3/27/06 | Popeye’s Chicken Meal
[ Currently Eating: Coffee with cream ]
Man, but do I like Fried Chicken.
From diners to fast food joints, I’ll almost always opt for fried chicken over other choices. I’m not even that picky with the Crunch Factor™ or which piece I get (though if pressed, my fave pieces go in this order: Thigh, Wing, Breast, Drumstick).
It’s a bit amazing I’ve never actually had Popeye’s until about 1 month ago. No, not the sailor man. I mean Popeye’s Chicken.
The first thing you’ll notice about the picture is that it was extremely dark. Well, it was a late night decision to try a chicken meal there. Also, for the life of me I can’t remember how much I paid for the meal. I believe it was a bit over 6 dollars which was sort of a sticker shocker. I mean, it’s fast food after all. I still can’t get used to food inflation.
Anyhow, I was getting ticked off at not being able to take a good picture. Food Bloggies know what I’m talking about… it’s hell on wheels when you’re starving but trying to get a good photo of your food! I finally gave up and picked up the fork.
Anyhow, the chicken itself was pretty good. It was a two piece meal (I think breast/wing) and came with a side order (macaroni and cheese) and a biscuit. And of course, I messed up and got the drink. Cheap Eats No-No! But darn do they make it difficult on the menus to find the “non-combo” items! I must have stood there for 3 minutes at the counter. I could hear the stomachs of the natives behind me grumbling. So I just got a combo.
The crunch on the chicken was good. But, I seem to recall the Banquet Chicken meals being about the same, though much saltier. There was more meat on the pieces as well, Less “scrawny”. The mac n’ cheese was decent, though extra gooey. The biscuit was like eating baked playdoh rolled in salt. I wish they’d let you sub out the biscuit for another side.
Anyhow, I probably wouldn’t get this again since there’s so many other options for chicken. But some of the “New Orleans” style things (like the Jambalaya, Smothered Chicken and Etouffee) are sort of interesting.
Price: Approx $6
Found at: Popeye’s Chicken
Cheap Eats Score: 5/10
March 27th, 2006 at 10:24 am
If you do ever go back to Popeye’s, try the red beans and rice as a side item. I don’t know of any other fast food places that offer it, and theirs is pretty good.
March 27th, 2006 at 10:25 am
I’ve never been to Popeye’s. I’m kind of curious about Pioneer Chicken that’s up the street from me. It’s probably been at least a year since I had fried chicken, I usually get the KFC breast strips. But I really like their biscuits too. Thanks for the heads up, I think I’ll be skipping Popeye’s if I get a jones for fried chicken.
March 27th, 2006 at 11:44 am
stacy - I did see the red beans and rice and was meaning to try them out. However, I only got one side with the meal, and I have an addiction to cheese…
cybele - Pioneer Chicken! Cool, I actually remember back in the day when they only had Pioneer chicken near me, or at least my parents didn’t frequent KFC at all. I haven’t been to a KFC in awhile, I think a Cheap eats trip is in order soon…
March 27th, 2006 at 4:35 pm
You didn’t say if you ordered the spicy or the mild. The spicy chicken is the bomb. And the red beans and rice or the cajun rice are the sides to get. And usually the biscuits are pretty good. I love Popeyes chicken, I have a KFC a block from my house but I drive 5 miles to go to Popeye’s.
And if you check their website they have coupons you can print out. You buy a 3 piece and get a free 2 piece dinner.
March 27th, 2006 at 6:02 pm
jumper - I actually DID get the Spicy and that did make it pretty good. I’m not a fan of those biscuits, but I think it’s just me. I will definitely check out the coupons though…
March 28th, 2006 at 9:25 am
I love love love fried chicken! I especially like cold fried chicken. Not room temp but straight out of the fridge. MMMMM! My husband thinks I’m crazy. LOL
March 28th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Skip KFC. It can’t compare with Popeye’s, though Church’s is a fair competitor. Neither is as tasty or juicy as good old generic broasted chicken, however.
