651703 Fri Sep 11 12:29:41 -0700 2009 45 57 Western Canada 0 5022730 Dear Chowhounds, Do I have a challenge for you! So recently I was reading a foodie book, and the author spoke about the fried chicken he had in the Southern USA. So my question is, where is the best fried chicken in Calgary? Fri Sep 11 12:29:41 -0700 2009 272838 ilikebigmactoo 1 5022774 chicken karaage I had at O Shima last night was excellent. Fri Sep 11 12:43:51 -0700 2009 5022730 12135 John Manzo 2 5022940 man.... if they only had Popeye's or Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles here Fri Sep 11 13:34:14 -0700 2009 5022774 106010 bobthebuilder 3 5023326 oooh Roscoe's!!!! Fri Sep 11 16:15:51 -0700 2009 5022940 1100491 messier 3 5088203 +1, Popeyes is sooo good :) Thu Oct 08 08:37:13 -0700 2009 5022940 240323 MeXx 2 5079207 John, was it Southern style ? I am embarrassed to say I like K.F.C. But am slow to trust new places(..the calories and such makes me tone down my cravings to about once a month and I don't want to squander them.) I would love some great Southern Fried chicken! Sun Oct 04 20:52:50 -0700 2009 5022774 1108962 beekeroc 1 5022792 Here's an old thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/372778 Fri Sep 11 12:49:36 -0700 2009 5022730 137321 23skidoo 1 5023323 I wouldn't say its "southern fried" (being a southerner myself) but its damn good...Red Tree in Marda sells fried chicken that is brined, baked and fried. Its lemon buttermilk rosemary and its damn good! You have to call and see if they have it though, they only do small batches. Its also available in Kensington.... Fri Sep 11 16:15:01 -0700 2009 5022730 1100491 messier 2 5088340 Red Tree, eh? I have to check that out. My current fave for fried chicken right now is Chicken on the Way. I also wish there was a Popeye's in Calgary. And yes, Roscoe's is the best! Chicken and waffles with a side of collard greens...mmm Thu Oct 08 09:18:50 -0700 2009 5023323 1114758 JingJong 3 5145519 finally went to check out red tree in kensington in search of some fried chicken and it's now closed at that location, with a for lease sign on the window. oh well, went to peppino's as a consolation and picked up some delicious gorgonzola alfredo sauce. Sat Oct 31 14:05:59 -0700 2009 5088340 1093420 theauditor 4 5146554 Thanks, no wonder there's no answer when we phone. Sun Nov 01 07:16:15 -0800 2009 5145519 136670 sweeterpea 1 5024930 random reply: there's this "Chicken Cottage" I've been driving by... Anyone know if its good? Sat Sep 12 13:16:37 -0700 2009 5022730 129040 crigg 2 5029694 Yeah, I'm curious about the Chicken Cottage too. I did a quick google, and it seems like it is every where in Europe. I think I'll drop in this week some time Mon Sep 14 15:44:41 -0700 2009 5024930 272838 ilikebigmactoo 3 5029723 It's good chicken at Chicken Cottage, close to Popeye's or Church's but since it's Halal it's costs a fair bit more. Hage's supermarket on 52nd St and 15th Ave has halal fried chicken and it's surprisingly good for a bit cheaper. I still have frozen Popeye's chicken in the freezer so I haven't had to visit any of these places for a few months but hopefully the quality and taste is still good. Mon Sep 14 16:00:35 -0700 2009 5029694 171315 slingshotz 4 5030288 I love Cottage Chicken. I hit it once every couple of weeks. Very flavourful and not as greasy as KFC. Their potato wedges are really good as well. I get the lunch special for $6.95 (I think) which includes two pieces of chicken (dark & white), two deep fried hot wings, fries (or wedges) and a medium fountain pop. Great value. Mon Sep 14 20:12:08 -0700 2009 5029723 213958 DeeDub 5 5030408 Where is this place? It sounds fascinating. I love KFC but the grease destroys me the next day. Mon Sep 14 20:56:57 -0700 2009 5030288 99828 AriaDream 6 5030451 Sunridge area near Best Buy. Mon Sep 14 21:17:06 -0700 2009 5030408 16737 Merry113 6 5030823 http://www.chickencottage.ca/ 104-2929 Sunridge Way NE (403) 250-9804 Tue Sep 15 05:51:53 -0700 2009 5030408 162741 cancowboy 7 5032684 I will have to remember them the next time