A popular American fast food chain, hailed by some fans as "better than KFC," is gearing up to open 16 new branches across the UK.
Slim Chickens, which made its UK debut in 2020, has announced plans to expand significantly in 2025, with several new locations set to open in London and beyond.
Among the new branches, Wembley will welcome its first Slim Chickens on February 25, followed by Leicester Square and Edgware Road, both slated to open on March 13.
The expansion will bring the UK total to 66 Slim Chickens locations, adding to its presence in major regions, including the northeast, southeast, Midlands, Wales, and Scotland.
The Leicester Square and Edgware Road restaurants will offer seating for 125 and 90 diners, respectively, providing a spacious dine-in experience.
Rapid expansion plans
Slim Chickens is on track to open two new branches every month for the next five months, aligning with its ambitious UK growth strategy.
Founded in Arkansas in 2003, the chain has more than 200 restaurants in the US, serving Southern-inspired chicken dishes. The UK menu will feature signature items such as hand-breaded chicken tenders, Buffalo wings, sandwiches, wraps, and salads, along with fried pickles and Texas toast.
A standout feature of Slim Chickens is its wide variety of house sauces, with 15 different options ranging from cayenne ranch and blue cheese to honey mustard and Korean BBQ.
A taste of southern hospitality
According to the company’s UK team, Slim Chickens was founded with the mission of bringing Southern hospitality to a fast-casual dining setting.
Ben Blore, Head of Operations at Slim Chickens, expressed enthusiasm about the expansion, stating:
“Our team is dedicated to ensuring every guest experiences our fresh, cooked-to-order chicken and authentic Southern hospitality at its finest.”
Competition heats up in the UK fried chicken market
Slim Chickens isn’t the only US-based fried chicken chain expanding in the UK. Popeyes, another major player in the industry, recently announced plans to open 45 new locations nationwide.
Since launching in the UK in 2021, Popeyes has gained a strong following, having opened 33 branches last year alone. Its menu includes spicy chicken burgers, buttermilk chicken, fries, mac & cheese, and Louisiana-style biscuits with gravy.
With Popeyes and Slim Chickens both aggressively expanding, UK fried chicken lovers have more options than ever.
Whether you’re a fan of hand-breaded tenders, house-made sauces, or Southern-style comfort food, 2025 is shaping up to be a big year for fried chicken in the UK. Photo by The Bushranger, Wikimedia commons.