There is a new addition to the plentiful food options in the Victoria shopping centre, Monga is a fried chicken shop with more than a twist. What’s on offer here is very different from what we have come to know and love in KFC – this is chicken with a difference.
The distance between Kentucky and Taiwan is 7,875 miles and while the basic elements of the dishes are fried chicken, is the same the fact, their origins are from different sides of the world is obvious from the first bite. The Taiwanese flavours are impossible to miss, they run throughout every component of the food served up at Monga.
In Taiwan fried chicken is a very popular street snack and Monga are bringing those authentic flavours to the people of Nottingham.
They first opened their doors in London’s Chinatown a year ago and have chosen Nottingham as the destination for their second restaurant. Each chicken fillet is marinated in honey before being dipped into batter and plunged into the fryers. Their chips come topped with a spicy seasoning containing their own homemade chilli powder, this tastes brilliant. They are certainly much better than your average fast-food chips. The portion sizes are one of the main attractions of Monga, they are definitely not for the faint-hearted.
The freshness of the food is fantastic. We have got far too used to fast-food joints serving food that has been sitting around being kept warm. In contrast at Monga, the freshness of the food is fantastic. How often are the chips you get at McDonald’s or KFC lukewarm at best, this isn’t the case for Monga. Every piece of chicken is cooked fresh-to-order by the chefs. This has a significant impact on your visit in two ways: first, it will mean that you enjoy piping-hot juicy chicken but second it does mean that you may have to wait a while in busy times. From my experience, I believe that the quality of the product that Monga deliver outclasses the one produced by Colonel Sanders down the road.
To quote a scene from Gavin and Stacey:
“What is that secret blend of 11 herbs and spices do you think?”
“I know you just can’t beat it can you.”
Unfortunately for Nessa we still don’t know what KFC’s secret blend is, but it might just have been beaten by the new kid on the block. You can either have just the chicken fillet with a seasoning of your choice, or you can have the combo meal where you get chips, a can of drink and a salad topped with a Taiwanese dressing. The different types of seasonings for your chicken range from The King, with a salt and pepper seasoning, to the Hot Chick which, is topped with their own chilli powder. Both of these have great flavour, with the Hot Chick offering an option for those lovers of all things hot who are fed up of being sold “spicy wings” for them to only have a hint of chilli.
Just the chicken fillet will set you back £7.50 but for £10.80 you can get the combo meal. This is probably more than most people will be used to spending on fast food which will understandably be a sticking point but from my experience, Monga is definitely worth the extra expense.
The menu at Monga is not extensive but I believe this is made up for by the quality of food they are giving to their customers.
I have no doubt that Monga will be a great success in Nottingham and across the country.
Rating: 8/10
By Alex Brinton
Feature image: original
Brilliantly writing article. Very informative.