Fighter Chicken (Granville)

In 2021, I had ordered takeout from the original Fighter Chicken on East Broadway at Renfrew.  It was actually a deal from a food delivery service and I scored the whole meal for cheap.  Mind you, Fighter Chicken's regular prices are not very expensive to begin with.  In September, as a back-to-school promo, they are offering some killer deals that rival my original visit.  On September 4th, receive 4 free pieces of Crispy Fish if you purchase 4 pieces.  On September 5th, get 3 free pieces of fried chicken when you purchase 6 pieces.  For September 6th & 7th, receive a free Crispy Chicken Burger when you purchase a Double Crispy Chicken Burger Combo.  Lastly, on September 8th, receive 2 Crispy Chicken Burgers for free when you get a Bucket of Chicken.

Now the rest of this blog post will focus on my visit to their Granville Street location in Marpole.  Naturally, we must talk about their Crispy Fried Chicken.  Costing slightly less than Church's, you can get an 8-piece for $28.99.  In terms of comparison, Fighter Chicken features some pretty large pieces that are brined.  Therefore, the chicken has an inherent seasoned flavour that doesn't really need any enhancement.  The meat is juicy and tender while the medium-thick batter is crunchy.  It is available in spicy as well.

So they also have Chicken Strips and Popcorn Chicken.  Main difference between the 2 are the size.  Both of them feature white meat where the chicken strips are large (almost whole breasts) while the popcorn chicken has Chick-Fil-A vibes.  Much like the fried chicken, the batter is medium thick and plenty crunchy.  Being thicker and bigger, the strips are juicier and more moist.  There are a variety of sauces to choose from including tartar, honey mustard, spicy BBQ, sweet BBQ and sweet dip.

They have Chicken Burgers as well including a Spicy Chicken Burger.  Both are very similar with large chicken strips sandwiched in a brioche bun with lettuce tomato and cheese.  Both of these are absolutely huge and require you to open wide!  As such, they are filling and satisfying.  I personally like the spicy sandwich more as it has more impact and of course spice.  The brioche is toasted enough to stand up to the ingredients.

Their most underrated item on the menu is their Fish Burger.  Featuring 2 large fish fillets, this is just as filling as the chicken sandwiches.  However, due to the use of fish, it is more easily eaten.  The batter is crispy while the fish in the middle is flaky and moist.  There is some tartar sauce and mayo to compliment as well as lettuce and tomato.  I could do without the raw onions, it is a bit too sharp.  They also have Poutine and this reminds me somewhat of the Costco version.  This is not an insult.  This features legit cheese curds and a rich silky gravy.

As for those Fries, they are the starch-covered variety that ensures the exterior will be crispy.  Due to the starch, the fries eat a bit greasier than regular fries.  Inside, the centre is tender and potatoey.  Love that their Onion Rings are breaded rather than tempura-battered.  As such, they are trending towards the ones you find at A&W.  The outside is crunchy while the onion on the inside is tender, yet not overdone.  Really great with one of the dips!  So I think that there have been minor improvements with the food since I first visited their original location.  I find that their batter is slightly less dense albeit, still not thin.  Proteins are cooked correctly and I really appreciate that their popcorn chicken and chicken strips are whole breast meat.  Fighter Chicken is a good alternative to the usual fried chicken spots and with their upcoming promos, an even better deal!

*All food and beverages were complimentary for this blog post*

The Good:
- Tender and properly cooked proteins
- Huge sandwiches
- Decent sides

The Bad:
- I would still like a lighter batter, but it has improved since the beginning though