Chicken Guy! – We Tried Guy Fieri’s Top Five Sauces
So, I’ve been waiting to try “Chicken Guy!” since its opening was announced last June.
However, as I discovered this week, it’s going to take more than one trip to “Flavortown” to truly understand the sheer expanse of tastes (they advertise 407,560,8180 combos) available to add to the simple lineup of chicken fare in the Guy Fieri and Robert Earl-backed restaurant.
And, as tasty as the tenders at “Chicken Guy!” are — and they are quite good — it’s the sauces that take center stage in this corner of Disney Springs.
Expect To Be Overwhelmed
Chef Guy Fieri — the winner of the The Next Food Network Star in 2006 — is a worldwide phenomenon, stemming most probably from his Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives show (and it’s ubiquitous “Flavortown” phraseology); one of the most popular, long-running series on the network and, for that matter, in the genre.
So, owing to Guy’s popularity, this summer there’s no waltzing into the Disney Springs shop at dinnertime. No. When you go, there will be a queue, a wait, and a lineup card explaining the 21 different sauces available in which to dip, drizzle, douse, or drown your chicken tenders.
A heads up: The indoor space is REALLY small. With maybe a dozen or so indoor tables, quick-service ordering, and cafe-style dining out front, when I was there, a family reunion of about 20-people took over most of the tables and counter space in the resto. Foodservice was pretty quick and aided by a pager system. However, with many of the sauces are on the spicy side, we were fortunate that the Disney spirit moved another family to finish-up their after dinner convo so we could sit.
Flavortown Is Real
The Chicken Guy menu is not extensive — pretty much everything is chicken tenders in different forms — but with the many sauces available the taste choices expand exponentially.
To keep things manageable, and with five tenders each, my son, Jack (9), and I chose to try Chef Fieri’s top sauces:
Guy’s Favorites at Chicken Guy!
1. Special Sauce
Mayo + Ketchup + Mustard + Pickle Juice + Chicken Guy! Special Spices & Seasonings
2. Donkey Sauce
Mayo + Roasted Garlic + Mustard + Worcestershire + Lemon
4. Ranchero
Roasted Tomato + Bell Peppers + Chilies + Cumin + Garlic + Onion + Cilantro
5. Curry Mayo
Coriander + Cumin + Turmeric + Chili Powder + Garlic + Lime + Mayo
6. Wasabi Honey
Wasabi + Honey + Lime
For Jack, tops on his tenders was the “Special Sauce,” thanks to the little sour something it brought to the table – “It’s the pickle juice,” he said.
Being chili fans, both, we enjoyed the “Ranchero.” Just enough spice to bridge the gap between mild and hot.
However, my favorite was the “Wasabi Honey.”
Think honey with a kick, this sauce brought me back thirty years to Abdow’s Big Boy, and my all-time favorite chicken – “Dolly’s Favorite”; spicy drumsticks garnished liberally with pure honey.
Well, who can argue with a sauce that doubles as a time machine? Will everyone think it’s the best. Probably not, but my brain was firing on all cylinders with the juxtaposition of the cherished (really!) childhood memory, meanwhile looking at my child. Whoa!
The Bottom Line
Chicken Guy! delivers on its promise.
They don’t call Chicken Guy! The Boss of Sauce for nothin’! From chef Guy’s greatest hits to internationally inspired culinary creations, we’ve got over 407,560,8180 sauce combinations for you, and we’re here to help you try ‘em all. Get your sauce on!
It’s fun food that can easily be eaten standing up, sitting down, or walking around. Which is good, because given the popularity of “Chicken Guy!” you might not find a seat!
Either way, me and Jack will be back. We have 16 sauces to go!