Where To Eat Montreal’s Best Fried Chicken
“I know everybody is a closet fried chicken lover!” Said Kimberly Lallouz at the opening of her restaurant, Bird Bar — we agree. We’ve been receiving non-stop requests for our picks of Montreal’s best fried chicken. For those of you hungry for a piece of lightly dredged, perfectly seasoned, fried until golden-brown chicken, look no further.
First, a bit of history: Fried chicken is deeply rooted in African-American culture. However, the true origins of the dish are unknown. In the U.S., fried chicken played a major role in the economic emancipation of the black community, particularly for women, at the turn of the Civil War. Recipes for fried chicken were passed down from generation to generation in African-American families, eventually leading to women, newly-freed from slavery, setting up kiosks in train stations. Legend has it that it was then possible to follow the migration of Black Americans north because of the chicken bones that ended up on the side of the tracks. These trains were even given the name “Chicken Bone Express”. Fried chicken later became a Sunday staple frequently served after Mass, hence the evocative nickname Gospel Bird. More info here.
As per usual, Montreal has plenty of great fried chicken offered in a range of styles. Below are our suggestions of where to get the best fried chicken in Montreal.
Épicerie Pumpui
On its beautiful premises that operates as both a grocery store and a restaurant, Épicerie Pumpui serves traditional Thai cuisine, somewhat confusingly, in the heart of Little Italy. Among the many exceptional dishes on the menu is l’Épicerie’s addictive fried chicken — one of the city’s best. Like the rest of the menu, the fried chicken is particularly spicy for sensitive taste buds and is executed with the same restraint that makes every dish at Pumpui a success. Pumpui’s fried chicken is perfect for lovers of fried chicken looking for new flavours or simply to eat an excellent rendition of the dish at a low price.
Montréal
Icehouse
Icehouse is neither fine-dining nor fast food — it lies somewhere in-between; an unpretentious place where you can eat well without worrying about counting calories. Icehouse is a charming and casual establishment in the Plateau serving a delicious tex-mex menu. The varied menu includes everything from ribs to burritos, but above all, Icehouse makes some of the best fried chicken in Montreal! Served by half or full buckets (five or ten pieces) the classic double-fried chicken is juicy, tasty, and oh so crispy. As soon as the chicken leaves the fryer it’s tossed in the restaurant’s wildly delicious secret sauce (sweet and spicy). Icehouse is one of our favourite places to eat fried chicken.
Montréal
Bird Bar
On the menu at Bird Bar, you’ll find among other things a section entirely devoted to fried chicken! The chicken is served in a few different formats: two pieces, three pieces, 12 pieces, as “mockpok” ( a vegan substitute which is absolutely delicious), as chicken wings or with waffles and watermelon. You can order the fried chicken with different side dishes: fries, mashed potatoes, cornbread, feta and melon salad or a green salad. The restaurant also offers a choice of 13 different sauces. The chicken at Bird Bar is sourced from La Ferme des Voltigeurs which raises quality, free-range, grain-fed birds. What’s special about Bird Bar’s fried chicken is that they fry their chicken using 40-60% less frying fat than most!
Montréal
Mon ami
Mon Ami BBQ is one of our favourite Korean restaurants. We love a lot of what they do but mainly we come here for the best Korean fried chicken in the city! Mon Ami’s fried chicken comes in several different formats and options: classic, garlic and soy sauce, sweet and spicy, with cheese, etc. The chicken is juicy and fried twice rather than once, which gives a certain thickness to the breading. We love the fried gizzard that looks like some sort of fried chicken candy! The establishment is warm (and also offers a terrace in the summer) and is always crowded which can mean long lines on the weekend, but it’s worth waiting for. Some pretty unbeatable specials are offered for lunch and the affordable prices in the evening are always nice.
Montréal
Maneki Comptoir Asiat
Maneki Comptoir Asiat’ is a superb small pan-Asian counter that opened in Hochelaga Maisonneuve serving a wide array of dishes for dine-in or takeaway. The restaurant, even if it operates mainly as a take-out counter, has a dine-in capacity of about thirty seats. The decor is modern, refreshing and refined — in our opinion, it’s among the most beautiful counters in Montreal. Maneki’s take on fried chicken uses the Cantonese method of salt and pepper frying and applies it to wings (they also do a delicious salt and pepper tofu). If you live around the corner or pass by, the address is worth stopping in for a bite!
