There is nothing quite like that first bite into a perfectly cooked piece of fried chicken. That oh-so-satisfying crunchy exterior, the juicy meat, the flavourful seasonings – wash it down with a cool fruity drink and you have the ultimate summer treat.
I know I’m not the only one with a special place in their heart for a three-piece combo. In fact, today is National Fried Chicken Day – that’s right, a whole 24 hours dedicated to the stuff. If you’re looking to celebrate this wonderful occasion, you’re in luck. There are plenty of TO restos that make fried chicken meals that will make your mouth water.
Here’s a quick roundup of 10 of the best places in Toronto for fried chicken.
Porchetta and Co.
Don’t let the name fool you. This Dundas and King West mainstay is known for its fried chicken sandwiches almost as much as their slow-cooked porchetta. Plus, they’re always mixing it up with a variety of specials, from Nashville-style, to Buffalo, and even the occasional fried chicken BLT.
The Nashville Fried Chicken Sandwich from Porchetta & Co. (Image: Instagram/@porchettaandco)
PG Clucks
This tiny College St. takeout joint serves up some surprisingly big sandwiches with even bigger flavours. You can’t go wrong with their Classic which features coleslaw, pickles, smoky chilli sauce and buttermilk ranch but if you’re feeling adventurous, try the spicy-sweet Jalapeno Honey served on a honey crueller or the Big Cluck, which is their take on a Big Mac.
The Big Cluck from PG Clucks (Image: Instagram/@jefduo)
School
Liberty Village’s go-to spot for buttermilk fried chicken and waffles certainly does not disappoint. Served with brown sugar butter and hot honey sauce on the side, it’s a sweet and savoury meal that’s totally worth the post-brunch food coma.
Chicken & Waffles from School (Image: Instagram/@choongjai)
Momofuku
If you want to go all out this National Fried Chicken Day, round up a few friends and make a reservation at Momofuku Noodle Bar for their signature fried chicken feast. The meal includes two whole fried chickens, one southern style and one Korean style, and it comes with scallion pancakes, ginger scallion sauce, jalapeno garlic sauce, pickled vegetables, radishes, herbs and tabasco salt on the side.
Momofuku Fried Chicken (Image: Facebook/luckypeach)
Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken
If you’ve ever wanted to eat a piece of fried chicken bigger than your head, this is the place to go. Located in the heart of the city near Yonge and Gerrard, their schnitzel-sized offerings come in a range of flavours and levels of crispiness that will surely satisfy every kind of fried chicken connoisseur.
Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken (Image: Instagram/@tpinz)
Dirty Bird
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to venture down to the deep south for quality chicken and waffles. Just head to Dirty Bird in Kensington Market and order the ODB. The meal – a crispy-yet-juicy quarter leg covered in their signature Dirty Sauce atop a buttery waffle with maple syrup – is a delicious Canadian take on a classic.
The ODB from Dirty Bird (Image: Instagram/@dirtybirdto)
The County General
This hip West Queen West brunch spot is well-known for it’s fun cocktails and ambience, but the real star of the show is their fried chicken thigh sandwich. A juicy, crispy piece of chicken, topped with avocado spread and cilantro and nestled between two milk buns really hits the spot. And if you’re looking to go sans buns, the County Fried Chicken is served on top of craft paper on your table and drizzled with Gochujang & Hoisin Espresso BBQ sauce – it’s a real messy treat!
County Fried Chicken from the County General (Image: Instagram/@cher_elan)
Cluck Clucks
Tucked away on The Esplanade, Cluck Clucks is another top-notch joint for chicken and waffles. While they have the basics down pat, what really sets this place apart are their sauces, showcased perfectly in their Cluck Yeah sandwich. The combination of Dill Mayo and Chipotle Aioli blend surprisingly well together and the creamy sauces compliment the crispy chicken nicely. Just don’t forget the napkins!
The Cluck Yeah Sandwich from Cluck Clucks (Image: Instagram/@whatthefoodto)
The Stockyards
This St. Clair spot has topped “Best of” lists for years and for good reason. Their four piece buttermilk fried chicken dinner is a real winner. Served with a mountain of shoestring fries, dipping sauces and coleslaw, this meal is a classic combo that is anything but basic.
Dinner at The Stockyards (Image: Instagram/@foodpr0n)
The White Brick Kitchen
If decadent comfort food is what you’re after, WBK has it in spades. There are several fried chicken meals on the menu, from sandwiches to half-chicken dinners and even a KFC-style Double Down sandwich, complete with bacon, cheese, sriracha mayo, and a sunny side up egg. Summer diets be damned!
Fried Chicken Sandwich from White Brick Kitchen (Image: Instagram/@toreats)
Featured Image: Instagram/@fred.bk
Did we miss any of the best fried chicken in Toronto? Sound off in the comment section!
