I Tried 3 Of Toronto’s Famous Hot Chicken Sandwiches To Find Out If They're Worth The Hype

Dave's Hot Chicken

Price: $7.99

Sandwich: Single Slider, medium heat

Address: 1582 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON

Is It Worth The Hype: This L.A.-based chain is bringing major heat to the hot chicken scene in Toronto with seven levels of spice to choose from.

The first Canadian location opened in Parkdale on January 15, 2021, and drew massive lines. This past winter, I even waited over two hours to get a taste.

I returned over this past long weekend to refresh my memory, and I wasn't disappointed. With no line, and a decently proportioned sandwich packed with kale-slaw, pickles, and Dave's sauce for $7.99, you really can't go wrong.

The medium heat is a perfect tingle of spice with juicy, crispy chicken and a fluffy bun. If you're not waiting an obscene amount of time, Daves Hot Chicken is definitely worth the hype.

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Knockout Chicken

Price: $9.99

Sandwich: The Low Blow

Address: 490 Bloor St. W., Toronto, ON

Is It Worth The Hype: Knockout Chicken has two downtown locations, and, while the food is tasty, you have to prepare yourself for a bit of a wait. This past weekend I grabbed The Low Blow and waited about 20 to 25 minutes for my order to come up.

The lineup stretched from outside of the small storefront and into the street. However, I have to say it was worth the wait.

The Low Blow came with fried chicken, pickles, homemade coleslaw and K.O. sauce that almost tasted like homestyle gravy.

The proportion of chicken was great, and the value for dollars spent definitely lived up to the chain's hype. If you're in a rush, you can for sure find another spot downtown to satisfy your chicken craving, but if you've got time to spare, it's worth a visit.

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Aunt Lucy's Burgers

Price: $12

Sandwich: The Nima Sandwich

Address: 296 Brunswick Ave., Toronto, ON

Is It Worth The Hype: This Ghana-inspired pop-up turned restaurant opened last summer with a considerable amount of hype surrounding its burgers.

I tried the Nima Sandwich, and I have to say, I understand the hype.

This sandwich was by far the best of the day, and although it was the most expensive, it did come with the most toppings.

The potato roll bun was spongey, and the breaded chicken thigh was dripping with juice. It came with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, garlic sauce and, mango scotch bonnet hot sauce, which really freshened up the heavy meal with a splash of tropical spice.

Overall, in my opinion, it is the best hot chicken sandwich in Toronto and worth just about any wait.

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