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The Chickenburger
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Restaurants Burgers Canadian (Traditional), Burgers [Edit]
1531 Bedford HwyHalifax, NS B4A 1E3
(902) 835-6565
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 9 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 9 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
22 reviews for The Chickenburger
Review Highlights
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"For .25 you can listen to a tune on the Jukebox." In 6 reviews -
"...of this world and the fish and chips are among the best in..." In 3 reviews -
"...fish and chip fix before you keep traveling on the Highway." In 3 reviews
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22 reviews in English
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Review from Lyndsay B.
Dartmouth Centre, NS
5/7/2012
First of all, this place feels like a second home to me. I've been visiting the Chickenburger since I was a child. The atmosphere and attention to detail always gets me. I hope they never change their decor. It's a really fun experience and the jukebox is really fun to play.
As for the food, I always tend to order the same thing. Chickenburger with mayo, fries and a Coke slushy. I highly suggest the mayo, because otherwise the burger is quite bland.
The fries are okay, not really the best out there. They are very thin.
And, last, they have gotten rid of the coke slushy and now only have berry flavours. I hope that maybe thats a temporary decision. I guess I'll have to try the milkshake next time. -
Review from Ashlee F.
4/30/2012 1 photo
The Chicken Burger has the best 50's diner feeling! AND they even have Juke Box!
The chicken burgers are quite yummy! It's like chucks of chicken (instead of a chicken breast) on a steamed bun; I always add cranberry sauce for extra flavor, yum! They are pretty small, so you might want to get two! The onion rings are good too, nice and crispy!
The only downfall is that it can be, and usually is, super busy! And, because the dining area is small it can get quite loud and crowded. -
Review from Asheley R.
Halifax, NS
2/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Chick!!! Hells to the yes. I've loved coming to this place ever
since I was a kid. I think I appreciated a good milkshake and
chickenburger from such a historical place at a little age. Now I
realize just how old school it is. 1940! Chhhyea.
The oldest drive in restaurant in Canada, you know you want to check
it out if you haven't already. Drop a coin in the jukebox, sit on the
cool 50's chairs and take a trip back 70 years ago.
A simple yet sturdy menu. The portion sizes aren't huge but they work
for me. Jud was definitely still hungry. It certainly isn't gourmet
but you are really going for the atmosphere in combination with the
food. I've heard the soft serve ice cream is da bomb and I see a ton
of the oldies rockin' the fish and chips. My go-to is the cheeseburger
with fries. A chocolate milkshake doesn't hurt either.
Be forewarned though, don't think you'll be spending all your time
yacking to your date. You'll be up out of your chairs checking out the
cool photos on the walls. There is a ton of history in there! Just
think of how many butts sat on your very chair.
The food is good but not awesome. You really have to look at it as a package deal. -
Review from Jade B.
Halifax County, NS
5/22/2012
This is the worst place I have ever eaten in quite possibly my lifetime.
I of course knew this place as a staple of Halifax/Bedford for their classic chicken burgers and 50's atmosphere.
So with anticipation my boyfriend and I were finally ready to try.
We showed up, the floors were a mess. Feels kind of dirty that where you order feels and looks like a sidewalk with wrappers all over the floor.
We ordered the classic chicken burger and fries.
I really have no idea how anyone could possibly give this place a positive reivew it was a soggy tiny little burger with the scraps of some old chicken on a bun. All brown dark meat, and what I suppose you would consider to be gravy on it.
Also some quick microwaved shoestring fries.
ABSOUTLY the most horrid event that has ever taken place in my mouth.
I will never return to this place. -
Review from Ben B.
5/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh jeez. I'm going to get some serious hateration over this review but I just really feel like I should weigh in with my take on this Bedford landmark. Before you start forming the angry mob to come burn down my house and kill my monster (wait - who said monster? I didn't build a monster...), hear me out and remember this is just one person's opinion.
For starters, I should be clear in saying I think The Chicken Burger is a five-star idea. The sixty-year history, the authentic retro vibe, the walk-up order window, the jukebox, there truly is SO much to love about this place as a venue. And frankly, despite everything you're about to read, I really would be sad to see this place go even though I'm only ever a customer once ever four or five years.
But then there's the food. Even if we don't talk about the fact that as a vegetarian I can't eat anything there besides fries, onion rings, and milkshakes (the only of the three that I'd put above the fast food status quo), there MUST be something I'm not getting about the very burgers after which this place is named. I mean, it's literally chicken pieces on a bun. That's it. No sauce, no veggies, no cheese...just chicken and bread.