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Just the other week, I was at a gathering with friends where we seriously debated about sandwiches for a solid ten minutes. As you can imagine, everyone had very strong opinions about what sandwiches were tops and where to go. We’re lucky to live in a city where our chefs do not kid around when making and preparing the best sammies and today on StyleDemocracy, we’re sharing just some of our favourites:
Brock Sandwich
This tiny sandwich shop packs a huge flavour punch. The combos are classic (strip bacon sandwich) to inventive (BBQ smoked jackfruit) and always made with care.
Dundas Park Kitchen
There is something so cozy and charming about Dundas Park Kitchen, including their sandwich selection. One of my favourites is their Turkey Intern, which has super-moist roast turkey breast with house-made pickles, bacon and caramelized onions.
To-go sandwiches from Dundas Park Kitchen (Image: Instagram/@dundaspark)
California Sandwiches
It’s a Toronto rite of passage to have a California Sandwich. This Italian eatery will have you licking your fingertips of the fresh cooked sauce bound to end up everywhere. Get the eggplant parm or the classic veal, they are a crowd fave.
The classic veal from California Sandwiches (Image: Instagram/@terrylung613)
Porchetta & Co.
Okay so I’m going to let you in on a little secret: while the porchetta sandwich at this namesake venue is pretty legit, you know what you should order? The fried chicken sandwich. With bacon and a Caesar dressing, it’s like a party in your mouth and everyone is invited.
The fried chicken sandwich from Porchetta & Co (Image: Instagram/@porchettaandco)
Rashers
Anything dedicated to the art of bacon already has a seal of approval from me. But an entire sandwich shop dedicated to bacon? It’s a blessed day. One of my favourites is the Bacon & Brie sandwich, complete with caramelized onions and garlic mayo. If that didn’t sell you, then not to fret because they have bacon grilled cheese to bacon caesar sandwiches.
The bacon & brie sandwich from Rashers (Image: Instagram/@eatnmingle)
When The Pig Came Home
For some folks, The Junction may seem so far away. But trust me: you want to make a visit here! This deli either cures, seasons, smokes or roasts their sandwich meat in house daily. Their smoked meat sandwich is a thing of beauty, but don’t take my word for it.
A smoked meat sandwich from When the Pig Came Home (Image: Instagram/@lioraipsum)
La Cubana
Delicious and filling, you won’t try another Cubano in the city like this one.
Pressed Cubano from La Cubana (Image: Instagram/@_anotherfoodblog)
Bitondo’s
Many pizza debates have included a good slice of Bitondo’s, located in Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood. But their deep-fried calzones and meatball sandwiches are nothing to turn your nose at.
Meatball Sandwich from Bitondo’s (Image: Instagram/@skipscarborough)
PG Clucks
If you’re looking for the fried chicken sandwich in the city (according to the judges of 86’d Monday’s at the Drake), then this is the spot. Their chicken sammie is topped with coleslaw giving it an adding crunch and zing. Plus, these sandwiches are mammoth.
The classic from PG Clucks (Image: Instagram/@pgclucks)
Schmaltz Appetizing
We have to thank Anthony Rose (of Rose and Sons and Big Crow fame) for blessing us with the beautiful bagel porn that is Schmaltz. For those who have an affinity for lox and schmear, this is the place to go.
Smoked salmon bagel sandwich from Schmaltz Appetizing (Image: Instagram/@thestaveinvader)
Tortería San Cosme
An amazing addition to Kensington Market serving up twists on the traditional Mexican sandwich. Check out their Nopales which is stuffed with cactus, panela cheese, refritos, avocado and topped with salsa verde.
Torta de Nopales from Torteria San Cosme (Image: Instagram/@sancosme_)
Banh Mi Boys
If you’re wondering if this place is worth the hype (and lunch time line-ups) – yes, it is. The Vietnamese-fusion sandwiches are cheap, filling and super delicious. Try the kimchi fries and banh mi pork belly.
A Banh Mi Boys feast (Image: Instagram/@lifeofivana)
The Black Camel
People travel all the way out to Rosedale for these sandwiches and for good reason: they are incredible. One unforgettable standout is the pulled BBQ pork shoulder which they rub with in-house seasonings and marinate for three days.
The pork shoulder sandwich from The Black Camel (Image: Instagram/@lekatwalk)
Forno Cultura
The sandwiches here are out of this world. It also helps that they bake all their bread in-house, which means as soon as you enter that freshly baked bread smell wafts thru the air. The porchetta sandwich is one of my favourites – it’s simple and feels like you’ve been transported directly to Italy.
The porchetta sandwich from Forno Cultura (Image: Instagram/@tabemononado)
Maker Pizza
While we’re all familiar with the inventive pizza combos that Maker has, you need to check out their messy (and delicious) sandwiches. Case in point: the meatball. It’s a towering beast of gooey and drippy meat and bread awesomeness.
The Meatball from Maker Pizza (Image: Instagram/@angelodamico)
Did we miss any of the best sandwiches in Toronto? Let us know in the comment section.
Featured Image: Brock Sandwich via Instagram/@alxndrdrgz
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