Canadian fast food chain that’s ‘to die for’ is finally open in England
Has anyone else noticed that fried chicken is taking over the UK high street?
Chains keep on setting up shop here, from KFC, which will be the go-to spot for many, to Popeyes, Wingstop, and Slim Chickens.
Chick-fil-A is also making its grand return in 2025, and Dave’s Hot Chicken is coming overseas too, but before that happens another fast food chain from across the Atlantic is hitting our shores.
Mary Brown’s Chicken, more recently known as MB Chicken, has just launched its very first store in England, opening its doors in London on November 6.
The chain has been a Canadian institution since 1969, and already has a few locations in Northern Ireland (Belfast and Lisburn), but will now also be available in Smithy Lane, Hounslow too.
Those in the capital are now able to try the chicken spot that’s turning KFC fans into MB converts, and has had some interesting reviews…
On X (formerly Twitter), @CourtneyShim claimed that it’ll change your fast food preferences for good, writing: ‘If you’ve tasted Mary Brown’s, you wouldn’t eat KFC. People wait up to 30 minutes for the chicken to be ready.’
Similarly @mkinney427 said: ‘I always enjoyed Mary Brown’s Chicken way more than KFC!’ As @SylerTangster hailed it as ‘god tier’.
On Reddit, people were also impressed by the chain, with u/MadeInBelfast commenting: ‘When it opened in Lisburn waited for a few weeks then went in and must admit I was pleasantly surprised how nice it was, far tastier and fresher than KFC. Had the Spicy Big Mary & tater tots plus got a 2 piece of chicken to try it out and it was all very nice indeed.’
Someone else said it was ‘first class’, while another thought the food was ‘to die for’. Similarly u/joseph–stylin proclaimed: ‘It absolutely wipes the floor with KFC.’
At MB Chicken you can expect a menu that’s a little different from the Canadian version, but there will still be all the big hitters, like the Big Mary burger.
The Big Mary has been dubbed Canada’s ‘favourite chicken sandwich’ and it features a chicken breast breaded in Mary Brown’s signature recipe, cooked until it’s golden brown and served on a sesame seed bun with mayo and lettuce, plus a pickle on top.
Other popular items include Taters, which look very similar to potato wedges, all sorts of signature chicken options and combos, from a 2-piece meal to an 18-piece feast, Chicken Pop-Ins, Chicken Tenders, a spicy version of Big Mary, and flaky buttermilk biscuits.
They also sell Tater Poutine, a ‘bold twist’ on the traditional Canadian dish which features french fries and cheese curds, topped with gravy. This version will feature the chain’s signature Taters instead of fries. The Irish potatoes are topped with shredded cheese and smothered in house-made gravy.
As well as these, the UK menu also features several new items that aren’t available in Canada, including MB Soft-Serve Ice Cream, Shakes and Halloumi Fries.
MB Chicken currently has more than 200 locations across North America, and is looking to keep expanding across the globe, opening throughout the UK, as well as in Pakistan and Mexico in 2024. Within the next five years, the company’s goal is to have 150 international stores.
What did Metro’s Specialist Food Writer think of MB Chicken?
I managed to snag an exclusive first taste of two of the most popular items on the menu at MB Chicken — the Big Mary and Tater Poutine. Here’s my honest verdict:
The Big Mary
Online people have claimed the chain’s famous chicken sandwich is ‘god tier’ and ‘first class’, so it’s fair to say I had pretty high expectations for this. And you know what? I enjoyed it.
The Big Mary isn’t quite the showstopper the name promises, but as far as chicken burgers go, it was pretty decent — I’d go as far as to say better than the likes of KFC and Maccies.
The chicken was very fresh and a good portion size — no cardboard-like nonsense here! The breaded coating had a nice seasoning to it, which was a bit like southern fried chicken, although not quite as strong.
Is it the best chicken sandwich on the market? No. That title, in my opinion, still belongs to Popeyes. But it’s not bad at all.
So what didn’t I like about it? Well the sesame bun is very similar to those you get at McDonald’s, and it gets quite mushy if staff go a little too hard on the mayo (as was the case with my sandwich). And we really have to talk about is the pickle on top.
I completely understand that this is MB’s signature thing. They pop a pickle on top of the sandwich, much like the proverbial cherry on top of the cake. It looks fun, and it makes their sandwiches instantly recognisable. But as a pickle fan, I feel strongly that just one pickle isn’t enough. I need more MB.
I’d say this sandwich is a solid 7/10, but could score a little higher if it had less mayo and more pickles.
Tater Poutine
If you aren’t familiar with poutine, it’s is a popular dish in Canada, which typically consists of fries topped in gravy and cheese curds. It’s carb heaven.
At MB Chicken, they’ve put their own ‘bold’ twist on the dish, and instead of fries, it features the chain’s Taters (Irish potatoes made into skin-on wedges). These are covered in house-made gravy and smothered in shredded cheese.
Now, this dish doesn’t look very pretty, in fact it’s a hot mess, but damn it’s tasty.
We all know how delightful the combo of chips and gravy is, right? Add cheese into the mix and you’ve got the perfect hangover food. And for those that love a good cheese pull, this dish is definitely for you.
The Big Mary might not have blown me away, but this is comfort food at its finest. Exactly the starchy, hearty, cheesy goodness you want from a fast food order.
In other news for chicken fans, Popeyes just launched its first ever Christmas menu in the UK.
Available now, the menu will introduce six new items that ‘combine the flavours of New Orleans with British festive classics’, all for as little as £1.50. Think traditional Christmas stuffing with a Southern twist, or cranberry sauce with some added spice.
The star of the show? The Festive Superstack Sandwich, a ‘next-level take’ on the fan favourite Popeyes Chicken Sandwich.
The treat features a crunchy chicken breast topped with Emmental cheese, and lettuce, and its brand-new sage and onion hash brown. It’s all stacked inside a soft brioche bun and topped with sweet and spicy cranberry habanero sauce and mayo.
The new hash brown is a ‘seasonal revamp’ of an English breakfast classic, which can also be ordered as a standalone side.
This article was originally published on October 29, 2004.
