tesg's guide to big chain road food consumption

CHAIN -- Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits
Owner -- AFC Enterprises (NASDAQ: AFCE)
Primary Operating Region -- Southern states make up the core, with scattered locations nationwide 
Number of Locations -- 1,823 (February 2005)

Let's get this out of the way right now...There's no Spinach on the menu.

In fact, it's not even named after THAT "Popeye".

Popeye's is named after the character Popeye Doyle from the movie "The French Connection".  Al Copeland was the founder, back in 1972, in New Orleans.  After a failed restaurant featuring his mild recipe, he re-tooled and debuted the spicy version under the Popeye's brand name.  The chain grew into one of the big chicken players, particularly in the South.  In 1989, Popeye's bought the Church's Chicken chain.  In 1991, the chain was bankrupt.  Reorganization put Popeye's and Church's under the umbrella of Atlanta-based AFC Enterprises.  AFC sold Church's (and Cinnabon...they owned them too) off separately in 2004.  Popeye's still markets itself as "New Orleans style".  That'd be "spicy".

Mediocre Counter Girl says "Hello" as I browse the menu. I order a two-piece meal, which includes a biscuit and a side. "Mild or spicy?" "Uh, mild." "What do you want for your side?" As I stare at the list, She who Prepares the Orders slides up and says in a fast and dry monotone "i only have one mild wing left it will be six minutes do you want spicy instead".

I got spicy. Actually, it should have occurred to me to offer to take the one mild piece and make the other spicy. I could have killed two birds with one stone.

The fried chicken looks like grocery store fried chicken. The difference is when you bite into it, it's hot and juicy. Nothing dry about it. That was a pleasant surprise. It's crispy…crispier than KFC's Extra Crispy. The difference between mild and spicy is the spicy chicken has a coating of spicy seasoning between the chicken and the crispy exterior. It's not TOO spicy. Usually. The spicy chicken is Popeye's signature item. This is why people come here.  The mild is a bit plain in comparison.

The biscuits were disappointing. They look a little too manufactured. They come with a buttery topping. They're okay…

You can also get popcorn chicken or chicken strips. The mild chicken strips are one of the most boring things I've ever eaten from a fast food menu. There's also popcorn shrimp and fried catfish. If there were such a place as "Deep Fried, Louisiana", Popeye's would be the town's core. There's a non-battered variation of the chicken strips called "Naked" chicken strips. They have a seasoned skin coating that's spicy and WAY better than the mild battered ones.

Sides include "Cajun" battered fries, green beans, corn on the cob, red beans and rice, "Cajun" rice, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes and "Cajun" gravy. Red beans and rice is one of those southern things that I simply cannot tolerate. It, along with gumbo and grits, has this taste that I want to say is like what I think dirt must taste like. The corn is pretty good, though.

Other stuff on the menu includes fried shrimp, fried catfish, fried crawfish, Po' Boy sandwiches with said fried stuff, and "Louisiana Legends"...featuring stuff like Jambalaya.  That's another one I can't stand.  But that's fine.  There's plenty on the menu I DO like, and that just leaves more for you anyway.

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