Remember The Clucking Donut, the cult fried chicken and donut shop that earned a devoted following before quietly disappearing? It's back, sort of.
Now reimagined simply as The Clucker, the new spot has landed on the corner of Sukhumvit Soi 77, right beneath BTS Onnut, swapping the tiny original space for a bright, neon-lit restaurant with seating for around 20 people. The donuts are temporarily missing while the restaurant is in its soft-opening phase, but the chicken is every bit as good as you remember.
And make no mistake, these are sandos, not burgers. They take this very seriously.
The Clucker is all about Nashville hot chicken, where Southern fried chicken is dipped in seasoned chili oil before being dusted with spice. The signature Clucker Chicken Sando (B220) features a house-made brioche bun, pickles, fresh slaw, and an absurdly large piece of crispy fried chicken that protrudes well beyond the bread. One bite reveals what separates it from countless imitators: incredibly juicy meat wrapped in an audibly crunchy crust.
The spice scale starts with BareNaked (no spice) before climbing through Extra Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and finally "Cluck Me!", a level reserved for genuine chilli masochists.
Medium delivers a satisfying burn that's probably enough for most spice lovers, but if you're looking to sweat, there are still three hotter levels waiting. Better yet, you can order your crinkle-cut fries dusted with exactly the same spice level, making them dangerously addictive.
On the side, house-made Clucking Sauce and ranch are mandatory dipping companions, while the coleslaw deserves a mention of its own. Thankfully, it's not drowned in mayonnaise, instead providing a fresher, lighter crunch that balances the rich chicken beautifully. The pickles are great, too.
The new location has far more personality than your average fried chicken joint. Bright red tiles, playful neon artwork and tongue-in-cheek signs give it an unmistakably fun vibe, while the soundtrack leans into classic 60s tunes and 90s hip hop. Then there's the bathroom. Press the button inside and the room transforms into a miniature disco, complete with flashing coloured lights, a spinning mirror ball and classic disco anthems. It's gloriously unnecessary, completely ridiculous and so fun.
The only thing missing, for now, is what gave the original shop half its name. Donuts haven't made it onto the menu during soft opening, but we're hoping they'll return soon. We'd also love to see a small craft beer selection added, because this chicken is practically begging to be paired with a cold IPA.
Still, those are minor wishes. Right now, The Clucker serves what is arguably Bangkok's best hot chicken sando, and that's more than enough reason to make the trip to Onnut.
