The Dirty Bird Chicken + Waffles

Service:
The service staff was friendly and helpful. Food was prepared in a reasonable time even when there was a crowd.
Ambiance:
A causal small space for a quick bite. Therefore, seating is a bit tight, only a few seats and a long table for sit-​in dinning.
Food:
The chicken was made fresh. The breading and seasoning was done well, making the outside skin crispy meanwhile leaving the meat moist. On the other hand, the waffle was plain. I ordered their signature Dirty Bird sandwich, and I found it a bit too heavy for my taste. I could barely finish the second half of the sandwich.

Soooo good, who would have thought Toronto had a good chicken and waffle place that could rival those in the south. Glad my friends brought me to this local eatery, the menu is simple and easy to navigate. Got the ODB and was very pleased.
Definitely a must when in the Toronto area.

For the only chicken and waffles joint in Toronto it’s good. The chicken is moist and flavourful and the waffle is not so bad. I had the ODB and I liked it, but I feel it’s a bit steep on price. Staff is friendly and chill.

So yummy! Went there for a lunch with a girlfriend for the first time! To be honest I was a little apprehensive about it. What a combination eh?! Chicken? Waffles!!! Lol
LOVED IT! Don’t know why I didn’t try it sooner. It’s awesome! The place is chill, love the décor and their choice of drinks too.
Food is delicious, service is great, and the people so friendly.

I LOVE fried chicken and waffles so when I passed by this place I had try it out. I got the ODB ($ 15). The fried chicken was excellent — well-​seasoned, good breading to chicken ratio, moist-​chicken. The waffle was fine. I liked the sauce. But you know what, I think the sauce (which is slightly spicy) ruined it for me because it really didn’t work with the waffle and the buttered maple. And as a result, the fried chicken didn’t work with the waffle. The whole thing just felt… disjointed. And this is not coming from someone who doesn’t understand fried chicken and waffles, it’s a dish I love and have enjoyed elsewhere.
I will happily recommend fried chicken lovers go there for the fried chicken. But I don’t think I would get the chicken and waffle options again.
By the way, this place is pretty small. There’s basically one medium-​sized table in the middle and a long counter along a wall. If you want to eat in, there’s a chance you might not get a seat and if you do, expect to be cramped. Service is a little slow (I saw four waffle makers, only three of which were in use, and not constantly, either, despite the line)

If you are looking to find out if this chicken tastes good — I have no idea. I never got to eat it! I waited for what seemed like 14 Drake songs. I checked in multiple times with the cashier, who double checked with the 4 guys in the kitchen, who all promised: «It’s coming right up.» We watched order after order come up, wondering what happened. Seriously guys. I ordered two pieces of good damn chicken. TWO PIECES OF CHICKEN. No fries. No waffles. No drink. WHen we finality realized it was never coming, we went to get our money back, and with some surprise but mostly a lack of training on how to keep a customer happy, we got our money and left hungry, annoyed and wasted 40mins of our lives.
The only saving grace was that it was cool to watch hipsters eat fried chicken with their bare hands.

Simply impressive fried chicken for a northern establishment. I’ve been to many places in Ontario for fried chicken and none of them match this place’s take on their straight up old school fried chicken. Keep it up guys!

The ODB is AMAZING. It was even better than I expected. A massive piece of juicy, moist fried chicken on an fantastic waffle. How can you go wrong? Everything was prepared well. As others have noted, the chicken is not greasy in the slightest yet and is super crisp. I usually don’t eat the skin (I know.) But I just had to eat the skin this time, it was that good! The ‘dirty sauce’ really impressed me and really brought the dish together. A sweet, tangy sauce with some spice compliments the chicken so well. They have syrup (maple flavoured, I won’t call it maple syrup) in a bottle so you can add that to your heart’s content if you fancy that on your waffles, It was also delish adding all that together — fork up a waffle dabbed in syrup with a piece of fried chicken with dirty sauce. So much perfection in one bite. The potato salad was tasty and creamy and was a nice side.
The value is fair, yes it is $ 15 for fried chicken but it is incredible and there is a lot there. You will definitely leave satisfied and full. There is enough to share for two.
Came here on a weekday evening and there were only a couple of folks here. Managed to get a seat without problem and my order was prepared in a reasonable time with a short wait.

Love the fact that all the chicken were dark meat! The chicken were crispy and not overly battered — so you know that you’re getting the meat! The waffles were nothing too spectacular but still great. The sides we got were the potato salad the coleslaw and definitely a huge fan of those as well! Although, our favourite item would have to be the dirty fries — The fries are covered with cheese and garnished with fried onions and they are heavenly!
The only thing that we’re not a huge fan of is how tiny the seating area is — but that’s definitely one that we can overlook.
This cute little joint is definitely in our top 3 for Chicken and Waffles — will definitely be coming back!

