Chiktopia in Thurrock

This was our second and last time going to Chicktopia. The first time was just after they opened and there were some service issues, but the food was good and so I forgave the teething problems. I regret my forgiveness. Today we ordered from the machines, which were clearly malfunctioning, but with no explanation we ploughed on. The only person serving (remember this was a busy Saturday lunchtime!) was young and certainly not well-trained in dealing with the public. When the machines failed to register our order (and everyone else ordering at the same time) he resorted to taking a photo of the order and taking that through to the kitchen. All this without a word to us, let alone an apology. We waited over 20 minutes for the food, with more and more people gathering behind us. In all this time no staff offered any welcome to people arriving or apologies to those waiting. When I asked the 'manager' what was going on and asked him to explain things to us he just said 'it's all fine now'. I understand a computer malfunction, I do not understand the lack of communication. I had plenty of time to write an email of complaint to the company as none of the staff were talking to me. When we finally got the order it was missing the sandwich. I felt so frustrated. When I went back to query it I had to wait another 15 minutes. Again no apology, no explanation. Since coming home and reading the previous reviews I have realised we didn't receive our sides (Texas toast and Louisiana biscuit). It's such a pity - the food is decent, but the staff are so poorly trained. There is no way I could recommend it, or return myself.

Absolutely awful waste of money. Chicken wrap had smallest piece of chicken, tomatoes had fur, drowned in sauce. Chips were cold and hard expensive lesson learned. I came here last year and it was nice. Definitely gone down hill.

This was our first time eating here and I can honestly say it’s our last, I should’ve walked away when I see the long greasy haired lad with no hair net on, None of the staff look like they want to be there and one of the workers was having a dispute with two young girls which was out of work drama that customers should be witnessing. The adult meal which cost £10 was tiny and poor quality and the tenders was also very small. AVOID THIS PLACE !!!!!!!!!!!

Good food I had the spicy wrap and fries with a peanut butter milkshake all 10/10 nothing bad about the food and quick waiting time

This was my first time ordering something from this place and the girl named honey was such a sweet person she served us even though the place was about to close. If I ever go back to chiktopia for any orders it would be because of her :)

Food was awful quality. It was cold when I was given it. Chips were awful cardboard texture. Burger filling was tiny £8 something for a meal is a rip off would not eat it if it was given to me for free

Had the chicken tenders and chips meal. Tenders were so dry. I ended up chucking it all away after eating one tender. Awful. Avoid. It’s like they went Tesco and purchased some cheap chicken tenders and put them in the over for ten hours.

Good price and can feel is fresh food really good service is nice and fast and the menu is quite simple

I visited this yesterday at lakeside and ordered a 5 chicken tender meal, when i recieved it the food was all cold. I then returned it and the lady said the chicken is hot and i said no its not you can tell if chicken is hot if its steaming with heat She changed it and the chicken was still cold it gave a weird smell like they had fried the chicken in old oil and i felt physically sick that i chucked the food away and did not eat the whole evening that day. I will defo not come here again they do need a visit from the department of food and hygiene about there standards.

Appalling hygiene, we ordered and waited for at least ten minutes whilst the two kitchen staff laughed and joked around, regardless of the 6 customers patiently waiting for the food. I noticed the kitchen staff had no gloves on so watched to see if they handle the food. He scratched his head and beard then starting making the burgers. I complained and told the women at the front, she had a word and I saw him washing his hands then coming back and continuing to make to the same burgers that probably had his face and hair grease all over them. I immediately asked to cancel my order and get a refund, the supervisor (some inexperienced kid) came out. I explained my concerns and he could care less, he was actually one of the people laughing and joking at the back. That’s what I did see, scared to think what I didn’t see. Disgusting and will report to Food Standards Agency.

Big portions, friendly staff and quick service. Best milkshake I ever had!!!! Will be back for more.

First time I have been and the last. The chicken was dry and tastles just like the chips the cajan spice is shaked on afterwards. Everything was just dry and dusty. Dr pepper was full of ice. .i don't like the machines when ordering you can not customize your order

Ordered the spicy Cajun Delux meal, and felt like Micheal Douglas in ‘Falling Down’. The takeaway burger had no bacon, literally a dab of sauce, and there was so much Cajun powder it was like doing the cinnamon spoon challenge. I was coughing as I was inhaling loose inches of spicy powder. Chicken was like the inner lining of an ugg boot it was so dry. The burger looks nothing like the picture, and was missing half the ingredients. I also didn’t get the lush sounding Louisiana biscuit which is part of the meal deal. The 7up tasted like 7up, so winning there I suppose. As it was my lunch break I couldn’t be bothered to Covid queue again to return it. KFC, I’m coming back. I forgive you and I’m sorry I cheated on you

Its really good to taste the chicken where you wanted grilled, coated or spied Cajun chicken its good to eat and you can get Cajun Fries too to heats things up more

I’ve never visited I don’t live in UK but I was one of the initial investors in Chiktopia as a start up business ... and if they treat their clients the way they treat their investors I feel sorry for customers - they don’t care about people only money! We’ve been kicked out of the business saying they are planning to declare bankruptcy to get out of rental leases and are starting Chiktopia over without any investors who don’t re-invest in the new business. And when complained and wrote that we are unhappy with this arrangement .... we were aggressively told that we knew it was a risk to invest and this is the way it works ! No company that treat people like this behind the curtain should be allowed to pretend everything is ok on stage ... and to keep taking more money from others

Visited back in March with my bf. ended up going back a few times as couldn’t get enough! LOL. Need you guys to reopen. When’s it happening??!

