Best of Toronto
The Best BBQ Chicken (Churrasqueiras) in Toronto
The Best BBQ Chicken restaurant in Toronto is open to hotly contested debate. The waters become muddied by a ton of qualifying questions: rotisserie or grill? Hot sauce or sweet? Rice or potatoes? One thing's for sure, nobody knows how to do it quite like Toronto's huge collection of Portuguese grill houses or Churrasqueiras, so pretty much any trip to power centres like Weston, St. Clair West or the Ossington-Lansdowne Corridor will net you no end of opportunity to settle the debate once and for all.
Here are the 12 best, as voted by readers of this site.
Writing and photos by Lindsay Renwick
Churrasco of St. Clair
At the top of Christie Street on St. Clair, Churrascos' tiny storefront houses a wealth of riches. Grilled and rotisserie chicken are available on tap, but call ahead for more specialized menu items like roast rabbit (3 hrs), or suckling pig (3 days). The chicken is juicy with beautifully caramelized skin, the hot sauce is brick red and packs a fiery wallop, and the parisienne potatoes are perfectly encrusted. The bland rice is a weak spot, but do take home a bottle of their homemade vinaigrette. Quarter chicken combo, $7. More »
Sardinha O Rei dos Frangos
Sardinha's location right outside the Delaware St. exit of Ossington Station makes it a tender trap for hungry commuters. Inside, the rotisserie chicken is succulent and juicy, the grilled chicken is smoky and crisped and both pair perfectly with their many side choices. The lemon roast potatoes manage to be browned to perfection and creamy at the same time, the deep-fried parisienne potatoes never fail to please and the rice is rich with oil and sprinkled with black olives. Quarter chicken combo, $7. More »
Churrasquiera Costa Verde
Here, the hens are huge with perfectly crisped skin, moist and evenly cooked. The hot sauce is loaded with red pepper punch, packs a moderate heat and a nice vinegary tang and their side potatoes have an earthy, chicken-fried flavour I couldn't find anywhere else. The location is about to undergo a massive renovation and expansion his summer, so get it while it's hot! Half-chicken platter, $10. More »
Eduarda's
This storefront at Dupont and Symington is part lunch counter, part grocery store. Beware the overboiled steamed vegetables, which loaned a taste to my whole meal as though it had lately been sprayed with a saltwater hose. The rotisserie chicken is ably prepared, but go easy on the oily sweet sauce. The rice has a nice touch of vinegary sweetness to it, and the price can't be beat. Quarter chicken combo, $6. More »
O Bairradino
The staff at this Lansdowne staple tend to be brusque but efficient – don't get in their way and you will get what you want. The grilled chicken is on the dry side, but its enticingly smoky flavour lingers pleasantly on the tongue. Parisienne potatoes have a leathery, toothsome exterior but a rewardingly creamy middle. The rice is bathed in oil, but the garnish of a half-dozen black olives is a nice touch. Half-chicken platter, $10. More »
George's Deli & BBQ
This Annex stalwart was packed to the gills on a rainy afternoon, and it's no secret why. The window rotisserie unit was jammed with golden, dripping hens and the men behind the counter were serving up an addictive mix of friendly banter and salty, juicy, crunchy goodness. My chicken fairly fell off the bone and they didn't spare the crispy fries or the diner-style gravy. Quarter chicken combo, $7.50. More »
Churrasquiera O Sardinha
The grilled chicken at this Little Italy churrasquiera is naturally a bit tougher than a rotisserie bird, but during the post-lunch lull, it's certainly plentiful. My server's free hand with both the hot sauce and the sweet oil more than adequately compensated, turning the whole meal into a spicy, smoky stew. The parisienne potatoes come golden brown and glistening and the rice is nicely augmented with the addition of both green and black olives. Quarter chicken combo, $8.50. More »
The Rotisserie House
Be prepared to pay a location premium as this Liberty Village hot spot caters mainly to the 9-5 lunch crowd in an under-served area. The chicken is worth the extra expense, thanks to its densely flavorful flesh and lusciously greasy skin. Their garden fresh salad, lightly dressed in a subtly sweet balsamic vinaigrette takes top spot on this list and their varied menu offerings from chicken wings to onion rings makes The Rotisserie House deliciously hard to pigeonhole. Quarter chicken combo with drink $12.50. More »
St. Matthew's BBQ Chicken
This Weston storefront is deservedly busy. The grilled chicken is masterfully blackened without turning tough and the whole combo including potatoes and fluffy, golden rice is mercifully free of the oversalting that is usually a hallmark of Churrasqueira cuisine. Portions are generous and they don't stint on the hot sauce. Quarter chicken combo, $7. More »
Bairrada Churrasqueira
From the outside this College Street grill looks fairly unassuming, but on the inside everything about it is a cut above. Decorous waitstaff serve attractively presented meals on one of the largest and loveliest backyard patios in the neighbourhood. Kicking back at a picnic table with a cold Sagres and an expertly charred half chicken platter is like taking a trip to sunny Lisbon but skipping the 10-hour flight. Half-chicken platter, $10. More »
Alex Rei dos Leitoes
With 38 years in the same location, this Ossington strip takeout counter has watched its fair share of gentrifying upstarts come and go, and has fed them all. The chicken is perfectly char-broiled and coated with a sauce that's deceptively clear in colour, but packs searing heat. Rice is pale but has an unusually creamy, risotto-like consistency and the potatoes are deep golden with good scorch marks. Quarter chicken combo, $6. More »
Discussion
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Barraida shouldnt even be on this list. Their food is inconsistent in portion and flavouring...it tends to be more on the greasy side. Lavrador (Eglinton and Caledonia) should take its place.
