Clucking 'ell!

London is obsessed with chicken shops. But, this January the capital got its first vegan fried chicken restaurant. Two meat eaters went to find out what all the fuss was about ...

Firstly, not only is there over 8,000 deep-fried poultry shops in London, but now we have someone who goes around and rates them too. Fried chicken isn't just a drunken post-pub cuisine or a cheap-eat for kids after school, it's an entire culture.

London is always looking for the next new thing. It's a hotspot for being the first to tap into new trends in fashion, technology and otherwise. In the last few years there has been a fitness revival, and more and more people are interested in their health and well-being - and that goes for what we are shoving in our gobs as well.

Last October, the World Health Organisation declared 50g of processed meat a day, or less than two slices of bacon, increased the chances of developing colon cancer by 18%. Whilst a bacon sarnie is not as bad as smoking, perhaps it are announcements like these along with films like Cowspiracy or Beyond the Flood, that are consequently making people give up meat?

Last May, the Guardian reported that in the last 10 years there has been a 350% increase in people deciding to eat a plant based diet, and after todays food at Temple of Hackney, it's easy to see why - vegan food packed with flavour.

The front of the vegan takeaway

Ironically situated next to a Halal butcher, the "worlds first vegan fried chicken" restaurant has a queue out the door. Arriving hungry to Morning Lane on a late Sunday afternoon, I'm slightly put off that it's not a sit down restaurant.

It's essentially a no-frills takeaway - place your order, wait and get going. What little dining furniture they do have is covered in the previous diners rubbish. But you can overlook this, as the staff are rushed off their feet, and still managing to be friendly.

After a short 15 minute wait, we find a small table outside with two stools to eat the contents within our brown doggy bag. I'm also feeling a bit dubious that my steak-loving other half is going to toss his food away on the first munch.

All this was only £21

Coleslaw and the heavenly mac & cheese

My "chicken" is crispy and has a meat-like texture, the buns are soft, the fries are perfect, the coleslaw is flavoursome and the mac & cheese is out of this world. Silence ensues, and judging by the unnoticed mayonnaise on the end of my boyfriend's nose, I think it's safe to assume he is enjoying it.

According to Hackney Gazette, Temple of Hackney owner Rebecca O'Shea used to work in KFC and had always missed her fried chicken since turning vegan a decade ago. Coming from Melbourne, she was amazed by the amount of chicken shops in the capital and a lack of vegan restaurants, and in early 2016, Rebecca set up a street-food stall in Brick Lane before launching the restaurant.

The meat-free substitute they use is called seitan, and is wheat-gluten based.

Post meal, he says: "If you were drunk, you would not know the difference."

Talking to another satisfied customer, she says: "I've travelled all the way from Canada for this."

So, if a staunch meat eater finds it a nice alternative and somebody travelling nearly 4,000 miles to try this isn't enough to convince you, I don't know what is.

Stick to your Zinger Burger, but be warned, you're missing out.

Try for yourself - 10 Morning Lane, E9 6NA