March 28th, 2006 at 1:18 pm
andie - my dad really likes cold chicken straight out of the fridge. I actually like taking the leftover chicken (breast pieces if avail), shredding it and making green chile enchiladas out of it…
miguel - my friend’s wife, who’s from Georgia, recently moved with him to southern cal and one of the first things she asked is - where’s the Church’s around here? I actually found some coupons for popeye’s that came in the mail, with much better deals, so i probably will give ‘em another shot.
March 28th, 2006 at 7:59 pm
I’ve never been to Popeye’s, although there is one down the street from my workplace. I don’t know, I’m not much into fried chicken, even KFC.
March 29th, 2006 at 5:51 am
kfc biscuits are to die for, i adore them. and a good cheap eats meal item is the kids meal lap top pack you get at least 5 items for 3 or 4 bucks. i have found that kids meals are a way to go when you want to get out but are short on funds
March 29th, 2006 at 9:19 am
I like me some Popeye’s chicken…usually, except for the strip I got this week where teh coating was falling off and it was terrible, but that was just one bad incident. However, I much prefer KFC sides. Best is to get have one person pick up the chicken from Popeyes and someone else pick up sides from KFC.
March 29th, 2006 at 9:56 am
marvo - how about chicken katsu?? =)
chaos - i’ve seen the laptop in the coupons for KFC… I thought it was corny at first, but i’d be interested to see how much they actually give of each of the items…
g - I’ve had KFC chicken where the coating is actually really salty, not sure why. That happened only 1 or 2 times ever… weird i thought there’s extreme quality control on the batter.
March 29th, 2006 at 10:25 am
I love Popeyes. But ever since I discovered their mashed potatoes with spicy gravy I don’t even bother with the chicken, I just get a large side of the potatoes, the red beans and rice, and some biscuits. Those red beans and rice really are comparable to what I’ve had in New Orleans. They reheat really nicely too! I’ve been eating some of their mashed potatoes about once a week since they finally opened a store in Albuquerque. I didn’t like their mac and cheese.
March 29th, 2006 at 5:01 pm
I just tried Popeyes a couple months ago. I thought the wing was good, but hated the potatoes.
Pioneer chicken is N.A.S.T.Y, so Cybele, beware.
March 31st, 2006 at 8:17 am
We love Popeye’s! The only problem is that there aren’t any close to here. We have to wait till we go visit relatives in CT. I have heard that some locations are better than others. (Maybe it has to do with freshness) Hamden, CT has the best Popeye’s! The special deals that they offer with the chicken and sides are great. We especially love their red beans & rice, mashed potatoes with their cajon gravy, and their biscuits. (I even think their biscuits are better than KFC’s. Must have been you got a bad batch or something.) Their chicken is always crisp outside and very juicy on the inside. Now all this talk about Popeye’s has made me hungry! Looks like a road trip sooner than I planned.
March 31st, 2006 at 8:48 am
noelle - mashed potatoes w/ spicy gravy sounds intriguing, is that special or is the gravy always the cajun type?
sylko - i didn’t think pioneer was that bad… then again I haven’t eaten there in maybe 20 years or more.
mac dodge - so, what I am hearing so far from everyone is that the Red Beans & Rice seem to be the side to get…
April 1st, 2006 at 5:38 pm
Oh no you did NOT give Popeye’s 5 out of 10! Now you know I don’t eat junk food, including fried chicken, but I have driven 30 minutes - actually out of state just to get some Popeyes! If there’s a fan club - I would be president! I wish I hadn’t read this post because I just started a wicked diet and now you’ve got me feeling for some Popeyes *damn u :0) *
April 3rd, 2006 at 8:59 am
tanya - lol, I have just discovered that I’ve gained like 4-5 pounds which is a huge rarity for me. I’ve been wondering if my metabolism has finally kicked in.. or is that kicked out. =) Anyhow, I’m definitely going to try give Popeye’s another shot… maybe a different one as well as the one I went to is kinda shady lookin…
April 5th, 2006 at 10:17 am
Ahhhh…Popeyes…..
Tried my first Popeyes when we moved to NOLA…excellent! Been a fan ever since. Definitely try the MPs with Cajun gravy and yes their Red Beans and Rice are really great.
