The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
Chick-fil-A may be famously closed on Sundays, but until recently, it wasn't an option for Ottawans at all. But that all changed when the capital's first location opened up in Kanata next to Tanger Outlets last month. It got me thinking... Is Chick-fil-A worth it?
Is it worth driving all the way out to Kanata? Is it worth waiting in the long lines? The short answer is no.
My under-toasted bun was soggy; the waffle fries, while nice and hot, were pretty underdone; and worst of all, it was all way too salty — and that's a strong statement coming from someone who literally has the words "NEEDS SALT" tattooed on his neck.
I ended up needing to douse the sandwich in Chick-fil-A sauce for it to be even close to a good meal. (Yes, you have to put the sauce on yourself. It does not come with it.) Credit where credit is due though, the Chick-fil-A sauce is really good, and I do in fact have an extra one in my fridge now.
But if you were looking forward to visiting the newly opened joint to satisfy your cravings for a hot, crispy chicken sandwich, fear not, because Ottawa is already filled with some of the best chicken sandwiches — and I'm going to tell you exactly where to get them. Do yourself a favour and skip the long drive and long lines, and visit one of these local independent spots instead.
Holly's Hot Chicken
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Hot Chicken & Donuts
Address: 45 Armstrong St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Holly is the queen of hot chicken, and those who know it celebrate her reign regularly.
All of her chicken is halal and gluten-free, and she even offers a veggie cauliflower substitute!
The level of heat is up to how daring and willing you are. It ranges from the Plain Jane (with no spice at all) all the way to Carolina Reaper! Holly's hot sandwiches are served with lettuce, bread and butter pickles, and ranch dressing made in house.
If all that's not enough spice for you, don't forget to try her spicy fries or the chipotle mac 'n' cheese. If it's too hot, you can cool down with a side of creamy coleslaw or cornbread.
Umbrella Burger
Price: 💸
Cuisine: Elevated Fast Food
Address: 186 Preston St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Don't let the name fool you — Umbrella Burger could just as easily be named Umbrella Chicken Sandwich (although it's not as catchy).
While they do serve up some of the best burgers in the city, some people — myself included — would argue their chicken sandwich is even better.
The large-sized, crispy-skinned, seasoned-to-perfection patty comes one of two ways: classic chicken sandwich style with slaw, crinkle-cut pickles and chicken sauce, or burger style with American cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions and burger sauce.
Whichever way you decide to go, this is a chicken sandwich ACTUALLY worth waiting in line for.
The Brig Pub
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Fusion Pub Food
Address: 23 York St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: I've mentioned before that industry folks like Chef Chris Cooke from Giulia and Sommelier Bernard Leymone from Atelier quote this as one of their favourite late-night bites in the city, and that this chicken sandwich is legit. So why don't we break it down?
Option one is a crispy chicken burger. The Southern-style fried chicken is topped with a chipotle maple emulsion, garlic aioli, pickled onions and lettuce. This is all stuck between a brioche bun and served with fries or a salad.
This is the classic with a twist. The addition of garlic and maple provides a unique flavour combination without straying too far from what a chicken sandwich is.
Option two is the Kimchi Chicken Crunch. The chicken is coated in a cornflake crust before being fried. It's then topped with chopped kimchi, a house-smoked burger sauce, cheddar cheese and lettuce. Once again, it is held together by a brioche bun and served with your choice of side.
This option is definitely for the more adventurous chicken lover in your group, but kimchi and a cornflake crust are a hard smash on my end. I love those flavours!
Fatboys Southern Smokehouse
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Southern U.S.
Address: 34 Murray St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: Full disclosure, Fatboys comes to me not as a personal choice, but as a recommendation. I have yet to eat here, but after hearing my friend rave about their Nashville Hot Chicken, it's climbing up my list.
A proper Nashville hot chicken is simple. White bread is topped with fried chicken, which is brushed with an intensely spicy oil, and finished with pickles for some acid.
Making a Nashville hot chicken sandwich lets you take some creative liberties, and when looking at the Fatboys menu, I'd say they went in the right direction.
Their boneless fried chicken is tossed in a maple butter hot sauce and topped with lettuce, dill pickles and coleslaw. This all sits on a sesame bun that I can only imagine is dripping with goodness.
I like the sounds of this spot, especially as an alternative to Chick-fil-A... I guess I'll have to check them out soon!
The King Eddy
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Elevated Diner Food
Address: 47 Clarence St., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: It's time to give love to an OG!
The King Eddy is a beloved Ottawa staple that has survived everything you can imagine. They have more than earned their keep among this city's hospitality heroes.
Much like many others on this list, The King Eddy brings you options!
First is the Northern Fried Chicken Sandwich. This bad boy is topped with chili mayo, lettuce, tomato and dill pickle. It's a classic chicken sandwich that hits the spot every time.
I, however, typically opt for the "Eddy's HOT FIRE SPICY Chicken." This guy is loaded with hot sauce, hot honey, dill pickles and the famous King Eddy sauce. Pull out the extra napkins for this one.
No matter which way you slice, fry or cluck it, this city has too many great fried chicken sandwiches to join the fast food line for something that won't be nearly as satisfying.
I'm not saying not to try Chick-fil-A — I'm just saying you might regret it knowing there are incredible local businesses to support all over the city. The decision is yours... but I know what I'd do.
