Really good tenders, and yes, I'd absolutely go back!…read more
I've been seeing Golden Tenders all over TikTok and Instagram, with people comparing it to Raising Cane's. I've never tried Raising Cane's, so I can't make that comparison, but I can definitely say the tenders here were REALLY good.
I ordered the 3
tender meal with fries, added the maple chilli dipping sauce, and got a side of cornbread. I didn't get a drink because I was bringing everything home, and my total was under $20, which I thought was a really good price considering how expensive everything is these days.
The fries: So good! Crispy, flavourful and seasoned well enough that I didn't even need ketchup. I normally like something with my fries, but these were good completely on their own.
The cornbread: I was pleasantly surprised by this. It was really moist, which I loved. I thought there was going to be some kind of honey topping, but I didn't really get much of a honey flavour. That said, the cornbread itself was very good. I've lived in Atlanta for 12 years, so I'm always a little nervous ordering cornbread in Canada because it has honestly been a disappointment more times than not . This was probably the best cornbread I've had in Canada besides my own homemade cornbread, so I was very happy with it.
Now for the main event: the chicken tenders. They were BIG, juicy and really tasty. Three tenders was actually a lot of food for me. I think two would have been enough, and I could easily see the 4-tender meal being enough for two people depending on how hungry you are.
The maple chilli sauce had a nice little kick and definitely had that maple flavour. I liked it, but I don't think it was my favourite pairing with the tenders. I only dipped a few pieces in it. I actually think this sauce would be amazing with something like chicken and waffles, so I'd love to see that as an option!
The restaurant itself was clean and had a few tables inside. It's not a huge seating area, so I wouldn't expect to bring a big group, but if you're looking for a quick bite, it works perfectly. The food is made fresh to order, so there is a little bit of a wait, but nothing unreasonable. They seemed busy when I went and the staff were just constantly moving and getting orders out.
The woman at the cashier was also really friendly, patient and helpful when I had questions, which I always appreciate.
Would I go back? 1000%.
I've tried quite a few places around Hamilton, and honestly, I don't think there's another spot in the city I'd choose over this when I'm specifically craving chicken tenders. I haven't tried many tender spots in other cities, so I can't speak to how it compares outside Hamilton, but for Hamilton? These are definitely worth trying.
Definitely recommend!