No, Ghost Chicken isn’t haunted. The name doesn’t come from a Toronto lore about spirits haunting a building, but rather about the out-of-this-world spice that comes from the ghost pepper.
As a relatively new business led by John Carlo Zabala and Michael Swirla, Ghost Chicken brings a unique, conscious approach to fried sandwiches.”Ghost Chicken has been around for 2 years, serving our signature OG sandwich from our previous pop up location in Mississauga,” Swirla, the general manager, says. “Starting right before the pandemic has allowed us with time to perfect our recipes.”
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“From where we source our chicken, to how each sandwich is prepared, our goal is to bring freshness with each bite to our customers,” notes Zabala, who serves as the brand’s executive chef. All of the chicken served at both locations is halal and locally sourced. “Our chicken comes to us from a local butcher that directly works with a farm, Riverview Farms, so that it can remain consistent across the board. We marinade the chicken in seasoned buttermilk for each specific sandwich. We take pride in our process of marination and ensure a minimum or 24hrs so that the chicken may absorb all the flavours further enhancing its quality, taste, and juiciness.”
Popular menu items include the Nashville Hot, crafted with a special oil made with nine different spices, the Sweet and Sour, a Nikkei-inspired sandwich true to its name, and curly fries, as they’re super rare to find in the city.
As for the location, it seemed like a natural fit. “Ossington is such a tight knit community and has really grown in the food scene over the years,” Swirla says. “We love that there is so much appreciation for the local small businesses there and everyone is supportive of one another. It aligns with the type of energy that we want for our flagship location.”
Ghost Chicken is located at 74 Ossington Avenue.