I know, I know...they're probably sticking to the exact same formula that made them what they are today, but c'mon...no sauce? I just don't see what all the fuss is about or why anyone would come here without a bottle of barbecue glaze in their coat pocket.
There. If you still feel you need to run me out of town, I'll understand. But you'll have to deal with my monster first if you plan on getting to me...bwaaahhuahahhhaha.
I mean...who said anything about a monster?? -
Review from Mike C.
Dartmouth, NS
2/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is iconic, & rightfully so! They have the best burgers around!! Love them!! Prices are good. The buildings historic. Makes a great experience for all ages!
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Review from Vanessa J.
Halifax, NS
6/27/2011
I went out to The Chicken Burger last week with my parents. I had been to the Chicken Burger when I was a kid, but at that point I was a vegetarian so I really only ate the fries. This most recent visit was the first time going since I've started eating poultry, so I finally got to try the acclaimed chicken burger.
I had the meal, with a large fries and a glass bottle of coke, for the decent price of about $8.00. The coke in the glass bottle was a nice retro touch and the portion of fries was great, they were nice and crispy and not overly salty. The verdict on the chicken burger? Underwhelming, it's just chunks of chicken on a steamed bun, it tastes exactly how it sounds. I found it bland, and one note. For the same basic result, I rather have a piece of roasted chicken and a fresh dinner roll... I also tried my dad's chocolate milkshake as I had debated whether to get one or not, it was really thin without a lot of flavour, so I'm glad I passed on it.
I did love the retro feel to the place, and the working jukebox, and even though it's not my thing I'm happy to see a local fast food business thriving even with other chain options in sight. -
Review from Gillian A.
Toronto, ON
4/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love The Chicken Burger. My family has been coming to it since it opened, I think. Whenever I come back to Halifax for a visit I have to come and eat here. How do they make their chicken burgers so flavourful and delicious?? I don't know what the secret is, but I'm all for it!
Also, they have a jukebox, awesome milkshakes, and many clothing items with chickens on them for sale. It's a little kitsch but it's also really delicious. -
Review from Mel H.
5/24/2011 ROTD 7/5/2011
Fries and a shake for $5 and change? Sign me up. It ain't fancy but it's an institution.... This place is also a finely tuned machine. I ordered and by the time I had put my change away my food was ready. Suck on that Micky D's.
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Review from Adam B.
Halifax, NS
2/5/2010
Dear Chicken Burger,
Did you know you're my favorite place to eat in Halifax? Well, you are!
Love,
Adam
I think, if I had the wheels, the money and the time I would eat here everyday. This is a place that always delivers for me. In all the years I've been visiting the Chicken Burger, I've never had a bad experience. I love taking old friends, new friends, family and well wishers out here, especially if they've never been. They usually walk away with a new love.
Maybe I'm biased, I don't know why, but no other joint in the city gets me as stoked as the Chicken Burger. I love the 50's diner motif, I always flip through the juke box when I go there and pick out a few songs to play (Yes, I'm that annoying guy), for some reason it just makes me happy.
Now I'm not going to say the Chicken Burger is a flawless establishment, but I will admit that I even find its flaws a little charming. The fact that they never turn the heat on means this place can be a little chilly in the winter, the war you have to wage to get additional cups for condiments (you will never get more than three tiny cups, ever.) is tedious and the fact that a lot of the staff are very young and can seem overwhelmed by too many customers can be annoying. But I don't care, the food is tasty, the Chicken Burgers are out of this world and the fish and chips are among the best in the city.
I guess when it comes down to it, I have a lot of really great memories with a lot of really great people attached to this place. Without this turning into a Wonder Years moment, I hope you're able to make similar memories at the world famous Chicken Burger. -
Review from Amy W.
7/26/2011
I like the Chicken Burger more for the atmosphere and experience than the food. It's good but it's not the best burger I've ever had. That said, it's fun to go sit in the diner and listen to the old tunes perched atop a 50's style stool. I haven't had the actual "chicken burger" itself but the cheeseburgers are good, the fries are good, the onion rings are good...not great. Obviously they're doing something right because this place is lined up out the ying-yang on a nice summer evening.
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Review from Shawna D.
Chester, NS
3/21/2010 5 photos
The Chicken Burger, what can you say other than Good!
This is a must for a one time for sure. It is always packed.
