Smoking hot Philippine chicken at Darwin’s

It’s a gorgeous summer’s day in a generic new mall in northeast Calgary, and Darwin’s Charcoal BBQ Chicken is jumping. The narrow space is packed with diners, with takeout bags flying out the door.

A lot crammed into a small space

They’re all here for Darwin’s Philippine-style chicken, marinated for 48 hours and then grilled in a rotisserie over hardwood charcoal. The dozen rotating birds produce a cloud of smoke mercifully sucked up by powerful exhaust vents. The resulting moist, delectable chicken appears on most menu items, from a quarter-pound leg to grilled breast chunks in my massive tropical salad bowl ($18, two meals).

My massive chicken salad

The servers and cooks are a whir of efficient activity; a worker transports boxes of supplies inches from my arm. Wouldn’t want to waste any space not devoted to this fabulous chicken.

Darwin’s Charcoal BBQ Chicken
Monday to Saturday 11 am-9 pm, Sunday noon to 8:30 pm
2550 Country Hills Boulevard NE, Calgary
587-575-6516