I'm in the NE and hungry. Thanks for the link. Tue Sep 15 17:08:07 -0700 2009 5030823 140116 tex_in_yyc 7 5033185 Thanks! *bookmarks* Tue Sep 15 21:09:42 -0700 2009 5030823 99828 AriaDream 5 5031943 mmm sounds good, is there good gravy? Tue Sep 15 12:21:43 -0700 2009 5030288 129040 crigg 6 5038486 Checked out the website and will definitely give it a try. One question - does anyone else think that the photo of the grilled chicken on the Our Menu page looks like a person sleeping on his side with hands tucked under his head? Maybe I've been working too late. http://www.chickencottage.ca/MenuMain.pdf Thu Sep 17 19:19:23 -0700 2009 5031943 105130 HaggisMan 7 5041809 *squints* Sorry, can't see it. Sat Sep 19 07:43:12 -0700 2009 5038486 99828 AriaDream 5 5079210 Very good deal! Sun Oct 04 20:55:46 -0700 2009 5030288 1108962 beekeroc 1 5033361 What about Chicken On The Way? Wed Sep 16 01:05:09 -0700 2009 5022730 23465 Susanbnyc 2 5037059 IMHO it's the best we got and I do enjoy it :) Thu Sep 17 10:21:49 -0700 2009 5033361 149353 hclass 2 5038734 Good if drinking, hungry or just looking for some plain inexpensive eats. Nothing to write home about. Thu Sep 17 22:24:54 -0700 2009 5033361 130570 maclock 3 5078948 A little off topic but a close cousin to fried chicken is Brava Bistro's crispy cracklin chicken. Truly outstanding. It is pan roasted and very, very flavourful. I highly recommend it and am kicking myself for not trying it before last night. One of the best chicken dishes I have ever had. Sun Oct 04 18:22:05 -0700 2009 5038734 213958 DeeDub 2 5079217 No offence, although Chicken on the Way is a Calgary landmark and have great corn fritters, their chicken is just not flavorful, like no seasoning in the flour, also so dry, over cooked? Fried chicken is always good but I hope we can get something better. Sun Oct 04 21:05:55 -0700 2009 5033361 1108962 beekeroc 3 5153365 You have to go when it's busy there, or else you stand a very good chance of getting chicken that's been sitting in the heat rack. Also, their chicken quality varies greatly. I've had some terribly chewy chicken from there. Tue Nov 03 15:42:14 -0800 2009 5079217 45940 Shazam 1 5082454 A total surprise for us was the fried chicken at the Lethbridge casino Chuckwagon Grill -- we were lucky to hit a fried chicken special a couple of Saturdays ago. Extremely crispy and non greasy, plus very moist, just needed a bit of salt and pepper. Not in Calgary, but something to think about ...... Tue Oct 06 07:58:29 -0700 2009 5022730 136670 sweeterpea 2 5088471 Lethbridge? Is this Southern Alberta style chicken? Thu Oct 08 09:54:57 -0700 2009 5082454 12139 paulj 3 5093596 I have no idea but I will ask around. I never thought that Lethbridge would be the place to get good chicken. My husband and I will have to go check it out and report back! Sat Oct 10 12:09:14 -0700 2009 5088471 1110562 GilmoreGirl 4 5093606 With all the Texas gates in Alberta, you'd think there were some Texans and Texan cooking. :) Sat Oct 10 12:19:58 -0700 2009 5093596 12139 paulj 4 5095022 The don't make it every day, you would be better to call ahead. Fried chicken is one of my favorite treats so I'm quite picky and this was suprisingly very, very good. Now, with all the good beef/pork here you'd think we'd have an excellent southern bbq place ... but I guess that's another thread! Sun Oct 11 10:04:40 -0700 2009 5093596 136670 sweeterpea 5 5095045 Although I have nothing to really compare it to, but I thought Palamino on 7th Ave is not bad. The meat is moist and juicy. However, Big T's have really gone down hill from when it first opened. Sun Oct 11 10:23:28 -0700 2009 5095022 272838 ilikebigmactoo 6 5095759 We had some dry brisket from Palamino's and wouldn't really recommend it. You're right Big T's has gone downhill. My husband works with people from the Southern US and they thought Big T's at it's best was passable. We get down to the US fairly often and do get a chance to eat good BBQ and there's nothing here, unfortunately, that compares. If it weren't so difficult to open a restaurant I would