We recently headed back to TGI Fridays in Cardiff with one clear mission in mind. To test their much talked about bottomless sesame chicken offer, which is only available until the end of January.
If this feels familiar, that’s because we’ve been here before. Not long ago, we visited the Cardiff restaurant, now the only remaining TGI Fridays in Wales, to see whether the brand still had its magic. One dish stood out above the rest. The sesame chicken strips.
Sticky, rich, slightly spicy and finished with sesame seeds and chilli flakes, they hit that perfect sweet and savoury balance. We even went as far as saying they were good enough to be a main and might be our new favourite starter.
Fast forward to January, and TGI Fridays has answered our prayers. That exact dish is now available as a bottomless option, meaning unlimited portions for £18 per person over 90 minutes. Naturally, we had to give it a go.
We booked in on a Sunday to see if it really lived up to the hype.
First impressions
Outside the restaurant, there’s no missing the big sign advertising bottomless chicken. Oddly though, it wasn’t immediately obvious on the menu, so we double checked with our server. Yes, it was real. Yes, it was genuinely bottomless.
Challenge accepted.
We ordered one each, partly for the experience and partly to see who could eat the most chicken.
Round one
The first portion arrived quickly and we tucked in straight away. Portion size wise, it felt like a generous starter. We counted around 15 pieces each, a mix of smaller bites and chunkier strips, which balanced out nicely.
Flavour wise, it was exactly as we remembered. The sticky glaze, the warmth from the chilli flakes, that familiar sweetness. It instantly took us back to December.
Five minutes later, the plates were empty and confidence was high.
Round two
With bottomless brunch energy firmly in play, our server suggested putting the next order in early. We didn’t need asking twice.
The second portion disappeared almost as quickly as the first. Maybe not quite at the same pace, but still impressively fast. At this point, everything was still piping hot and just as tasty.
We ordered round three.
Hitting the chicken wall
Halfway through the third portion, reality started to set in. The chicken was still delicious, but we were definitely feeling full.
We tried mixing things up by dipping the strips into other sauces, but because the chicken is already coated in the whiskey glaze, it didn’t quite work. This dish really stands best on its own.
We pushed on and managed to get another order in. That’s where things got serious. My partner powered into round four, while I was very aware that I was nearing my limit.
Not long after, we both hit the wall and admitted defeat. Final tally was three and a half portions each.
Was it worth it?
Let’s talk chicken maths.
As a starter, sesame chicken usually sits at around £10. If you manage two portions, you’ve already beaten the £18 price point. Three portions like we did and you’re comfortably quids in.
We didn’t order any sides, which probably helped us get further. Adding fries or extras might break up the flavours, but they would also fill you up faster and likely limit how far you can go with the chicken itself.
Either way, TGI Fridays delivered exactly what they promised.
Final thoughts
Bottomless sesame chicken is a bit of fun, a genuine treat for fans of the dish and a solid value option if you come hungry. We might not be rushing back for sesame chicken again anytime soon, but as a one off challenge, it was great fun and well executed.
If you’ve ever loved this dish, January is your window.
Now the big question is, what bottomless food or drink should we try next?
