The new Skytrain extension has been in the works for over a few years now, and has left the once heavily trafficked street of Broadway a congested nightmare. If planing on driving to a specific destination you would sooner turn around and head home or venture else where due to this headache.
Having driven the route myself recently and struggled finding parking due to construction rerouting traffic and turning side streets to one ways or local traffic only, I can speak to this with dead accuracy.
However, the reality is, this is sad news for businesses worthy of attention and your support. Such as Le Coq Fit, the local Korean fried chicken brand made with American influences and French techniques.
So finally getting here myself, it was great to see others opting to walk the area, finding their way in. Because as it stands this is the cleanest tasting fried chicken I have ever had. And if you want a healthy lunch in the area, they are a great resource.
As a fast food option you order at the counter and claim one of the pit stop seats at their bar facing the window. At the moment the view is construction orange pylons and unearthed concrete, but expect great people watching opportunities when the dust settles.
Sitting in wait, we took time to appreciate the kitsch of their neon decor. An irregularity that doesn’t quite match their aesthetic. Set against a wall made from a collection of mashed wood chips, you have the outline of a man on bended knee proposing to a blank wall space. The neon pink hearts that surround him and the framed sign reading “Mr & Mrs” confirms he has a wedding state of mind. I guess the thought is that he is proposing with chicken? I couldn’t quite fall in line with the logic of this one. But it did make an impression.
But I digress, we are here for the food and majority of their orders are take out, so you aren’t lingering in the space anyhow. So many of their orders are grab and go, that they have put in the time to supply a draw string bag with their branding on it, to carry your food in. Seeing someone transport their lunch in this would definitely have me inquiring what they have in there.
If it is a fried chicken shop and they have a waffle pairing, I am all over it. And at Le Coq Fit it is not just any waffle. This is Chicken and croissant waffle. With this dish, and all the others you can choose the style of chicken that goes with it from classic, sweet and spicy, or just all over spicy. However, here the classic honey garlic and soy sauce glaze is recommended and the most popular choice. Complimentary to the waffle without overpowering it. The lean chicken tasted fresh and of quality, but the crispy and buttery waffle was the highlight for me. What a great twist.
I normally don’t order and am not a fan of salad, but this one I liked and would order again, as a healthier meal option. House salad greens dressed in a yuzu vinaigrette and topped with a sliced up chicken tenders. The chicken was hearty and filling with the citrus zest of the salad accenting its herbed breading.
We also tried their chicken sandwich with sweet and spicy chicken. This was a 3:1 ratio of chicken to bun. The large piece of chicken breast stuck out from in between the burger buns, and you needed to unhinge your jaw to get a bite in. Heavily coated in the sweet and tangy sauce, it was not overly spicy, with much of the heat being tempered by the cheese, raw shredded slaw, and pickles. And once again the chicken was fried, but ate lean. It was not greasy, as told by the lack of grease in the air. I felt healthy eating their fried chicken, so was sure to finish the burger and all the onion rings. Their food had be feeling calories don’t matter here.
I can fully recommend them for healthy fried chicken, which sounds like an oxymoron, but rest assured it is an accurate account. And if you cannot make it to this, their first and original location, stay tuned as they are opening another in Londsdale Market, within the food court.
Le Coq Fit
1888 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6J 1Y9
(604) 568-8776
lecoqfrit.ca