There is the line for the people who want to order and sit in the car to eat. Then the other line is for the ones like us, who want to take advantage of the decor, jump back to Happy Days, I expected The Fonz to walk through the door.
For .25 you can listen to a tune on the Jukebox. You will find some of he oldies on there.
It was a mixed crowd that day, old , young, and the in between, me.
The chicken burger's were plentiful that day and I notice the cheese burgers looked pretty slamin. That will be on the menu for next time.
You can get a meal deal for $8.00, comes with a chicken burger , fries or onion rings and drink. We actually substituted the drink for a milkshake. All was good! -
Review from Nick B.
Halifax, NS
2/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
I've been going to the Chickenburger for as long as I can remember. It's legendary. A couple of years ago it was sold, and I was amazed to see how quickly the new owners put up a poster/flyer explaining that they planned to change NOTHING (except, they did get Interac direct payment, which was good, I hated the cash-only thing that used to be the case there).
The actual "original" Chickenburger is kind of strange, but beautiful in its simplicity - chopped chicken on a steamed little Wonderbread-type bun. No condiments, no mayo, nothing. But it's really, really good for some reason. With onion rings and a strawberry milkshake (a real milkshake, no less), it's just perfect. They make great burgers as well, at least according to my wife, I keep meaning to try them, but I just can't seem to get past the original.
As I understand it, in the old days before the 100-series highways were built, Sunnyside was a bottleneck way out of the city, and it was a perfect place to stop and linger for a little while - today, there's easier ways to get around than the Bedford Highway, but it's work the trip all the same. -
Review from Ang M.
Halifax, NS
11/10/2009
This place is popular with older people, partly because the decor is a throwback to the '50s and partly because the older folks actually have memories of the Chickenburger from their youth, because it's been around just that long. And the decor is good fifties fun, complete with stools and jukeboxes. Staff are super-efficient and work like clockwork, because the place is always packed.
The thing is - and I hate to say it - the actual "Chickenburger" that the place is named for is rather underwhelming. It's a small, rather soggy white bun, with chunks of chopped chicken on it. The chicken appears to have been - what - boiled? it has no flavour of its own whatsoever. You can add condiments and onions and stuff, but it doesn't really change the fact that the chickenburger doesn't really fly with me. -
Review from Courtney M.
Halifax, NS
4/7/2010
I realize I might be facing the wrath of the Haligonian masses by not giving 'The Chicken Burger' a full five outa five but I guess I was just expecting something a tad different.
For one thing, I didn't know that chicken burger was more of an old timey fast food joint and less of a quintessential diner. If you were expecting a little older lady (circa Grease) to ask you if 'you wanted cherry or vanilla coke with that' then you might be in for a surprise. There is seating available at the chicken burger but you have to head up to the counters yourself.
Don't get me wrong though, there is still plenty of ambience to go around at this fine old establishment. Old time pop bottles and cute old booths are both of note!
One thing I really enjoyed about chicken burger was that neither the prices nor portion sizes appear to have changed dramatically over 70 years. That's right folks, you aren't likely to be able to gorge yourselves off of one simple order and you shouldn't need a to-go container either. I personally loved my cheeseburger and fries and didn't feel sick from the grease of it later on either. A few more condiment variations would have been a nice touch. onion, mustard and ketchup just doesn't cut it for me although I appreciate the authenticity.
One thing to note: The original chicken burger isn't the newfangled grilled breast or breaded patty that you may have been expecting but more closely resembles a post xmas turkey sandwich with bits of real chicken and sauce mixed in.
A lovely old spot overall and definitely worth checking out! -
Review from Rob B.
Bedford, NS
3/20/2011
I know, I know....the food's a little bland, it's busy and McDonalds does have better fried but it's a Bedford thing. Authentic 50s drive in with a menu from the same era. Skip the eponymous chickenburgers (unless you're on a doctor imposed bland diet) and go for the awesome fish and chips, onion rings and burgers. Milk shakes are the bees knees.
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Review from Katie M.
Halifax, NS
3/21/2010
You know how when you can't have something, most of the time that just makes you want it more? That's the way I feel about The Chicken Burger, it's too far for me to go there very often, but I'm always craving it.
I love eating inside because of the Chicken Burger's 1950's diner atmosphere. The decor is complete with stools (that no matter how you position yourself you always feel like you are going to fall off of) and a jukebox (trust me, it will brighten your day to hear an oldie you love unexpectedly). If it is hot and busy (and it normally is during the summer) you can sit outside at one of the Picnic tables, just beside the parking lot.
