Pili Pili’s African style bird

• Name + address: Pili Pili Charcoal Grill, 205 Dalhousie Street

• Diet: Meat, seafood

• Prices: $10-$75

• Wheelchair accessibility: Yes

• Website: www.pilipilicharcoalgrill.ca/

When the great YKO Chicken opened their second location on Dalhousie last year, I noticed that something had changed with that landscape. Almost overnight, the signage for Pili Pili was changed and now there was a longer sign with giant red letters on a black background that read the name of the business. 

I laughed because it said something about the reputation of YKO and how much they were perceived as a threat by another chicken business just two blocks away.

From my perspective, Pili Pili’s reputation is also firmly cemented. Both these businesses are giving Ottawans two of the greatest examples of African wood-fired chicken. That being the case, it’s difficult not to compare the two.

Both businesses use charcoal to cook and season their pre-brined birds. The key difference, apart from charcoal exposure, is that the chicken at Pili Pili is larger than that of YKO. 

I noted, with dismay, how in around 2019, the YKO shop at 375 McArthur was serving ever smaller chicken as they increased prices. I kept going back because frankly, I’m addicted to this food.

At Pili Pili, for a few scant dollars more, you will get more chicken and this makes a taste difference in only one way: the seasoning brine has more chicken muscle to penetrate, and so the flavour is not as intense as at YKO.  It’s a minor enough difference however, that it’s easy to recommend Pili Pili as one of Ottawa’s greatest expressions of African charcoal grilled chicken.

To extend my enjoyment, I always save the smokey bones and use them to make an intense chicken stock and it’s a recipe that I have guarded. I am, however, contemplating sharing it in a fall recipe edition. The chicken breast also makes for one of the tastiest chicken salads you’ll have. 

In summation, this is a top-drawer way to feed a family or entertain friends on a budget. Pili Pili is a chicken dinner winner.