Fried Chicken Love - The Stockyards - Toronto Smokehouse

The Stockyards - Smokehouse
699 St. Claire Ave. W.
Toronto, ON
M6C 1B2

Was a little disappointed with the KFC fried chicken I had on Tuesday (Toonie Tuesdays!). The soggy skin and dry flesh of my fried friends didn't cut it. Still craving some fried goodness, I head out to The Stockyards on St. Clair and Bathurst. I've read about The Stockyards - and their legendary fried chicken. Let's get the belly ready for some gastrointestinal punishment. 

The Review:

A random Wednesday evening and the place is bustling. Always a good sign. The lineup at the front makes my heart skip a beat for a second - how long will the wait be? Not long at all. We get seated at the counter right away - turns out the long line in the front was for takeout. A quick glance at the menu and I zero in. We go for 'The Fryer' fried chicken dinner. ($14). The skin is crispy, crunchy and just greasy enough to reach for an extra napkin. Inside the blanket of deep fried skin was a pocket of steam which revealed the perfectly cooked, super moist melt in your mouth chicken. I didn't realize chicken could be this juicy.. how is this possible? The dinner came with a decent sized side of coleslaw; freshly made, light and tangy with a touch of dill. The 100 pound side of fresh cut fries were crispy - but easy on the salt guys!

Fried Chicken

We also ordered the BBQ beef brisket ($12). Thick sliced beef brisket, smoked with oak and hickory and laid out in a pillow of mayo and caramelized onions then tucked into a soft toasted bun. In other words - damn good. There was just enough BBQ sauce to make a mess with each bite but not too much to mask the flavor of the smoked beef. Great meat to topping balance.

Brisket

The Verdict:

Hearty. Juicy. Moist. Finger licking. Get your mind out of the gutter - I'm talking about food that hits it quick and in the right spot. Good service and a decent price. 9 out of 10.