The chicken burger after which this diner is named is made with real chunks of chicken and your choice of sauce on a white bun. That's it, it's actually pretty simple. What makes it so great is the home cooked feel you get when you eat the chicken. As my boyfriend once put it- it's the type of place you don't mind finding a bone in your meal, because it's reassuring that what you are eating isn't overly processed.
There is a wide menu that extends beyond the land of chicken and into the world of beef, but I have yet to dabble there. For now I am more than content having my chicken burger with lt. mayo.
Hot Hint: Get change at the cash register for the jukebox, it takes quarters. -
Review from Joshua Y.
Vancouver, BC
10/24/2009
The Chicken Burger is great!
There really is no other need to say anything else. But I will explain. This restaurant has given itself a 50's or 60's Diner feel to it. It even has a Jukebox. It is located outside of the downtown Halifax area, off the Bedford Highway, but its worth the trip!
When you order a burger you might be surprised at the pricing until you see the size of the burger. The burger's are very cheap but they are almost snack size. I'm not sure why they do that but its a lot of fun and the burger's are so good, you always go back for more! I have also had the Fish and Chips which were some of the best in the city.
The staff at the Chicken Burger are very nice and sort of have the kind of friendly personality you would expect if you were going to travel back in time and go to a Diner sixty years ago. The only warning I need to give is that this Diner is busy most of the time. Not incredibly busy with waits longer than five minutes or so. But consistently busy as the restaurant is right off of the Bedford Highway which is a very busy Highway.
This restaurant is a lot of fun for the whole family or if you just need a burger or fish and chip fix before you keep traveling on the Highway. The staff are fast and friendly and the quality of the food is top notch! What really sets this place apart from the rest is that its one of the few themed Diners in the city. So for standing out, serving great food, having great staff and giving customer's a consistently fun experience, five stars. -
Review from Bethany J.
Halifax, NS
3/20/2010
I have to confess: I don't get the hype. I've eaten at the Chickenburger several times - all with friends - and I've never been overwhelmed by either the food or the service.
I've heard all the rave reviews and I've tried all the recommendations and I'm still left wondering why the Chickenburger inspires such loyalty. There's nothing particularly tasty about chicken on a bun, and the onion rings - which came highly recommended - were soggy and tasteless.
I suppose that the Chickenburger might be a step up over the chain fast-food joints that line the Bedford highway around it. However, I think I'd opt for McDonald's or Wendy's over the Chickenburger - and that's saying a lot.
I'm giving the Chickenburger three stars because of the way it works itself into the hearts of Haligonians. Surely someplace that generates such reverence has to be doing something right, even if I can't understand it. Chickenburger, I'm willing to give you another chance. See you soon. Ish. -
Review from cheryl d.
Halifax, NS
3/8/2010 1 photo
WOW! What a great place! I felt as if I was living back in the 50's when I went to this restaurant!
The Chicken Burger has been around since the 1940's and it's the oldest drive in restaurant in Canada. Other than a few renovations, the restaurant still looks the way it did 50 years ago. They have a lot of old pictures hanging and it is incredibly how much it hasn't changed!
When I first heard of the Chicken Burger, I thought it was going to be a deep friend, breaded chicken burger....NOPE! It is real chicken that is chopped and steamed between a fresh bun. I ordered 2 chicken burgers (not that big) and an order of onion rings and a famous chocolate shake. WOW! I was stuffed to the brim (I think the shake put me over) and it was yummmmy! It was costly compared to other fast food restaurants I've been to, but totally worth it.
I will definitely continue to eat at the Chicken Burger. Apparently, it's a famous stop for travellers and bikers and folks with antique cars. It is pretty popular in the summertime and is quite the 'hangout' for adults. They have many tables outside so it would be a great place to stop for a shake and a bit to eat on a hot day. -
Review from Sarah A.
Halifax, NS
5/3/2010
The chicken burgers, for me, were gross. But... I don't like dark meat and that's mostly what was in it
The cheeseburger was good, and the fries are the bomb! -
Review from Philip Y.
7/17/2010
I drove 22km from downtown all the way to Bedford to try their burgers. Its ok and reasonably priced. However I wouldn't really go there again because its simply too far for me and there's nothing that really stand out about the place and the food. If I were living in Bedford, then that'll be a different thing.