The chicken and waffles are very tasty and moist. However, the wait is very long even after you order it. It is a bit pricey for what it is.
Recently a new chicken and waffles place near my work opened up called Cluck Clucks which I feel is equivalent or better with a better value.

I haven’t had the good fortune of eating there in person, but I have ordered takeout to my office via UberEats several times.
I have an absolute love affair with their ODB. The chicken is fried so well that it doesn’t taste greasy whatsoever, the skin is perfection and the coleslaw perfectly compliments the meal.
The waffle is a definite ⁹⁄₁₀ as I feel it could be a tad bit crispier, but I love how sweet it is and how it really adds texture and balance to the chicken and dirty sauce.
I really don’t think I can order anything else from there, but next time I will force myself to go rogue. I don’t think it will be a problem. :)

Chicken and waffles is a perfect combination. However, though I get the quick-​bite feel with the bar stools, I wish the place was cleaner inside with more room for seating.

The ODB — $ 15
I have tried most of the items at Dirty Bird and the ODB will always hit the spot for me. I don’t know how they do it. Even with takeout or delivery, the deep fried chicken at Dirty Bird have consistently been fried to perfection and NEVER GREASY (!!). The breading on the chicken was not too thick and the skin was super crispy with a juicy and tender meat, the seasoning was just on point! The only complain here would be the waffle which have always been too soft my liking. Though it was airy on the inside, I prefer waffles that have a bit more crisp and richness to stand up against the chicken. I didn’t really care much for the coleslaw as it was just average, but I appreciated how it wasn’t drenched in dressings. Overall, what really tied the whole dish together for me is their signature «dirty sauce.» The combination of sweetness from maple syrup with the tangy and spicy-​ness of the dirty sauce created the ultimate chicken and waffle sauce.

Having first heard about Dirty Bird’s fried chicken and waffles a few months ago, I was eager to try it out with a small group of close pals. However, due to it’s very limited seating area, it was more suited to today’s intimate lunch date with Julia. (Thanks Jules)
We each ordered one of Dirty Bird’s signature dishes: 1) «The ODB» (boneless dark meat smothered in their house Dirty sauce, one large maple-​drizzled waffle, and a side of ‘Tato salad) and «The Dirty Club» (boneless dark meat, beef bacon, lettuce, tomato on waffle). We shared each entrée, and felt appreciation for how moist the lightly-​battered chicken pieces and syrup-​drizzled waffles are. My health concern took over after receiving a strong sugar rush when finishing the syrupy waffle. The Dirty Club was much lighter and easier to eat than the (very messy) ODB — something to note when ordering.
While the flavours were interesting and plating impressive, I don’t feel the $ 15 price point was fitting. With a drink, each diner will likely spend at-​most $ 20 after-​tax. After the meal, we each left our sticky-​surfaced table and stools to wash our hands in the basement bathrooms. I had no idea it sits amidst an unclean underground network of doors and hallways under the restaurant and neighbouring shops. (Kensington sometimes amazes, disappoints, and disgusts me)
I liked the meal, found strengths in the diligent (kitchen) crew, and showed a smile when I noticed the recent integration of UberEats into their delivery model. The food, brand character, kitchen service, and delivery integration gets a 4 rating, but my thoughts on pricing and cleanliness lends a –1 demerit rating.
For a semi-​unique fried chicken experience, Dirty Bird will satisfy — but you may wish you hadn’t spent too much for simple fried chicken.

Honestly… I really had high hopes. I heard about this place and wanted to try it, plus it doesn’t take much convincing with my husband when it comes to fried chicken.
He ordered the OBD meal and I got the three pieces with 1 side. $ 15 for his meal is not worth it. Yes it’s boneless but it seems so little next to mine which was only $ 10. The chicken itself was crispy, and the meat was moist. The chicken lacked flavour tho. It was very bland. I’m not a ketchup person but for this I needed something. The fries were good but they got cold really fast. Dave got a very very small potato salad with his meal and he described it as basic. He actually barely touched it and threw out the rest.
The wait is ridiculous for what seems to be a fast food spot. We were there from ordering to getting the meal for close to 20 mins… not worth the wait.
The guys working there are friendly. You just have to be patient about the wait.

I like to stop in to The Dirty Bird for chicken wings when I can’t make my own for one reason or another. They have three flavours up on their menu, however, I believe I heard a fourth being mentioned and now see it online. Jerk BBQ. My favourite are the Buffalo, they are not hot by my standards, but they have great flavour. The dry and dirty are also quite good. The wings are bigger than most wings you would get when you order out, and the chicken itself is juicy and good. They have kept me coming back, and not looking elsewhere so I definitely would recommend the wings if you were looking to try something else on the menu. I would also recommend the dirty fries which are incredibly yummy with all of the toppings!
Every time I have been in there I have been met with great customer service! Notably on a very busy, and hectic evening, the person taking the orders was friendly and kind. and when I had waited for a bit a cook from the back ensured me he was taking care of my order. It was crazy busy and I was in no rush, but I really appreciated him touching base with me… Looking forward to my next visit.

