Back in March 2020 in Metro Vancouver, a man was left scratching his head after a black bear entered his car, ransacked the interior and took off into the night.
It might have been the chicken.
“The funny thing is we did order Chicko Chicken that night,” mused the man, noting his wife picked up the Korean fried chicken but that they came inside to eat. “They talk about their sense of smell. It’s good chicken. About an hour wait.”
“That’s my only explanation.”
I’m not telling you this so you won’t check out Chicko Chicken, which now has new locations in the Edmonds area and in Metrotown, but just to let you know how yummy it smells and tastes.
I mean, if it’s worth breaking into a vehicle then it’s at least worth trying. It’s Korean-style friend chicken that has a wonderful kick to it.
The arrival of Chicko Chicken adds another competitor in the Burnaby fried chicken wars.
Popeyes has also 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 has Church's chicken on Lougheed in Brentwood and the new Korean-style Pelicana next to Red Robin around the Lougheed Town Centre mall area.
- With additional reporting by Lindsay William-Ross, Vancouver is Awesome and Stefan Labbe
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter at shinebox44.
