fans of the sweet potato fries – vibrant orange sticks, crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy within, with just the right touch of natural sweetness.
A few months later – I’m back with my nieces (Sept 23).
Onion rings £4.90 and sweet potato fries £4.90 remain top notch, with the onion rings delivering that perfect crunch every time. The sweet potato fries, however, were a bit overdone this time, leaving behind a slight bitter aftertaste – still good, but not quite at their best.
What we got differently this time around were the sticky nuggets (400g) £13.90 These boneless chicken breast nuggets come perfectly crispy, sprinkled with sesame seeds and tossed a pan-fried glaze garlic soy for a savoury, umami slap.
Five visits in, and the Half Half glazed chicken at Chick & Beers still holds its ground. The crispy fried half stays golden and crunchy, while the chilli-spicy garlic soy glazed side continues to deliver that glossy, punchy glaze that I crave. Bones intact, sauce generous, and those crispy shallots on top still add the perfect crunch. Consistency like this is rare, and it’s exactly why I keep coming back for more.
After several visits, the heart-shaped Cajun wings at Chick & Beers still bring that big, bold crunch and smoky spice kick. However, I’m starting to notice they’re edging a bit too salty for my taste lately. Still delicious and meaty, but hopefully they dial back the salt just a touch to keep them hitting the right balance
The spring onion chicken is still consistently slapping – crispy, juicy, and crowned with those fresh, curled spring onions that bring a sharp, vibrant hit every time. That honey mustard sauce remains the perfect sweet-tangy partner, making this one of those dishes you can count on to deliver, visit after visit.
Sides like coleslaw £3.70 and pickled daikon 70p bring the perfect hit of freshness and acidity – just the lactic tang you need to cut through all that rich, indulgent goodness. They’re the bright, crisp counterbalance that keeps the whole meal feeling lively and balanced.
Six visits deep and I’m still finding new reasons to love Chick and Beers. This time, I brought along my brother, his daughters, wife and a school friend with his son and daughter- nine hungry diners ready to dive in. The spread was a proper celebration of all good things – deep fried.
Sides held their own too. Onion rings (£4.90) stayed perfectly crisp; sweet potato fries (£4.90) were slightly overcooked again, leaving a hint of bitterness, but still popular with the kids. And oldie but goodie to the table this visit were the spam fries a playful twist on the classic. Crisply coated, salty strips of spam, fried until golden, they brought that addictive processed hit that had both adults and kids reaching back for more.
And the sides of coleslaw and pickled daikon? They were essential – a bright, tangy counterpoint that cut through the richness on the plate. Freshness and acidity keeping everything lively.
The Half Half whole chicken stopping the show once again – half fried to golden deliciousness, doused in sticky chilli and the other half glazed in garlic soy, all topped with crispy shallots that add a welcome crunch. Bones intact, sauce generous, and still consistently brilliant after all these visits.
The heart-shaped jumbo Cajun wings arrived next – big, meaty, and dusted with that smoky seasoning we all love. They still pack a punch, though I did notice they’re still leaning a bit salty lately.
Of course we order the spring onion chicken £22.50, as consistently slapping as ever. Those curled, ice-water-soaked spring onions brought a sharp, fresh crunch that cut through the crisp, tasty chicken breast. The honey mustard sauce – sweet, tangy, and nose singeing.
Seven visits in – this time I bring my dad and siblings. I switched things up and came for lunch with my dad and siblings – a welcome change from the late-night sessions that tend to send me into weird dream spirals and force me to chug water at 3 AM. Daytime definitely suits this place better.
The Cajun wings £14.50 brought their usual uncompromised flavour and crunch, though I noticed the saltiness creeping up a bit again.
The Half Half chicken (£23) remains a standout; fried to a golden crunch, half glazed in that sticky, spicy-sweet chilli and the other in garlic soy, all topped with those irresistibly crispy shallots.
And the spring onion chicken? It’s still delivering every time – crispy, fresh, and bursting with that bright, sharp onion bite.
The sides of coleslaw £3.70 and pickled daikon £1 were absolute palate savers, helping with a crisp, tangy lift that cut through all the richness. The onion rings £4.90 and fries £3.80 were excellent too and this tome the sweet potato fries £4.90 were on the right side of cooked. Lunch at Chick & Beers hits the spot just as well as dinner, without the late-night aftermath. It’s proof that sometimes switching the clock makes all the difference.
Verdict
When did I go? June 19, Dec 19, Jan 20, Feb 23, Sept 23, Oct 23, Apr 25.
The damage: Expect to pay £20/25 per head with booze
The good: What Chick & Beers absolutely nails every time is the star of the show – the chicken. Whether it’s their signature Half Half or the spring onion variety, the bird is cooked to perfection, juicy and bursting with bold flavour. Each plate arrives with a mouth-puckering bowl of pickled daikon cubes, a brilliant palate cleanser that resets your taste buds, readying you for the next delicious assault on the senses. I’m running out of superlatives at this point, so here’s the simple truth; get yourself down to New Malden and bring some boisterous, high-spirited cluck action into your life.
The bad: On some of my visits, things didn’t quite hit the mark. The much-loved Cajun wings were noticeably getting too salty, overshadowing their usual smoky kick. The sweet potato fries can be overcooked, leaving a bitter, burnt aftertaste that was hard to ignore. Even the glazes, usually a highlight can feel a bit heavy-handed with the sugar and cloying. Consistency can sometimes slip, but this is a place I trust – you can tell from the number of my visits right.
Rating: 4.25/5
Would I go again? I’m plotting the next visit as I’m typing this.
Address: 24 Coombe Rd, New Malden KT3 4QE
Web: https://www.instagram.com/chickandbeers/
Leave a Reply