The third Weekly Wang review sees us visit one of the old guard. Randy’s Wing Bar (the restaurant) may have only just opened in the summer of 2016 but its owners, Richard and Andy, have been in the wing game for a long time.

The pair set up Randy’s as a pop-up in 2013, and were so successful with it that they became the first ever international competitor invited to attend the National Buffalo Wing Festival (the ‘Superbowl of buffalo wings’) in New York. Impressive stuff. And to top that off, they also set up and run the incredibly popular Wing Fest that happens each year in the capital. No wonder they can stake a claim to be ‘London’s best chicken wing’ restaurant. They clearly know their wings.

Nevertheless, any place that is dedicated to the humble wing, and to pushing its culinary boundaries, is definitely on The Weekly Wang’s list of places to visit.

Randy’s Wing Bar: The Facts

Name: Randy’s Wing Bar

Location: Canalside, Hackney Wick, E15 (a really lovely spot on the canal but tricky to get to)

Opening Hours: Every day. 12:00-11:00/30pm (day dependent; Monday 6-11pm)

Time of Visit: Friday; 6:45pm (no wait)

Weather: A sit outside kind of day. So we did.

Randy’s Wing Bar: The Ratings

Presentation: Wings were freshly made, and beautifully presented; which accentuated how good they already looked. A little too much parsley garnishing for my liking, but others may love this additional bit of green, especially since there is no celery on the side. Not that I’m complaining.

Randy’s Wing Bar: The Wings

Temperature and Texture: Wings arrived hot. There was a crunch to them, but there could’ve been a little more (I’m clearly a demanding guy), which might have helped withstand the sauce softening them slightly as time went by.

Size: Size was inconsistent. But chickens are free-range which would explain it. Bowl made up of flats and drums. 6 bites to the wing. Lovely stuff.

Flavour: The sauce tasted homemade – it was sharp and had a nice tang to it. The meat was tender, and subsequently quite tasty. Nothing more to say really. Absolutely spot on.

Heat: The sauce had what can only be described as a ‘lip-smacking’ heat to it. Warm but you weren’t reaching for the water after every other bite.

Accessories: Unusually, the truffle blue cheese sauce is served on top of the wings. The mix with the buffalo is proportionally good, and works well. However, the truffle can get lost at times and I always like the option of having the sauce on the side.

Cost: Not an unreasonable price at all but could always be cheaper. #Brexit

Extra: A discard bin, your own kitchen roll, and a chilled ice water jug; Randy’s is on fire when it comes to supplementaries.

Randy’s Wing Bar: The Bottom Line

There’s a great deal of love in these buffalo wings and you won’t be disappointed in the slightest by them.

For those who like variety and innovation, Randy’s is definitely worth a visit. They really do have a style to suit everyone (Nashville Hot also coming soon). I’ll certainly be venturing down for their all you can eat Monday offer, and for another Hemingway Daiquiri, which was excellent.

Header Image Credit: Jenni Sparks