OK, it’s wildly overused, but when it comes to this particular chicken shop in South Manchester, if you know, you know. Since opening in Chorlton back in 2021, Zaxxfried has built up a reputation that comfortably sets it apart from your average late-night spot. There are a few reasons for that, and most of them are edible.
The first thing that hits you is the sauces. Not just your standard, over-sweet hot wing glaze, but a properly curated line-up that swings from sticky black BBQ to golden buffalo, from fiery Nashville hot to sweet, savoury blends you’ll struggle to put down once you’ve commenced dipping.
Then there’s the chicken itself – a choice of thigh or breast, a small detail that makes a big difference, and the whole thing is supported by bulging bags of waffle fries – crispy, seasoned, and with that abundance of surface area, designed for maximum sauce absorption.
They’ve also made a name for themselves in the pudding arena with their deep-fried Oreos. Imagine a doughnut, but with molten cake inside, drizzled in sweet goo. It’s the kind of chaotic little treat that tells you Zaxxfried isn’t just churning out fast food – they’re playing with textures, indulgence and nostalgia all at once.
For owner Mus, Zaxxfried is a continuation of family tradition. His dad ran Kansas Chicken just a few doors down Wilbraham Road in the early 90s, one of Manchester’s original chicken shop institutions. Decades later, he admits that even now he still has to call his dad for advice every now and then.
What makes the story even better is that Mus isn’t full-time in hospitality. By day he’s a pharmacist, applying the same precision he learned in that world to the science of fried chicken. The result is food that’s consistent, perfectly fried, crisp outside and juicy inside every single time. You can tell there’s testing, tweaking and care behind the menu – the kind of quiet detail that separates Zaxxfried from the crowd.
More recently, Mus has also launched a diffusion brand, Koopfried. It’s a value-driven spin-off that still carries those signature Zaxx flavours, widening the circle while keeping the quality intact. For locals, it means even more access to the sauces and chicken they’ve come to queue for on Wilbraham Road.
Zaxxfried isn’t about glossy fit-outs or over-complicated concepts. It’s about taking a familiar format and lifting it with flavour, family history and a bit of fun. That’s why people travel across the city to pick up a bag (they’ve had customers from London arriving for the deep fried Oreos), and why it keeps cropping up in conversations about Manchester’s best fried chicken.
So if you’re in Chorlton and you see the glow of Zaxxfried (and Koop’s) sign, step inside. Order a box of Nashville hot wings, grab a heap of waffle fries, and don’t even think about leaving without at least one deep-fried Oreo. Because when it comes to this little chicken shop with a big reputation, you really do need to know.
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