Montréal
Nouveau Palais
Nouveau Palais’ retro decor reminds us of all the wonderful corner diners of 1950’s Montreal. Chef Kevin Weldon and his team kept the menu short and sweet with an emphasis on doing the classics very well. While Nouveau Palais is known for one of the best burgers in Montreal they also do an excellent plate of fried chicken served with a cider BBQ sauce and a kale salad. For brunch, you can get that same fried chicken served with waffles and maple syrup! To drink, there’s a nice little wine list and some classic cocktails. We love the 50’s ambiance and the fact that the kitchen closes late on weekends.
Montréal
Les Street Monkeys
One of the few Cambodian restaurants in town, Les Street Monkeys celebrates the vibrant flavours of Cambodian street food in a setting reminiscent of an energetic night market. On the menu is a selection of traditional street food that includes fresh salads, grilled meat and fish and of course the addictively good Khmer fried chicken drumsticks served with a sauce of shrimp paste, kaffir lime leaf, lemongrass and garlic.
Montréal
Dandy
Restaurant Dandy, comfortably located in Old Montreal, is open for breakfast and lunch. It’s a refuge for local passers-by who wish to escape the hustle and bustle of the financial district. From the kitchen, you’ll find a menu offering refined comfort food elevated by quality ingredients and masterful execution. Personally, we love the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich with apple remoulade.
Montréal
Mon Petit Poulet
Mon Petit Poulet is a gourmet rotisserie in Rosemont. Think fried chicken and ribs served in a warm and inviting atmosphere — this spot aims to please. Their fried chicken, tasty to a fault, stands out for its lack of weighty grease. The fried chicken is also served as part of their popular hot chicken sandwich. A comfortable neighbourhood spot.
Montréal
Brasserie Le Réservoir
Le Réservoir is a brewpub, located on the Plateau Mont-Royal, where one eats as good as they drink. The upscale brasserie features refined and modern decor and a menu of bar-food classics revisited. We particularly recommend the fried chicken sandwich with ranch dressing — it’s like everything that’s good in life between two burger buns. Try it with one of their exceptional beers!
Montréal
Roch le Coq
This small canteen on Van Horne Avenue in Outremont is none other than Roch le Coq! Inside, an experienced team is cooking some of the best fried chicken in town. Behind the small counter, Oussama, Philippe, Guillaume and Cosmas manage the kitchen. The friendly brigade doesn’t hesitate to hop-off the fryers and deliver dishes straight to the tables. The foursome sources their chicken from the Ferme des Voltigeurs, which is always fresh and guaranteed never frozen. Roch le Coq serves it’s chicken by the piece or by the bucket, in sandwiches, as popcorn chicken and on homemade waffles cooked à la minute. We have an undeniable preference for the fried chicken sandwich, which deservedly earned Roch le Coq a spot on our list of the best fried chicken in Montreal.
Montréal
Luna
Restaurant Luna is a Bring your own wine restaurant on the Plateau Mont-Royal. This charming former French bistro has been tastefully revamped by its new owners and now serves a tantalizing menu of traditional Korean food. Among Luna’s many succulent specialties is a dish of fried chicken tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce and garnished with orange peel and peanut.
Montreal
Mitch Deli
Maxime Gagné’s decadent sandwich shop is reborn in the former Sue’s sandwich shop. On the menu is a fried chicken sandwich, a BLT made with homemade focaccia with pickles and a herbed bacon patty, and a vegetarian falafel sandwich, all of which are among our top sandwiches in Montreal. You’ll also find some pretty delicious honey popcorn chicken (local) and a rhubarb crumble sundae topped with strawberry and white chocolate candies. What a treat! In addition, it is important to know that a large majority of the ingredients are organically grown. There is also a strong will in this team to work with local producers, in order to offer even better and fresher dishes, while keeping very affordable prices!
Montréal
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