Honestly Good Chicken Fingers expands to six GTA locations with U.S. expansion planned

Honestly Good Chicken Fingers has grown from a pandemic-era brainstorm into a local phenomenon, and the chain is showing no signs of slowing down. Co-founder and president Naomi Kempkes and her husband, CEO Stephen Czetyrbok, launched the first location at The Well food hall in June 2024, followed by Sherway Gardens a month later. Two years in, they now operate four locations across the GTA with two more opening soon in Collingwood and Kitchener.

Kempkes discovered the market gap after researching what people actually ordered. "We did some research and discovered that chicken fingers were the number one item ordered off of any menu, particularly from people 18 years and younger," she said. "We're like, 'That's amazing. Why don't we just build something super simple?'"

The formula — crispy, perfectly-seasoned tenders with light breading and housemade sauces — has earned the chain comparisons to the U.S. chain Raising Cane's, a badge Kempkes wears with pride. "Everybody started saying, 'Oh my gosh, you guys are like Raising Cane's,'" she said. She's unapologetic about the competition: "We were down in Florida last year, I believe, and we had it for the first time. I definitely can note some similarities, but I do think that our product stands out. And I mean, I may be biased, but I do think we have a better product."

What sets Honestly Good apart is its family-friendly positioning — most other Toronto chicken finger spots lean into Nashville Hot spice, while Honestly Good keeps things more approachable. The chain's success stems from simple execution, online buzz, and what Kempkes calls a willingness to sacrifice personal time for something built from scratch. "I have never worked harder in my entire life, but I also think when you build something you're passionate about, it comes with some sacrifice," she said.