Let me tell you something before I start the review. I rarely eat meat, I only eat vegetables and seafood. I try to avoid eating meat if it’s not necessary or if it’s not tempting enough! Haha! Anyway, I broke my rule today.
We ordered THE UP NORTH TRIP ($ 14). It came with 3 pieces of bone-​in crispy chicken on a giant fluffy waffle! We chose TATO SALAD for the side dish, instead of coleslaw. We weren’t disappointed with any of those and I ate the chicken (–«)
I actually wanted to have a tiny bite from my husband’s chicken. I just wanted to see how its taste. However I couldn’t resist how crispy the chicken skin was and how tender of the meat was. I almost fought with my husband because I tried to steal the chicken skin! :D very funny right?!
Anyway, we didn’t order the dirty sauce this time because I didn’t have enough time to check it well on Unilocal.I only roughly read about it in the beginning. Now I know that many people said that the «dirty sauce» was to die for. So we’ll go for it next time.
P. S. Let me give the credit to the register staff too. He was very friendly and attentive. He didn’t seem to get tired when new customers came and didn’t know what to order. He was informative and helped each of them out. Cheers!
Food: 4 — so crispy!!! Yum!!!
Service: 5 — they have one nice staff for sure :)
Place: 2.5 — very small. When it’s busy, no where to sit or wait
Price: 4 — reasonable price
Promotion: 3.5 — they should add on something to make it more exciting

Gluten free fried chicken and waffles!?! Yes please! These guys are amazing with answering any food questions related to gluten. Their chicken batter is gluten free to allow a crispier coating and they have a dedicated waffle iron for gluten free.
The chicken! Is melt in your mouth juicy with a beautiful crunch and flavour to the coating. The waffle makes a nice balance of sweet to the chicken’s salty. The coleslaw is fresh and crisp and the fries are crispy on the outside and tender inside. We walked away full and happy, eager to return.

We ordered 2 ODBs and had it delivered via
. The chicken was fresh and delicious with their sauce. and I knew eating the fried skin would contribute to high cholesterol, but It wouldn’t do it justice if I tried eating healthy! The waffles wasn’t crispy, but tasted ok. Maple syrup I found too sweet. Coleslaw was too creamy and sweet for my liking…
Not sure if this is dirty bird’s fault, but I asked for 2 sets of utensils online and they didn’t give it.
Overall, found it overrated and overpriced.
But I’ll try to eat it fresh from the restaurant next time if someone ask me to join.

Came here around 7.00pm on a Friday night, the place is very small with only about 10 – 15 seats. We were lucky that when we were ordering someone was leaving and opened up 2 spots along the wall. You line up at the counter and place your order.
I got the ODB for $ 15. It was easy to eat because the chicken is boneless. It was juicy and well fried. Though I wish it was just a bit crispier, the skin and breading felt a tiny bit toot thin. The waffle wasn’t bad, standard but added a nice sweetness. And the sweet spicy sauce that went with it was great. The portion was large and I definitely couldn’t finish it. The pop comes in cute glass bottles, but its $ 3 – 5 each which makes them very expensive for a standard soft drink. The meal was good but maybe just a bit too hyped up, but a great addition to one of my favourite toronto areas.
You also get some of the eccentric Kensington market folk that come wandering in sometimes, but they are no harm anyways.

Probably like a lot of you that reviewed your experiences at The Dirty Bird, shortly after I had posted my review, Josh, the Owner of this joint sent me a complimentary meal ticket for one of the Signature dishes on the menu.
I finally got a chance to redeem it on Wednesday for a late lunch meal, and I picked the The Dirty Club this time around. Man, I’ll take that over the ODB anytime whenever I’m in the area.
The sandwich which was a made of the waffle and the boneless thigh and leg with some sandwich-​style garnishes was alot bigger (almost the size of my shoe which is a 9.5) than I expected and almost filled up half of the tray that it was served on. I was not in a hurry to wolf this down and savored every bite. I just wish I could have tasted more of the maple aioli sauce.
The waffle was fluffly as the last one and the skin on the friend chicken was just as crispy. Definitely a sure winner! Keep up the great work guys!

