Penny Hot Chicken is such a hidden gem. The chicken is thick, juicy, and perfectly crispy, with generous portions that actually fill you up.
The spice levels are legit — if you like real heat, medium or above brings a serious kick without overpowering the flavor.
Prices are super affordable, especially the daily specials under $10, which is rare these days. No wonder locals and students are obsessed with this spot. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a hot chicken fan.
I used to love this place but the quality has gone way downhill. Fries not fully cooked and oftentimes missing sauces that I paid extra for. Since there's no way in option it's not easy to check to make sure the order is correct before leaving. When it's made right, the chicken is amazing but the inconsistency has made it so I no longer order from here.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 2
Mehmet Ali Demir
Yesterday, the three of us ate chicken burgers from this place, and all three of us got food poisoning and threw up in the evening. Every single item was greasy; it seems they haven't changed the fryer oil in a year. It's a terrible situation. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Ozan Atar
I came with my friends, we ate your Penny Classic spicy burger, and all three of us felt nauseated and threw up. It was disgusting, I will never come again.
Food: 1
Daniel Krause
Arif and Zack! Thanks guys for helping me out when I was in a rush. They really are great ppl who work here and deserve the recognition for going above and beyond with customers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Richard W
These things are massive! So juicy and delicious. The waffle fries are crispy and seasoned very well. The dipping sauce is on point. Very good tenders! Love the bread and butter pickles too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sabri Bagunaid
Recently i noticed the food quality has gone down . Dry loaded fries , the spicy level in sandwiches always comes extremely hot even if you selected low number.
loompaland4
Tried Penny's for the first time a couple of days ago in downtown Toronto. Staff seemed disinterested in serving the customers. Ordered the waffle fries bowl for lunch and it was good. But then I skipped dinner because I didn't feel well and came down with a violent case of food poisoning. Not interested in going back a second time.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Q
Best food in waterloo 10/10 Gulam needs a raise hard working very always brings a smile
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alan W.
This place was so good when it first opened but it’s drastically lowered in quality and quantity. The hottest spice level definitely isn’t as spicy anymore they don’t really put much chili oil and powder they put way less. They just carelessly season it fast and lazily to get you in and out quick, I think they're consolidating spice levels due to laziness. Chicken has shrunk in portion size. Service has dropped too it just feels so weird and awkward to order here now, wasn't like this before.
The past 3 times I have visited the quality consistently drops each time so it's not a 1 time thing.
Got medium spice classic sandwich and holyyyyy grease!! So much oil and grease. When I took a bite it squirted grease at me. It didn’t use to have so much grease before. I had to stop eating it. Won’t be returning.
smj zaidi
I used to love their loaded fries. Recently they have decreased the portion by half while still charging around 17. V disappointing
Food: 3
Service: 1
Hafsa Khan
Disappointed because I was served a raw chicken sandwich
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Ryan
Ordered takeout. Honestly was extremely disappointed. Expensive. Chicken was soaked in oil. Lacking seasoning. Texture was off. I will not be returning. Way overhyped. I’ve had a lot of good chicken sandwiches but this one wasn’t it.
Food: 1
Lindsey Harnock
This place started as a five-star fast food restaurant and we loved this place! My husband had tears the first time he had no Georgie! and hyped it up to our son. Went there tonight and wow it went downhill, got no georgie again and it was barely spicier than medium...severely disappointed.
Penny Hot Chicken is such a hidden gem. The chicken is thick, juicy, and perfectly crispy, with generous portions that actually fill you up.
The spice levels are legit — if you like real heat, medium or above brings a serious kick without overpowering the flavor.
Prices are super affordable, especially the daily specials under $10, which is rare these days. No wonder locals and students are obsessed with this spot. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a hot chicken fan.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chicken Tenders, Penny's Classic Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
I used to love this place but the quality has gone way downhill. Fries not fully cooked and oftentimes missing sauces that I paid extra for. Since there's no way in option it's not easy to check to make sure the order is correct before leaving. When it's made right, the chicken is amazing but the inconsistency has made it so I no longer order from here.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 2
Yesterday, the three of us ate chicken burgers from this place, and all three of us got food poisoning and threw up in the evening. Every single item was greasy; it seems they haven't changed the fryer oil in a year. It's a terrible situation. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I came with my friends, we ate your Penny Classic spicy burger, and all three of us felt nauseated and threw up. It was disgusting, I will never come again.
Food: 1
Arif and Zack! Thanks guys for helping me out when I was in a rush. They really are great ppl who work here and deserve the recognition for going above and beyond with customers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
These things are massive! So juicy and delicious. The waffle fries are crispy and seasoned very well. The dipping sauce is on point. Very good tenders! Love the bread and butter pickles too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recently i noticed the food quality has gone down . Dry loaded fries , the spicy level in sandwiches always comes extremely hot even if you selected low number.
Tried Penny's for the first time a couple of days ago in downtown Toronto. Staff seemed disinterested in serving the customers. Ordered the waffle fries bowl for lunch and it was good. But then I skipped dinner because I didn't feel well and came down with a violent case of food poisoning. Not interested in going back a second time.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Best food in waterloo 10/10 Gulam needs a raise hard working very always brings a smile
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place was so good when it first opened but it’s drastically lowered in quality and quantity. The hottest spice level definitely isn’t as spicy anymore they don’t really put much chili oil and powder they put way less. They just carelessly season it fast and lazily to get you in and out quick, I think they're consolidating spice levels due to laziness. Chicken has shrunk in portion size. Service has dropped too it just feels so weird and awkward to order here now, wasn't like this before.
The past 3 times I have visited the quality consistently drops each time so it's not a 1 time thing.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Got medium spice classic sandwich and holyyyyy grease!! So much oil and grease. When I took a bite it squirted grease at me. It didn’t use to have so much grease before. I had to stop eating it. Won’t be returning.
I used to love their loaded fries. Recently they have decreased the portion by half while still charging around 17. V disappointing
Food: 3
Service: 1
Disappointed because I was served a raw chicken sandwich
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Ordered takeout. Honestly was extremely disappointed. Expensive. Chicken was soaked in oil. Lacking seasoning. Texture was off. I will not be returning. Way overhyped. I’ve had a lot of good chicken sandwiches but this one wasn’t it.
Food: 1
This place started as a five-star fast food restaurant and we loved this place! My husband had tears the first time he had no Georgie! and hyped it up to our son.
Went there tonight and wow it went downhill, got no georgie again and it was barely spicier than medium...severely disappointed.
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