If you’re a fried chicken fan, this is some clucking great news.
Zhengxin Chicken Steak, one of China’s largest fast-food chains with over 20,000 locations worldwide, has chosen Burnaby’s Metrotown area for its very first Canadian location.
The restaurant has taken over the former Miss Fu space, located next to Jangmojib restaurant.
The star of the menu is their chicken “steaks”—marinated chicken breast cutlets coated in panko breadcrumbs and fried fresh to order.
While menu photos show a gigantic heart-shaped cutlet, instead the chicken arrives cut into strips, served in a box with a skewer for easy eating.
We suppose less theatrics and more about ease of eating.
Despite the visual difference, we think the taste delivers.
We tried the original chicken steak and were impressed by the moist chicken and perfectly crispy coating.
We did see on Chinese social media of others getting the opposite – but that we believe may be just soft opening inconsistency.
Zhengxin’s menu also includes fried chicken sandwiches, wings, nuggets, and sausages, although not all items are available yet as the restaurant is still in its soft-opening/trial phase.
The interior is decked out in the brand’s signature red colour, with bold digital menu boards showcasing the top items like the Original Chicken Steak and Spicy Chicken Burgers.
Seating includes shared tables and bar-style spots along the windows, perfect for casual meals.
The staff’s hospitality stood out during our visit.
Despite being after the lunch rush, they were patient and accommodating, even offering a complimentary bottle of Coca-Cola for our first-time experience—a thoughtful touch that added to the overall positive impression.
(as usual, we went in anonymously)
Zhengxin Chicken Steak’s arrival diversifies Burnaby’s fried chicken scene, which has been dominated by Korean and Western-style offerings.
While Popeyes just opened a location inside Metrotown last week, Zhengxin stands out as the first Chinese fried chicken concept in the area and worth a try.
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Address: 5105 Kingsway, Burnaby BC