Darwin's Charcoal Bbq Chicken
Reviews of Darwin's Charcoal Bbq Chicken
from GoogleI highly recommend eating at Darwin's in Calgary, as often as you possibly can. I remembered this restaurant from a Diners, Drive-ins & Dives episode and searched for it as I was traveling to Banff from Toronto for the 1st time. Turned out it was located just 8 minutes from Calgary airport. We went straight there as soon as we got our rental car. Amzing start to this trip! The chicken is so moist and flavourful on its own, you don't need sauces. However, they make some amazing sauces that you will want to enjoy. The calamsi soy dip was my favourite. Loved the island rice and island slaw also. We also had the Tropical chicken salad which was delicious. Food was so great, we ordered the Chicken Sisig and Darwin's Pancit for takeout to bring to our hotel in Banff for dinner later. A week later, we returned to Darwin's for lunch before flying back to Toronto. We thoroughly enjoyed the Adobo De Isla. This is a must-order dish when you come to Darwin's. We grabbed 2 Tropical Chicken Salads to go, for eating on the plane later. Apart from the food, the staff are delightful, happy, attentive and a joy to be around. I highly recommend eating at Darwin's in Calgary, as often as you possibly can.
One of the best bbq chicken I’ve had in Calgary! It is local and halal as well! their chicken are very tender and meaty. the marinade of the chicken is sooo good it makes you want to eat more of it. their portions are big as well and the best sauce to pair it with is calamansi soy sauce for a citrusy bite 10/10 combination. Their quail egg tempura is also really good, both the sauces it comes with pairs well with it. It’s not heavy on the batter which is good since you can taste the egg and the sauce really well. The chicken sisig is also really good! They give out big portions so I couldn’t finish it but it’s creamy and citrusy - works well with each other. It does taste like an authentic sisig but chicken instead of pork. I’d give it a 8/10. This is almost similar to Mang Inasal in the Philippines which makes it even better if you’re craving it, this can 100% satisfy your cravings. I would definitely come back here if I’m ever craving for bbq chicken.
Man, this place used to serve great food. Darwin was still around, and they actually cared about what they were doing. But not anymore. Today I went in to grab a quick bite, and it turns out not only was the food horrible, but the service was somehow even worse. Not sure how the manage it! I told the server to make sure my food was spicy. I double-checked to make sure it was spicy. I even know the cashier, so I asked her to make sure the food was spicy. Guess what? Nope. From my previous experiences, I’ve learned that you apparently have to triple-check everything just to make sure they’re actually listening. But honestly, the lack of spice wasn’t even what pissed me off the most. The burger bun was literally in 27,000 pieces. I couldn’t even pick it up, so I had to eat the burger with a fork, as you can see in the picture. I asked the cashier what was wrong, and she said, “I’m sorry, the bun is soggy.” What? If the bun is soggy, why the hell would you serve it? For the love of God, why are you ruining this place with your own hands? Get your shit together. It’s not like the food is cheap either. You’re charging premium prices for food that simply isn’t up to the standard. I really hope they get things sorted out, because this place used to be good.
I recently visited Darwin’s Charcoal BBQ Chicken in Calgary and had an absolutely fantastic experience. We ordered quite a few dishes to try, and honestly, everything exceeded our expectations. It’s one of those places where you can tell there’s a lot of care and passion put into the food. We started with the Chicken Spring Rolls, which were crispy, flavorful, and a great way to kick off the meal. The Chicken Sisig was one of my personal favorites. It is full of flavor with that perfect balance of savory, crispy, and slightly tangy notes. It was incredibly satisfying and something I would definitely order again. The Chicken Inasal was another standout. The chicken was juicy, tender, and packed with that delicious smoky, grilled flavor that makes inasal so good. The charcoal grilling really comes through, and the seasoning was excellent without being overpowering. We also tried the Quail Egg Tempura, which was such a fun and unique appetizer. Crispy on the outside while keeping the quail eggs deliciously tender inside. Definitely something different and worth trying. The Sopas was comforting and flavorful. It is warm, creamy, and exactly the kind of dish you want when you're craving something hearty and satisfying. It had that homemade quality that made it especially enjoyable. Of course, we also had to try Darwin’s Pancit, and it did not disappoint. The noodles were flavorful, well-seasoned, and loaded with ingredients. It was the perfect dish to share and paired really well with the chicken dishes. What I really appreciated was the variety. Everything we ordered had its own distinct flavor, and nothing felt repetitive. The portions were generous, the food came out fresh, and every dish felt thoughtfully prepared. Overall, Darwin’s Charcoal BBQ Chicken is definitely a place I would recommend to anyone looking for delicious Filipino food in Calgary. The combination of charcoal-grilled chicken, classic Filipino comfort food, generous portions, and great flavors makes this a must-try. I’ll definitely be coming back to try more of the menu.
