Cluck Clucks: The Chicken That Will Change You Forever
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Name: Cluck Clucks
Address: 222 The Esplanade, Toronto, ON M5A 4M8, Canada
Website: Website
Phone: (647) 748-2582
Wifi: No
Tender: Debit, Credit, Cash
Neighbourhood: King East, Toronto
Type: Fried Chicken
Cluck Clucks is a restaurant that specializes in fried chicken and waffles. Located just East of St. Lawrence Market at the intersection of Princess Street and the Esplanade, the space is playful with exposed white brick being swathed in murals and pops of red and orange throughout the space which seats anywhere between 30-35 people.
What sets this particular fried chicken restaurant apart from the others in the city is that everything is brought in fresh daily and then fried to order. In fact, I’m told that they do not own a freezer or a warmer because freshness is of the utmost importance here. Because of this, bone-in chicken takes a minimum of 15 minutes to prepare and boneless about 10 minutes. Every customer is told this prior to ordering so as to set the expectation that their meal won’t be ready immediately.
I start with the “Cluck yeah!” ($12.79 CDN + tax alone or $14.99 CDN + tax for combo) and a coleslaw on the side. A boneless chicken breast is sandwiched in between a jalapeno and cheddar waffle with coleslaw, chipotle aioli, and dill mayo. It’s full of flavor and the creaminess of the coleslaw goes well to offset the spiciness of the jalepeno and the chipotle aioli. Stacked high, it’s actually difficult to eat this as a sandwich using your hands so I opt to use a fork and knife instead. This is their most popular dish and it’s easy to see why as it’s flavorful and the chicken is tender.
Then I try the Mother Clucker, $12.79 CDN + tax alone or $14.99 CDN + tax for combo. Three pieces of bone-in chicken sit atop a jalapeno & cheddar waffle that is then sprinkled with parsley. On the side I get the potato wedges. The chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I’m told that they brine their chicken overnight which lends to the tenderness of the chicken.
The potato wedges are thickly cut, fried and seasoned. While the flavor is nice they could be crispier. In addition, each meal comes with a choice of sauce, with extra sauce being available for $0.50 CDN + tax. Choices include the Cluck Sauce, Chipotle Aioli, MC Hot, Sweet Heat, Dill Mayo, and Maple Syrup. I try the Cluck Sauce, the Chipotle Aioli, Dill Mayo, and Maple Syrup. The Cluck Sauce is tangy, yet slightly sweet. It ends up being my favorite of the 4 sauces that I try. The chipotle aioli is creamy and has a nice smoky flavor with just the right amount of heat. It would make a perfect dipping sauce for sweet potato fries if they had sweet potato fries on the menu. Hopefully they will be added as a side option in the future. Then there is the dill mayo, which is creamy and refreshing tasting, but I find it doesn’t really pair well with chicken so I would pass on this one. Maple syrup is of course always a classic pairing with fried chicken if you’re feeling for the savory/sweet combination.
I finish off my visit with the Clucking Little Waffies Battered Waffle, $ 4.99 CDN + tax. Waffle pieces are deep fried and tossed in cinnamon and brown sugar. They’re stacked high and then served with sides of Nutella and maple syrup. They’re crisp on the outside and soft and pillowy on the inside. They taste like a cross between a doughnut and a churro. This is good. Very good, and you can never really go wrong with maple syrup and Nutella as dipping sauces either. With Cluck Clucks being located right across from a park eating these on a nice shady bench would also make for a pretty relaxing afternoon.
So is it worth the 15 minute wait for made to order fried chicken? If you have the time, then yes. If you’re in a rush this probably isn’t the place for you. They do however, offer the option of calling beforehand to place your order which can then be picked up when it’s ready and delivery is also available through various local delivery companies.
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