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.
We have received this question many times over the years: where should you go for a really good version in the city? Fried chicken is, at its core, simply breaded chicken fried until crisp and golden. When it is done well, that seasoned crust, with just the right amount of richness, is incredibly satisfying.
Across Montreal, this dish now takes many different forms. You will find it in spots inspired by the American South, in Korean, Japanese, and Caribbean restaurants, in neighbourhood counters, and in more creative kitchens. Crisp, juicy, spicy, or more classic, it is one of those plates that moves easily across styles and cultures while winning over just about everyone. Whether you are craving shareable pieces, delicate karaage, or a more indulgent meal, the city offers plenty of excellent options.
First, a bit of history: fried chicken is deeply rooted in African American culture. That said, Africans and Scots are generally credited as the first to fry chicken. In the United States, the dish played an important role in the economic empowerment of the Black community, particularly for women, around the time of the Civil War. As recipes were passed down through generations in African American families, some women began selling it at railway stations. Legend has it that you could trace the migration northward by the chicken bones left along the tracks. These trains were even nicknamed the Chicken Bone Express. The dish later became a staple of post-church Sunday meals, hence the evocative nickname Gospel Bird. More on that here.
For more suggestions, check out our list of the best chicken wings in Montreal as well as our list of the best fried chicken sandwiches.
As always, Montreal is full of addresses serving excellent versions of this almost sinful dish. Here are a few places where you can enjoy it.
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
Rufus & Anna ⎜ Bar festif, cocktails & rôtisserie à Hochelaga
Rufus & Anna is a modern, welcoming rotisserie with a festive vibe—perfect for boozy dinners with friends or a laid-back date night. The menu delivers comforting, thoughtfully crafted food, alongside a creative cocktail list inspired by hummingbird migration. We’re especially obsessed with their double-breaded fried chicken served with spicy honey. It’s the ideal spot to eat well, drink well, in a polished space designed by the founders of Blind Pig.
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
Dinette Triple Crown
Dinette Triple Crown makes Kentucky-style fried chicken in a 1920’s atmosphere; we love this spot. The music and the decor take you back to simpler times in the south. The fried chicken, which is served in two or three pieces is served with a choice of side dish which includes buttermilk biscuits, mashed potatoes and gravy, pinto beans, sweet potato hash browns, cornbread, braised greens, creamy or traditional coleslaw or hushpuppies. The fried chicken also comes in a sandwich infamously known as the “Big Nasty” ie. chef Colin Perry’s answer to the hot chicken. It’s gluttonous but absolutely delicious. Guests can choose to eat at the counter, in the spacious dining room or you can even opt to borrow a picnic basket in the summer and eat your meal in the park.
Montréal
Mon Ami - Somerled
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
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
Réservoir - Brasseur
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
Restaurant coréen Luna | Korean BBQ in Plateau | Apportez votre vin / BYOW
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
Kitano Shokudo
Kitano Shokudo is an ideal spot for enjoying reimagined Japanese creations in a subdued, intimate setting. Hiroshi Kitano serves comforting Japanese fusion cooking made with quality ingredients and a great deal of care. It is also one of our favourite places in Montreal for excellent chicken karaage, served with a yuzu-lemon mayo: tender, juicy pieces, delicately fried with a remarkable lightness.
Montréal
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