I was expecting more from all the hype on social media. But it was just not good. Chicken was marinated well and had a nice char but lack depth. I guess if you are expecting this to be more Filipino - it isn’t. The rice tasted like frozen fried rice you’d buy at the grocery store. The sweet and sour chicken was swimming in sauce with very little chicken. Pancit was salty. Unfortunately this did not live up to the hype, at all. Overpriced and overhyped.
Seen on diners, drive ins and dives so had too check it out.
Really enjoyed our first visit to Darwin’s BBQ Chicken! I had the Solo Quarter BBQ Chicken Breast with buttered corn, island rice, and the Calamansi Soy Dip. Everything was so good, especially the chicken. My boyfriend got the Surf and Turf Fiesta and loved it too. We also tried the Mango Graham and Coconut Pandan drinks, and they were both delicious. They were not too sweet, which we really liked. The portions were big, and the prices were definitely worth it. The servers were also friendly and helpful. We will definitely come back the next time we visit Calgary!
My family and I, decided to go and try this Guy Fieri approved restaurant. Ever since it got featured on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, it has been all over social media and made us hungry enough to try it. Right off the bat, you can smell their bbq chicken right from the parking lot. The restaurant was bustling and the wait for getting a table was 40 mins to an hour. While waiting for our table, we browsed through their menu. So that we’d know what to order once we were seated. After waiting for 40+ mins, we got our table and informed our server that we were ready to place our order. What bothered me and made the experience quite disappointing was that, the group of four, who came in after us and whose order got taken after us, got their food first! Had to flag our server and ask why and to check on the status of our order. All she could say was, “They’re just working on it and it’ll be out soon.” As I watched their expediter get food ready for their delivery orders, there was still no sign that our order was ready. When it was finally ready, it just sat on the counter getting cold. The expediter didn’t let our server know and she was at the back of the kitchen doing something else. There was one server that took over and looked after every table and packed up the delivery orders. When we finally got our food, the soup was warm (not hot), the garlic breads were cold and soggy, the rice was already at room temp, the appetizer was at room temp as well and the bbq chicken was warm. The bbq chicken was tender and juicy. L iked the smokey flavour. Even the chicken liver, was tasty and had a bit of spice to it. The sopas, even though it had bbq chicken on it, it wasn’t very flavourful. This is one of those dining experiences, that we most likely wont return to. Should mention that the table behind us, also complained that their food was taking far too long.
Darwin’s Charcoal BBQ Chicken is one of the best spots for authentic Filipino cuisine. Darwin’s Charcoal BBQ Chicken is owned by a very humble and welcoming Filipino family, and you can truly feel their warmth the moment you walk in. The food is incredibly flavorful and tastes just like home-cooked meals—perfectly grilled BBQ, well-seasoned dishes, and generous portions. What makes this place even more special is the genuine hospitality. They treat you like family, which makes the whole dining experience comforting and memorable. If you’re looking for authentic Filipino food that feels like home, this place is definitely worth visiting. Highly recommended!
Had dinner with a gf on a snowy night. We parked out front and were seated quickly. We had to move tables as my friend is allergic to perfumes and the smell was pungent from other patrons who sat next to us. We chose a high top table and ordered a bunch of things to try. They were busy and food came out very spaced apart. I almost cancelled one of our dishes. The tofu cucumber salad was good but nothing unique. The dumplings reminded my Filipino gf of the ones she used to get at family gatherings. They were fine but I felt indifferent about them. The dumpling filling tasted like slightly sour greens. The best part was the hot sauce for dipping. We shared a pancit noodle which tasted very celery forward in flavour and shared a shredded chicken bowl. Overall, I was a bit disappointed with all the hype from reviews.,The food was fine but nothing was memorable or would make me return soon. I ate, enjoyed most of it but won’t be rushing here again.
About Darwin's Charcoal Bbq Chicken
At 2550 Country Hills Blvd NE, this Filipino restaurant grills its chicken over charcoal after a long marinade, and all of its meat is halal.
What to order
The chicken is marinated for 48 hours before it goes on the charcoal grill, and diners say the calamansi soy dip is the sauce to pair with it. The chicken sisig is creamy and citrusy, and the chicken inasal is smoky and tender. The quail egg tempura has a light batter and is a good starter, and the pancit and sopas make solid shared sides. Portions are big, so order a few dishes and share.
The room
Diners say the hospitality is warm. It is a casual, busy room that suits a family dinner or a takeout order. On a busy night, order everything together so the dishes arrive at the same time. Staff are friendly even when things are busy, and there is free parking out front.
The mango graham and the coconut pandan drinks were praised as not too sweet, and the chicken spring rolls are crispy and well flavoured.
| Saturday | 11 a.m.–9 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 12–8:30 p.m. |
| Monday | 11 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 11 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 11 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Thursday | 11 a.m.–9 p.m. |
| Friday | 11 a.m.–9 p.m. |