Geoy Kai LinJoin the Writers’ Room as we pass our verdict on whether the hottest fried chicken joint in town is serving clout or actual quality.
Wild, hilarious, iconic—these are just a few words fans use to describe The Sidemen, the entertaining UK-based group of seven. With 22.4 million YouTube subscribers, they’re known for their high-energy challenges and unbeatable group chemistry, they’ve mastered the art of going viral. But beyond YouTube, did you know they’ve also launched their own restaurant chain?
SIDES by The Sidemen opened its first physical location in Wembley, England, on 24 February 2022—and as of June 5 2025, it’s landed on our local shores.
The Writer’s Room took a bite (or a few) to see if the buzz around this fast food sensation really holds up—ranking each item on a tier list from S to D:
- S for ‘aScended to heaven’
- A for ‘Absolutely delicious’
- B for ‘Banger, but could be better’
- C for ‘Can’t make it’
- D for ‘Dogwater’
Here’s our unfiltered review.
Appetisers
Waffle Fries:
We tried both the Classic and Ultimate Loaded Waffle Fries, starting from $5.50. The Classic came with a kick of cayenne seasoning, while the Ultimate Loaded was topped with sliced jalapeños, crispy onion bits, and SIDES’s signature secret sauce.
While both versions were well-seasoned and the jalapeños added a satisfying heat, the fries themselves lacked the crispy texture we hoped for—they were unfortunately soggy by the time we dug in. The Ultimate Loaded’s secret sauce was also a letdown, with a gelatinous, overly thick texture that made for a less-than-appealing bite.
That said, based on flavour alone, we’re rating the Classic Waffle Fries a B and the Ultimate Loaded Waffle Fries an A.
Corn Ribs:
Rigid, dry, and underwhelming—the Corn Ribs, priced from $4, were a major letdown. While the exterior had a nice char and smoky aroma, they didn’t look appetising—and biting into them revealed even more disappointment. The corn was hard and tough to chew, and the seasoning didn’t soak through, leaving the inside bland and tasting undercooked.
Overall, the Corn Ribs get a D rating from us.
Chilli Poppers:
Lovers of jalapeños, rejoice—the Chilli Poppers truly popped off! Priced from $4, each popper featured a lightly breaded, crispy exterior, a tart, melty cream cheese filling, and a spicy, juicy jalapeño at the core.
The generous amount of cream cheese was a pleasant surprise, adding a rich contrast beyond the heat.
With flavour, texture, and balance all on point, the Chilli Poppers easily earn an S rank from us.
Mains
Chicken Burgers:
We munched on both the Classic and Ultimate Nashville Burgers, starting from $12.50. The Classic featured a succulent fried chicken patty smothered in SIDES’s secret sauce, topped with tomato slices, and nestled between fluffy, buttered buns.
In contrast, the Ultimate Nashville’s patty was noticeably smaller, sporting a bold reddish-orange hue—a fiery warning that we’d chosen the Insane spice level. Swapping out the usual lettuce, it came heaped with coleslaw and pickle slices, adding a tangy twist to the heat.
While both burgers were undeniably tasty, they provided a messy eating experience—the Classic’s sauce dripped with every bite, and the Ultimate Nashville’s slaw kept sliding out of the bun. What’s more, the Insane spice level on the Ultimate Nashville barely registered, which was baffling given its intimidating name and status as the hottest option on the menu.
Our verdict? The Classic Burger obtains an A for its well-executed flavours—simple, but done right. The Ultimate Nashville earns a B, primarily due to its smaller portion and underwhelming spice level.
Add-ons
Sauces:
Ever the curious (and admittedly gluttonous) bunch, we picked up four of the nine sauces SIDES has to offer—Garlic Mayo, Chipotle, XIX Buffalo, and the intriguing Chocolate BBQ, each priced from $2.
Best sauce(s): The Chipotle and XIX Buffalo exceeded our expectations. The Chipotle was sweet, tangy, and creamy, making it a perfect match for both appetisers and mains. The XIX Buffalo, on the other hand, was a refined take on the classic buffalo hot sauce, delivering a balanced, moderate kick that you simply can’t go wrong with.
Worst sauce: Regrettably, the Chocolate BBQ tasted just as odd as it sounds. The smoky BBQ notes clashed with the sweet, earthy hints of chocolate, resulting in a strangely bitter aftertaste that left us more confused than impressed.
Milkshake:
To wash our meal down, we sipped on the Salted Caramel Milkshake, priced at $9.90. Light on the milk, not too sweet, and satisfyingly smooth in consistency, it delivered a rich caramel flavour that refreshed our palate. However, it didn’t quite provide the wow-factor we were looking for.
All in all, the Salted Caramel Milkshake receives a high B ranking from us.
So, should you try SIDES?
Much like a certain fried rice joint in Johor Bahru opened by a popular Malaysian comedian, the food here, unfortunately, didn’t live up to the hype. Given the steep price point—and the fact that we spent a total of $58.80, we were expecting something far more impressive. Instead, most of what we tried was “mid” at best.
If you’re after both flavour and value, you might be better off with more affordable fast food chains, where the quality often justifies the price. Take Five Guys, for example—while their burgers are priced similarly to SIDES, they deliver real quality that leaves you feeling satisfied and like you got your money’s worth.
That said, if you’re a die-hard Sidemen fan, by all means, come down to SIDES, give your taste buds a go, and decide for yourself!
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