open a Southern BBQ place for sure, Calgary is crying out for one! ;o) Sun Oct 11 16:51:03 -0700 2009 5095045 136670 sweeterpea 5 5149473 The biggest problem with doing Southern Style BBQ in the North is the lack of hard woods and the lack of a BBQ culture (a hard thing to develop when the climate is what it is here). The quality of the meat isn't really an issue as some of the best BBQ is done with some of the lowest quality cuts. Personally I have never had a good meal at Palominos (black eyed peas still crunchy, brisket extremely tough and ribs that tasted like they had been dredged in flour). Big T's is passable most of the time, but definitely not at the level of the Q joints I've visited in the States. Mon Nov 02 11:16:53 -0800 2009 5095022 19896 Zydeco_Mama 6 5149760 Has anyone tried Booker's since it reopened? Menu: http://www.bookersbbq.com/CMS/uploads/6.pdf Mon Nov 02 12:39:00 -0800 2009 5149473 137321 23skidoo 1 5146559 I heard last week that the lounge at Rush has an excellent buttermilk fried chicken entree. I checked the website menu and it says "boneless" so not sure if it's a breast or what. Might be worthwhile to check out. Sun Nov 01 07:19:32 -0800 2009 5022730 136670 sweeterpea 1 5149806 Try Big T's BBQ across from the Stadium on Crow child North. Terrific Food, and if you have a real hungry group try the Elvis Platter . Outstanding ribs, chicken, brisket, sausage. catfish, deep fried dill pickels, and beer. Casual dining, good service and won't break the bank. Worth the drive from the south side (there used to be another location at Heritage and Macleod but they closed it :-( Mon Nov 02 12:50:31 -0800 2009 5022730 1121150 Imac 1 5151064 I dream of Church's Chicken and Popeyes... it makes me sad that Calgary doesn't have any really juicy, crispy, well-seasoned chicken. I find Chicken on the Way to be either soggy or dried up... the same with Big T's. I tried Red Tree and although I liked the seasoning, the batter fell off when I was reheating the chicken. Unfortunately all my fried chicken ventures in Calgary have just ended up in heartache and pain ;( Mon Nov 02 20:41:28 -0800 2009 5022730 1117313 foodkarma 2 5151955 That's exactly why every chance I go to Vancouver or the US I bring back 20-30 pieces of Church's/Popeye's chicken and put it in the freezer. They reheat up surprisingly well in the oven, even the Popeye's biscuits! I've had Chicken on the Way hoping that it'll get better every time or I'll clue in on the "wow" factor that everyone seems to have for this place only to be disappointed again and again. I'm a native Calgarian so don't tell me it's cause you had to have grown up there or some nonsense like that. I miss Calgary of old, Church's chicken within a 10 minute drive, now it's a 11 hour drive :( Tue Nov 03 08:53:40 -0800 2009 5151064 171315 slingshotz 3 5152519 wow, when was there a Church's in Calgary? Tue Nov 03 11:30:46 -0800 2009 5151955 40013 nonlinear 4 5153067 There were many locations about 25-30 years ago (good gawd I really feel old now) then they disappeared for about 15 years and resurfaced at one Harvey's location on MacLeod Trail where they lasted for maybe a year. They didn't get much advertisement nor was it very noticeable hence why I think it failed. I believe that the reason why it does not exist in Alberta anymore is that you need to get a franchisee licence for all of Alberta and you have to open a minimum of like 5 or more stores at once to qualify. It's pretty damn risky and expensive to do that. If I ever win a big lottery, I may do that just to have local fried chicken :) Tue Nov 03 14:06:28 -0800 2009 5152519 171315 slingshotz 5 5154113 I'd visit your Church's Chicken locations weekly. Incidentally I was in Van two weekends ago and bought 4 pieces back thinking I would eat one and freeze the other 3... I couldn't stand it and ate all 4 between going to the airport, getting onto the plane, driving home from the airport, then unpacking. *sigh* maybe it's a good thing we don't have Church's in Calgary. Tue Nov 03 22:06:47 -0800 2009 5153067 1117313 foodkarma