If you can’t get enough of the crunchy nuggets of joy that are fried chicken in your life, then this is one for you. Mr Ji, a Taiwanese-inspired fried chicken restaurant is popping up for five weeks in Camden, and there'll be cayenne dips, ginger doughnuts and spiked teas to boot.
It's the brainchild of Sam Green and Samuel Haim, who came up with the idea while hiking in Taipei. Plus, fried food aficionado Simon Whiteside will also be involved, who's normally found diligently battering fish in Camden's self-proclaimed "new-school" fish and chip shop Hook (which is in the same building as the pop-up.)
So, what makes Taiwanese chicken different? For starters, it'll be marinated in that glorious combo of chilli, chicken, ginger and five spice, then deep fried in a special Taiwanese coating. Choose from a whole butterflied chicken breast - The Big Ji - or go smaller with a Half Ji. There'll also be bitesized crispy fried chicken thighs, Mini Jis, to entice you, and a selection of powders for you to dip your chicken in/lick greedily off your fingers, including cayenne, curry and Mr Ji's Secret Mix.
For sides, there'll be sweet potato fries sprinkled with plum powder, plus hot and sour chicken soups, zesty mustard greens . Then, for pudding, warm sweet potato and ginger doughnuts which definitely sounds on the right side of weird.
Apparently, it's not unusual to have cold herbal tea with your fried chicken in Taiwan, so there'll be various infusions on offer on the drinks menu, including jasmine with blood orange and hibiscus, or oolong, lemon and honey. But if you're in the mood for something with a bit more oomph, then you'll be able to spike your tea with whiskey, vodka or gin - genius.
When: 6 Nov - 10 Dec 2017
Where: 63-65 Parkway, Camden Town, London NW1 7PP
More information: Visit their website or follow @mrjirestaurants on Twitter @mrjirestaurants.