And Sardinha should be #1. BEST Churrasqueira chicken I've had, outside of Portugal. And I have some for lunch today. :)
Just wanted to point out that the 1/4 combo at Alex Rei dos Leitoes is $6, half is $9. I just moved into the hood and that place hands down has the best chicken I have ever tasted.
I guess I will have to try some of the others now,I love living in the middle of all of these restaurants, I won't have to cook dinner for a few weeks now.
swoooon
Anyways I agree with Sardinha and Bom Appatiet on the Queensway
3 people.. 1 Bird plus sides is enough?
Hands down the best chicken spot is on Dupont St. & Franklin St. on the southwest corner. Half chicken dinner $7 with any side (round potatoes, rice, mashed potatoes, mixed vegatables) do not forget about the hot sauce. I believe this is the best value and tasty chicken in the city.
If driving, one can take Dundas St. West northbound from Bloor to Dupont junction and make a righthand turn under the bridge. Look to your right when u past the set of lights.
If taking transit, one can take the 26 Dupont bus from either Jane Station or St. George Station and ask the driver to let you off at Franklin St. Or take one of the two buses from Dundas West Station(40 Junction or 168 Symingtion) and get off at dupont and walk east on Dupont if taken 40 bus or west on Dupont if taken 168 bus.
ANYONE WHO TAKES THIS INSTRUCTIONS PLEASE ENJOY THE CHICKEN I HAVE BEEN LOVING SINCE I FOUND THE PLACE.
P.S. sorry but i do not remember the name of the business. LOL
Yes, that place is great!
They have locations in Mississauga and North York and about 400 locations worldwide.It's still not well known over here but make the trip. Get the wild herb hot sauce on the side. Good bye Swiss Chalet
STAY VERY FAR AWAY!! Just had this tonight based on other recommendation. Driest pieces of chicken breast i've had in my life, only managed to eat 1/2 of it because so dry and needed water and we were starving... worst chicken in any form ever sampled. Went to burrito Boyz directly after. Total waste of time and money. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have to agree with you.... I've eaten there since they opened....They've catered the food for my daughter's bday for 4 years, they've also catered Christmas dinner's and New Years also... Haven't had any complaints yet...Will continue to order from them... The reason why they're busy is because they're excellent!!!
The best potatoes however, can be picked up at St. Matthews.
The amount of food for $7 (1/4 chicken white meat dinner) was ridiculous for the price.
I wish I wasn't moving in a week so that I could go more often. I really missed out this past year.
A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog stand out.
Please let me know where you got your theme. Appreciate it
I was in search for some GOOD food.. then I found Aristides Dos Leitoes..(I think that's how you spell it) It's on the corner of St Clair and Blackthorn.. My mind was BLOWN!!!
I opened the door and was hit was awesome food aromas.. I sat down right away and asked for a quarter chicken meal with rice, potatoes and salad. That first bite of chicken was like sex in my mouth.. Spicy but not overly spicy, definately with a tang and so juicy..
I completely forgot I was in a rush and asked for another quarter chicken.. and a whole chicken to take home for dinner with my wife..
I've been back there every week (sometimes even 2-3 times a week.. shhhh don't tell my wife)! I would definatly recomend all of you to go and try it out for yourselves so you know what I am talking about..