In one area of Burnaby, if you are looking for fried chicken, Korean style is the king of all.
It’s in the area of North Road and Lougheed Highway, which has two outstanding fried chicken restaurants to compete for your chicken dollar.
There is Pelicana, which for about two years has delighted diners in the strip mall next to Lougheed Town Centre and Red Robin. There chicken is crispy, juicy but not greasy.
And then there is Ajuker, which offers a variety of Korean delicacies, but specializes in grilled, fried and barbecued chicken. What really makes it sing are the sauces, which range from sweet to spicy.
As for the rest of Burnaby, Korean-style fried chicken has a lot of competitors in other styles.
Popeyes has officially opened its Louisiana-style chicken restaurant in Burnaby at 7855 Kingway right near 10th Avenue on the border with New Westminster.
This is good news for chicken lovers on the southeastern side of the city.
For southwestern Burnaby residents, there’s an intersection that should probably be renamed “Chicken Way” because of all the chicken joints that are now open there.
It’s at Kingsway and Wilson in the Metrotown/Patterson area that already has a Nando’s restaurant, a 24-hour Hi-Five fried chicken outlet and the Hi Chicken Pot.
But apparently that isn’t enough chicken for one neighbourhood.
A fried chicken venture that found its wings (and legs) this year at its original Richmond location has now opened on Kingsway to face off with these other restaurants.
Chirpyhut Fried Chicken is known for its crispy fried chicken, available in pieces or as a whole fried chicken.
But Chirpyhut's most Insta-famous menu item by far is the black chicken wings, aka Meteorite Wings.
How do they do it? They use a well-loved culinary tool: squid ink.
Along with their popular chicken offerings, Chirpyhut serves up sides like thick-cut fried potato wedges, and chicken sandwiches - some even available on a black squid ink bun.
OK, you had me at squid ink, an underrated ingredient that makes most foods better (try the squid ink waffles at La Foret – they are to die for).
Hi-Five chicken is also fantastic. Deep, rich flavour and crunch without all the grease of other fried chicken places.
And then, of course, there’s Nando’s – home of flame-grilled chicken and peri-peri goodness.
This intersection is now the official chicken hot spot of Burnaby.
North Burnaby also has Church's chicken on Lougheed in Brentwood.
Now imagine if NeNe chicken and Juke fried chicken decided to open up in Burnaby, after recently opening in Vancouver?
- With additional reporting by Lindsay William-Ross, Vancouver is Awesome