Honestly, miss this place so much. The house dips are something else. When are you guys reopening!!!?

Visited for lunch with three colleagues and decided to use the self serve terminals to order. Having placed order waited by counter for food. After several minutes a member of the team told us there would be a wait on food as they were cooking...

Visited today (during storm Ciara) and the restaurant opened an hour late, no ones fault but the storms! None of the ordering systems were working, to be fair the manager tried his best for 5-10 mins. He gave up, took our order the old fashioned...

We ate here today as a family for a quick lunch & was really impressed. The food was easy to order using self service, but there is still the option to order with a member of staff. The food was delicious & with generous portions....

Best chicken in Lakeside Forget KFC, forget Nando’s this’s is by far the best chicken place I have eaten in ever. Best fast food in Lakeside by a mile.

How is this a large chips? Didnt even fill the bottom of the bag properly and then takes my £2.20 for it. Management looks at you with disgust and the employees look like they hate the job. Better when the old management was there and...

Came as a family, easy touch screens. Service was great and chicken was best I have ever had! Would definitely recommend and come here again and again.

Best chicken I have ever tasted!The burgers were great and I would definitely recommend.Way better than KFC.

The food was delicious and the service was great. I will definitely make another visit here very soon!

This is definitely the place to go when you’re at lakeside. Best chicken I’ve ever had, amazing service, great hygiene, fast and I could go on. It makes KFC look like a joke and taste like one too!

The worst restaurant I’ve been in for a while. I ended up getting a refunded for 4 bits of chicken that I waited for 40 MINUTES FOR!

Placed order at machine selected our food and selected pickup. Located a clean table ( place was covered in rubbish ) that was relatively clean and sat and waited and waited and waited and waited..... After 30 minutes waiting for a kids meal and burger...

Went here with my Mum and three sons. Total chaos - only 2 staff cooking and 3 staff serving, 2 of whom didn’t have a clue what they were doing! Food was good and the girl that served us was nice but the whole process...

Liking the atmosphere and always welcome self service. But yeah my chicken veggie burger wasn’t great, first I was anticipating a like fake quorn like chicken patty and it turned out to be your standard veggie burger Patty, and it was overdone, deep fried for...

Can recommend the fried deluxe and fried wrap. Super lovely. Paradise sauce and a biscuit is to die for. Clean and tidy restaurant, love the kiosk. Will definitely be back

Generous juicy chicken, not greasy. Have the option of fries, peas or rice. Tasty biscuit served warm ,herby. Can have fried or grilled chicken. Already been back, pickles light and sweet. Good ole Louisiana cooking.

This is my kids new favourite fast food restaurant. They say it's better than Golden Arches and KFC and after trying it for the first time, I completely agree. Excellent food, lovely helpful staff and great value for money. The only drawback for me is...

Decent chicken and fast, The Large (deluxe) ginger fella behind the counter mistook me for a member of so solid crew but a nice meal

The kiosks at the front are really great and fresh, the staff was very helpful explaining how to use the app - was recommended the fried chicken wrap with paradise sauce and was amazing! Will definitely be coming back!

Tried the veggie burger and to be fair it was pretty good, great to see something other than a crappy mushroom or halloumi which is now everywhere. It tasted OK but the seasoning wasnt crunchy enough giving a stodgy unsatisfying bite to the burger. Told...

Heard how good Chiktopia was through friends - headed there with the family on Saturday. Fantastic experience from the minute we walked in - lovely friendly vibe, super easy to use order system, lovely staff, food came within 4 minutes. Chicken was crisp and moist,...

Enjoyed the 2 times we have ate here, burgers are nice and so are the sauces. Will be coming back again in the future.

Came here as TGI Friday’s next door was packed. Ordered via the self service machines, all fine & simple to use. Tables weren’t regularly cleaned, didn’t see any staff doing it & many had left over trays etc, bin was nearly over flowing & floor...

The staff were very helpful and gave useful suggestions about menu choices, as this was a first visit to Chiktopia. The Tenders were chosen from the menu and they were freshly cooked, hot tasty chicken strips coated in a crispy coating. The chicken was tasty...

I think this place is great value and a good alternative to KFC. Food can quickly, chicken was nice, chips were great, would happily take my family again. Also, very clean, with a friendly service.

I visited Chiktopia last night for the first time and was highly impressed. I am a vegetarian and always struggle to find good meat replacements when I’m out for a meal with my partner that isn’t just mushroom. Was so pleased to see that this...

I had been given a free chicken burger by signing up to their website after they opened recently. thought i would give it a try . Unfortunately they only have remote order stations and getting the free burger proved difficult even after involving a staff...

Ordered from deliveroo, when driver handed food over the bag was dripping and he said he was given the bag that way up and to contact restaurant, when I opened it 2 of the drinks had completely spilled over the food, managed 2 salvage 2...

Ordered a family meal of burgers and they burgers contained chicken strips not breast piece of chicken. Chicken was dry and over cooked. Chips too salty. Most of it is self service and the machines do not work properly. Took more than 15 minutes to...