Details:
Fritou Halal Fried Chicken
(403) 450-5880
216 Saddletown Circle NE
Calgary, AB T3J
www.fritouchickenpizza.com
The review:
I had read about this place a while ago and have been meaning to go there for a long time as a closer alternative to Chicken-on-the-Way and finally got to yesterday.
It's located in Saddletown Circle (not saddleridge circle or crescent, as Google would have you believe), meaning for me it was a very quick drive to get there from Country Hills. It's on the west side of the plaza so it's pretty much right there if you access the circle from 80th like I did.
Inside it's a pretty unassuming place, with decor that would look at home in a Mary Brown's but with very friendly staff. So we placed our order and contrary to what a blog that has a review on urbanspoon for this place said, the chicken was ready and in a box for me in under 10min and we were heading back home.
One thing I should mention -- there's 3 kinds of breading you can get. Regular is just plain, Spicy (what we got) and Western is a mildly spicy version.
Anyways the chicken -- it was fresh, hot and juicy; much juicier in fact than what I normally get at Chicken-on-the-Way. The skin was a bit salty, but crispy despite what other reviews say, and while I'd hesitate to call it spicy, it's not bland in the least. Now, what's included with the chicken is what will make me a repeat customer, and that's the homemade "hot sauce".
It's not really hot (I can drink the stuff), but it's this fantastic combination of onions, something that makes it red, and just a bucketload of delicious.
Dinner ended up being 3 pieces of the spicy chicken, some leftover couscous and a root beer float and I'm hoping to have the rest of the chicken (and couscous) tonight!
I can say it's definitely worth the short drive if you're in the near NW like I am and if you're in the NE, hell, they deliver!