Saiphin Moore to launch Thai fried chicken concept

Called Dang’s, it will specialise in ‘Hat Yai-style’ chicken (named after the southern Thai city where it originates), which is known for its thin crispy coating and peppery, aromatic spicing.

Moore, who is best known as the co-founder of the Rosa’s Thai restaurant chain, launched Slurp Noodles last year as a pop up in Wapping having founded the concept with chef Neil Wager and restaurateur Richard Poole.

The trio launched Slurp’s first permanent restaurant on the former Ceviche site in Soho in February this year, and opened its Spitalfields outpost in May on the site that previously housed Andina.

Dang’s menu will be short and feature fried chicken wings available with a choice of two coatings, larb and zaab, which can be ordered alongside a range of Thai salads including som tum (papaya salad); tum tang (spicy cucumber salad with fish sauce); and tum kow pod (spicy corn salad).

There will also be whole chickens available to share including the ‘signature’ Hat Yai chicken, which is marinated in garlic, pepper, fish sauce and coriander before being deep fried, topped with crispy shallots, and served with bowls of sticky white rice and a choice of dipping sauces.

To drink, Dang’s will offer bottles of Singha and Chang beers, as well as wines, soju, sake, and a menu of Thai-inspired cocktails.

Moore and her Rosa’s Thai co-founder Alex Moore acquired the Ceviche restaurant group, which included the Andina brand, out of administration back in 2019​​.

Ceviche closed its Soho restaurant in December last year​​ and Andina quietly shuttered the following month.

Rosa’s Thai, which is backed by TriSpan and led by Gavin Adair, is one of the UK’s biggest Thai restaurant groups and operates an estate of around 39 restaurants.

Restaurant ​understands that Moore is no longer be involved in the day to day running of Rosa’s Thai, but she remains a figurehead of the business.