Chicken On The Way — Restaurant in Airdrie

I have been a customer of Chicken on the Way for over 35 years. I was very happy when a location was opened in Airdrie.

I love Chicken on the Way, I consider it to be one of the best fired chicken places that I have ever visited, definitely the best value in Airdrie and Calgary, however.....

On Tuesday September 3, right at noon, I took a friend for his first experience and he will never try it again. And, frankly, I will probably never bother going back to this location.

We took our meals to go as, obviously, there is no dine in option. We drove to Nose Creek Park and sat down to eat. So we were only 5-10 minutes from getting our meals to the time we started eating. The fries were glistening with oil and were extremely soggy. For the first time ever at COTW, I was not even tempted to finish them, there were just gross. When I saw my friend breaking apart his fritter I saw oil dripping off his fingers and mine was the same. It is obvious that the fryers were not up to temperature and hence the excess oil.

Now, for the really sad part. I had told him about the great value and good sized chicken pieces, well was I proven wrong. The drumsticks were barely bigger than drumettes, the wing he had was tiny, the breasts were reasonable but not up to the norm and overall, the meals were just not up to the standard of COTW. I have had the occasional small piece in the past, but it was always made up for with an extra piece. I have had bigger drumsticks at KFC!

This is my third experience since the management change, the previous 2 left me slightly disappointed, this one left me looking for a new chicken place.

And yes, I did attempt to talk to the location directly. That afternoon I was too busy to go back so I went to stop in at 8:40 and the open sign was off and the store appeared closed, so the opportunity to speak with them was lost, their fault not mine, as they shut down at least 20 minutes early. (their door sign says open until 9)

If you want to service in this competitive market you need friendly and personable staff AND high quality product or you will drive away even your...

Edited to add the photo asked by the owner as he said my statements are incorrect:

The day we ordered, March 20 (as we always did through food ordering app), only combos of 3 pieces of strips were in the menu, no individual pieces. As you can see in the receipt, it clearly states 2x 3pcs for $21.00. This validates my review below that we paid $10.50 for each 3pc combo. My original photo shows those 3 'pieces'. The other combo was not delivered, so we lost $10.50 on that order. (Food app did not reimburse this). I looked at the menus on the app today, and now it is possible to order by the piece for 2.85 each. But not the day of my purchase. Apart from the price paid, i stand by my review that the size of 3x strips for $10.50 was dissapointing.

This is my original review:

I am so disappointed. COTW has been our go to for years since they opened in Airdrie. Until tonight. I understand they have to increase prices, but the portions got reduced (size of the strip). Just early this year, we used to get 5 good size strips for less than 11 dollars and they would always throw extra pieces at no cost. Now, we paid 10.50 for 3 pieces which were so dissapointed in size. And you cant order by the piece now but in groups of 3... They also forgot one of the combos and my son's chicken pieces looked like they were overcooked or reheated. Its so sad as i used to always recommend this place. It seems their new management has lost a loyal customer.

Photo of the 3x mini strips i got for 10.50 tonight ☹️ You can see the small bag of chips...

I went in and ordered an eight piece for pickup and when I got out to my truck and checked Raj gave me two Wing drums for legs and then two wings that didn't even equivalate to an ounce of meat a piece. $25 for eight pieces of chicken and a few fritters and I got the equivalent of maybe five pieces of chicken. Chicken on the way is my favorite chicken but I assure you I will never go back to this location. If he tried to charge me three or four dollars for one of those wings I would have refused them if I had seen them before taking the food. Having a long road trip home I couldn't have been bothered to turn back and thought I just say that this is the worst Chicken on the way in all of the Calgary and Calgary area. Beware.

*update - it's funny that a year ago you said that I must went to the wrong location hahaha I definitely know my directions and know where you guys are located and I most certainly did order that horrible chicken from you. I might say I'm incredibly pleased by seeing the fact there's so many other individuals we've had the same terrible experience like I did. Like the one customer mentioned I'm surprised you're even open a year later, terrible food, small portions, terrible service, and an owner who would like to tell somebody that they must not have been in his restaurant- call...