Now living in Eastern PA…closest Popeyes is down in Philly…two blocks from where my daughter lives..been trying to get her to visit more often! (A few years back we discovered one in Delaware on our way to the beach…kids thought we had lost our minds the way we sped into the parking lot raving about the food!)
Secret hint: They have honey if you ask for it. Popeyes with biscuits and honey…sigh…
Churches is good but haven’t eaten at one for awhile…none in my area.
Wish I could find some Boudin closer…..Ambrosia
April 9th, 2006 at 4:30 pm
Geez, what Popeye’s was that? The one in my area in Sacramento is very very very good. Beats KFC by a million miles! Popeyes on Northgate - It’s not greasy, has just enough crunch but not too much. The spicy has a mild zing, and the mild is juicy enough and not too salty. The chicken is always fresh and hot. The biscuits were decent at the worst, and at the best were hot and fluffy. The red beans and rice are a good alternative to french fries (which are also pretty tasty). The jambalaya is a little bland and lacking, but okay for something different.
April 9th, 2006 at 8:13 pm
I love Popeye’s food.Where can I find the closest Popeye’s to me?I live in Weatherly,PA near Wilkes-Barre or Scranton,PA.
Thanks !
Linda Williams
April 12th, 2006 at 6:18 pm
bob a - i have a feeling the biscuit I got was an anomaly… do they actually make it from their own mix? or is it the slice ‘n bake kind (pillsbury)
cleo - the one I visited is in SoCal. Say anyone know about the poorboy sandwiches, are they any good?
linda - I have no idea unfortunately, maybe check their site and see if they have a store locator?
September 6th, 2006 at 4:09 am
I agree with a lot of people here, their red beans and rice are GOOD. I mainly just go there for sides of the stuff. I like the biscuits too, the ones I get are nice and buttery.
October 19th, 2006 at 4:16 pm
yuck yuck yuck. I ordered chicken from them recently, and there, under the crust was FEATHERS. yuck. never will return.
November 28th, 2006 at 7:48 am
And I have to say that Popeye’s chicken is my favorite. And their red beans and rice. Yummy. : )
December 13th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
You’re supposed to get beans and rice.
March 10th, 2007 at 11:54 am
The Popeye’s next to me does two pieces of chicken for .89 cents. Yum! After I found out about it, I got sick from eating so much fried chicken.
March 21st, 2007 at 6:38 pm
I HEART POPEYES! Their mashed potatoes are awesome! The biscuits arent great, but as for everything else….well, you’ve just got to try it.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
The beans and rice are to die for the spicey chicken is good forget KFC I live in waterloo ia and the closest store is 150 miles or go to chicago, Hey POPEYES build it they will come and eat!!!!!
April 4th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
What is the link for the coupons - I do not see them.
Thanks.
July 7th, 2007 at 10:25 am
I love Popeye’s! We don’t have one in waterloo (but I heard we’re gettin one soon) so I’ve only had it when we go to Chicago. It is delicious. Also, I had the poorboy sandwich twice. It is to die for! Very nicely flavored and not too salty (I have a high sensitivity to salt so I can tell when there’s too much of it). Too bad you got a bad batch of that chicken because Popeye’s in general is the bomb!
November 10th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
I never had popeye’s until I ate it one day at the job I had at the time… I have been hooked ever since…
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I first tried Popeyes as a young soldier, when I was stationed in South Korea, Popeyes was one of the only places to get American food on base, I got hooked on their red beans and rice, when I got back to the US, the only Popeyes were in the “bad” neighborhoods in my town and I rarely got to eat there, until recently when one opened near my house, I still think the red beans and rice are the best thing on their menu
July 26th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Interesting, I am from New Orleans (born and raised) I now live in Washington over 200 miles to the nearest Popeye’s. I miss their food so much. I used to eat there all the time and never saw M&C on the menu. Even checked their website and didn’t see it listed. That makes me sad, I am a fellow cheese addict. The red beans and rice are pretty decent. And that’s coming from a native New Orleanian who knows good food.