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Fried Chicken Face-Off: Korean Chimaek vs. Dave’s Nashville Hot

Fried chicken has stolen hearts worldwide—and London now serves some of the best. This week, we put two viral styles to the test: yangnyeom Korean chimaek at Kokodoo (a family-run Korean fried chicken stall) and Nashville hot chicken at Dave’s Hot Chicken (the UK’s first store of the US chain).

Both deliver heat, crunch, and serious flavour—but only one reigns supreme.

Kokodoo: crispy Korean chimaek with a sweet kick

Born in 2016 from a family food-truck concept, Kokodoo specialises in double-fried Korean chicken glazed with sweet-spicy yangnyeom sauce. Think crackly, thin, almost transparent crust, and chicken that remains juicy inside. They offer half-and-half orders—one side soy-garlic, the other fiery gochujang—plus pickled radish and cold beer to wash it down aptly referred to in Korea as chimaek (chicken + maekju (beer)).

The Chicken

The chicken is take away boxes, topped with sesame seeds, spring onions and fiery red chillis. Each bite starts with an explosion of crunch, then melts into sticky sweetness and heat. The soy-garlic side is mellow and deeply savoury; the gochujang side builds into their signature gentle burn. It’s finger-licking messy, perfectly paired with iced lager, and utterly addictive.

Dave’s Hot Chicken: Unapologetically fiery

Dave’s Hot Chicken made its London debut on Shaftesbury Avenue in 2024, importing the reaper-level heat sensation the chain is known for in the States. Choose your level—from mild tingle to full-blown inferno—served as tenders or sliders with fries and mac’n’cheese.

Finger-lickin’ chicken

Their “hot” level delivers an immediate cayenne punch. It’s fiery, bold, and unapologetic. Yet beyond the burn, there’s a deep caramel sweetness and crispy exterior that balances out. The burger version adds pickles and slaw, bringing savoury brightness against the heat. However, beyond “hot,” the reaper is pure intensity—some diners backed off before finishing.

Face-off

Kokodoo stood out for precision: even glaze, tender thighs, and a harmony of sweet and spicy. The crunch held firm bite after bite. Dave’s brings visceral drama—heat that punches fast and hard—but can overpower the palate without balance.

The Verdict

For purity of flavor and finesse, Kokodoo runs the table. Its chimaek style is addictive yet refined. Dave’s wins for bold theatrical heat, but it can dominate the experience. It’s the difference between a nurturing hug and a fiery punch—both thrilling, but one is lasting. The variety of flavours offered at Kokodoo also gives it an edge.

Streak of Genius: Emilien wins

Émilien, a quiet French librarian from Normandy, recently etched his name in television history by winning 646 consecutive episodes of Les Douze Coups de Midi—earning him over €2.5 million in cash + prizes and 23 cars. His run made him the top-earning and longest-lasting contestant in the world of French game shows.

Les Douze Coups de Midi, a midday quiz show on TF1 airing since 2010, combines general knowledge, puzzles, and a trademark bonus round: the étoile mystère, where contestants guess masked celebrity identities. Émilien not only stayed unbeaten across 646 visits but also unlocked 193 stars, demonstrating both depth and breadth of knowledge .

His method? Patient study, encyclopedic curiosity, and unwavering composure. Unlike reality-based contestants seeking drama, Émilien was the antithesis—measured, disciplined, and thoughtful, a cerebral "mental athlete." His dominance sparked a devoted fanbase drawn to his steady calm rather than brash theatrics. His streak ended in July 2025 when he missed a question on classical architecture, generating coverage that compared his departure to a national event.

Émilien’s story highlights a surprising truth in entertainment: consistent intelligence and dedication can pull larger audiences than viral gimmicks. His milestone challenges producers’ definitions of spectator engagement and raises questions about quiz-show dynamics.

Even Hermès can’t match this price: factory–fresh Birkins now start at around €12–€15k, illustrating how rarity, provenance, and celebrity combine to elevate everyday items into multimillion-euro memorabilia.