This is part 2 of day 5 of my trip to Canada!

After getting breakfast at Tim Hortons, we drove to Toronto for the second time on our trip. We took the Path underground to Kensington Market, one of the highlights of the trip. Kensington Market is essentially a neighborhood where the houses that line the streets have been turned into shops selling everything from clothes to candles to global cuisines. It was so unique! I stopped for a while at a cute boutique and bought a shirt, grabbed a cool Toronto mug at another souvenir shop, and on our way out we stopped to eat.

I got my lunch from a chicken and waffle joint called The DirtyBird. This place is small in size like most of the shops on Kensington, but they are mighty in their portion sizes and quality of food. Their fried chicken is hand-breaded, gluten-free, and halal! They serve pieces of fried chicken on their own, on top of a waffle, or in a sandwich squished between two waffles or a Martin’s bun. At the counter, they have pictures of their menu items, which all look mouthwatering. After a tough time deciding, I ordered one of their sandwiches: the Sticky Icky. Don’t let the name fool you, though—there is no “ick” to be had. This sandwich comes with fried boneless chicken thigh, maple garlic, pickled jalapeño (which I substituted for cabbage), and dirty aioli.

When I got the sandwich, I just stared at it for a while in awe. The pieces of chicken are huge, and the whole thing is absolutely smothered in syrup and sauce. I tried picking it up and eating it like a sandwich, but I couldn’t unhinge my jaw that far and everything was so piled on that it would have just fallen apart. I settled for the classic fork and knife, which worked out.

First, the waffle had a perfect amount of crispness with a little crunch. It tasted mildly sweet and very pastry-like with a note of caramelized flavor. It tasted exactly how a perfect waffle should.

Next, the chicken was crispy and literally dripping with flavor. The maple syrup combined with the garlic and chicken made for a great sweet and savory combination. The bottom piece of waffle was absolutely drenched in syrup, almost falling apart, and that syrupy sweetness was the best. Everything was covered in the sticky, succulent sauces, befitting its name. Each individual element of this sandwich tasted fantastic on its own, and put together they were even better. 

And that’s what I ate on day 5 of my Canada trip! Just one more day of Canada eating adventures!