This was my first time having chicken and waffles and man, did we ever pick a good place to set the bar high! I had the ODB ($ 15) — boneless thigh and leg, waffle, buttered maple, dirty sauce with coleslaw. The chicken skin is crispy as hell and the meat is juicy and tender. Initially, the thought of chicken and waffles seemed too dry for my liking (I’m a saucy kind of gal), but this place includes a tangy, spicy chili/​tomato sauce on top of the chicken (the dirty sauce) that really made the dish for me. The combination of sweet from the maple syrup with the tangy-​ness from the dirty sauce created the ULTIMATE chicken and waffles sauce.
This place gets super busy during peak hours. Seating is very limited and people are always scouring for seats. We had to wait 15 – 20 mins just to place the order. Service is friendly, but very slow for just a chicken and waffle place — you’d think they’d be banging them out left and right.

Fortunate for Dirty Bird, the taco place next door doesn’t take Debit card. Small place with very limited seating. We ordered two sandwiches and an order of the Dirty Fries. After paying, we asked if they would switch the 1 Dirty into 2 regular fries. The front desk guy was fine with that and advise us that because it would be $ 1 cheaper that he would throw in some extra sauce in the side to even it out. We didn’t mind.
The sandwiches were great. I order the $ 15 sandwich with chicken and beef bacon piled in between some waffles. Pour on some of their maple syrup and you have something really special. This place is awesome. People were coming in and out while we were there.
My only complaint other than the limited seating was the bees! They were everywhere and turned lunch into a warzone. The employees need to work on that.
If I ever go back to Toronto I will Definitely come back here.

Making a Mobb Deep song reference on the menu («Up North Trip») is impressive enough. However, The Dirty Bird’s street cred comes from the food itself.
A chicken & waffle place is a perfect fit for Kensington Market. The area is a perfect microcosm of the cultural melting-​pot that is Toronto. Being able to find this recently iconic American dish in the area only makes sense.
The Dirty Bird definitely gets an A for branding. Their menu items are all creatively named and marketing themselves as «Northern fried chicken» is pretty genius in my book.
As far as the fried chicken goes, it’s really good. I ordered the ODB which included boneless thigh & leg. Usually I opt for the bone-​in chicken, but the boneless chicken at The Dirty Bird was surprisingly moist and flavorful. Without bones, it was also very easy to eat without making too much of a mess.
The accompanying Dirty Sauce was nice, although I was looking for a bit more tang and heat. The coleslaw was just okay. Overall, solid fried chicken, but the Stockyards’ version with their chili maple syrup slightly edges out The Dirty Bird. With that said, I would still come back in a heartbeat.

Fried chicken and waffles seems to be a trending food thing lately, and the Dirty Bird around the corner of Kensington and Baldwin in Kensington Market seems to be the place in Toronto to get your fix.
But the $ 7 «Dirty Bird’ger» chicken burger with waffles as a bun? Dangerous!
It was a mouthful of an idea in itself as I struggled to determine how to stuff that hybrid monster in my mouth and wash down the concept of pickles mixed in with chewed waffle. The fried chicken is crispy lickin’ great with a savoury batter and sufficiently moist in the inside. (I hate dry chicken.) Waffles were fluffy like a feather pillow soft, held the burger together like a pro without getting saturated soggy even with syrup poured into the burger (of course you would, how dirty is that?).
It’s easy to see why many people eating here are drooling dirty. There is a good handful of bar seating (yes, do note even the hooks for purses underneath), and a 10 – 15 wait for your food to be ready. For those who rather not consume chicken on a dirty-​hot summer day, Dirty Bird offers their take on that carnival classic the ice cream waffle sandwich, featuring the ice cream of fav neighbourhood haunt Ed’s Real Scoop.
Suffice to say there is now competition for my post-​haircut meal. That constant Seven Lives taco lineup is looking less and less attractive.

It’s the day after and I still feel Dirty, Dirty Bird that is, and by feel Dirty, I mean I could go for another helping of delcious boneless fried chicken proudly mounted atop a freshly made waffle coated in special sauces, syrup and hot sauce!
Mouth fills with drool…
I was in the Kensington market area yesterday to see a man about a suit and somehow on the trip back to my car, I saw a sandwich board and blacked out. Next thing I knew I was nose deep in a plate of fried chicken known as the ODB, licking my fingers (and pretty much anything else my chicken grease got on — I apologize to the couple next to me for my actions).
On Unilocal this spot is listed as hot and new, and for that to happen you gotta have a fresh, tasty product that is driving the Unilocalers in your area wild. The DB is doing all of these things.
I’m always kinda greedy when it comes to fried chicken so when I heard there was only one piece of chicken included I almost ordered a second. No way! Thank goodness I didn’t. The chicken included was amazing and almost too much, however it was the perfect ratio of Chicken to Waffles!
I hope they don’t change a thing, I love this place, I’ll be back many times this summer!
Eatcrest Out