# What's "Popeyes" (the fast food joint) like? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 30, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931 "2014-08-30T01:21:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/61 "2014-09-02T14:46:46Z")
I can’t believe no-one has mentioned that Popeye’s has… mashed potatoes! The only FF chain I’ve seen here that does. (I also had mashed potatoes at Legoland in Denmark.) That said, they’re definitely better than KFC. And they’ve been expanding in Southern Ontario. There’s a location in Whitby and one in Oshawa as well. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/62 "2014-09-02T14:51:41Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I can’t believe no-one has mentioned that Popeye’s has… mashed potatoes! The only FF chain I’ve seen here that does. (I also had mashed potatoes at Legoland in Denmark.) Interesting…all the KFCs around here have mashed potatoes too. The spouse gets them whenever we end up there. They don’t have them where you are? The thing I can’t forgive KFC for is getting rid of the Little Bucket Parfaits. The chocolate ones were one of the best things about going there, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/63 "2014-09-02T15:19:04Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > Seriously, Pollo Campero is one of the things I miss the most about the DC area. Lots of Peruvian chicken places, too, and they’re incredible, but Campero and its salsa bar are awesome! This is what I imagine Gus Fring’s restaurant served. Damn, I’ve been meaning to try Campero for years but somehow I’m never conveniently near one at the right time. > [@Sunspace](#): > > I can’t believe no-one has mentioned that Popeye’s has… mashed potatoes! The only FF chain I’ve seen here that does. I guess you don’t have KFC there? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/64 "2014-09-02T15:28:14Z")
I haven’t been in a KFC in Canada for a long time, since my father lived in Oshawa actually, so if they have mashed potatoes, that’s a recent thing. They DID have those wretched potato salads, though. Nasty stuff. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/65 "2014-09-02T15:42:19Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I haven’t been in a KFC in Canada for a long time, since my father lived in Oshawa actually, so if they have mashed potatoes, that’s a recent thing. They DID have those wretched potato salads, though. Nasty stuff. KFC has had mashed potatoes forever. You must’ve missed it. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2014, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/66 "2014-09-02T18:40:41Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I can’t believe no-one has mentioned that Popeye’s has… mashed potatoes! The only FF chain I’ve seen here that does. (I also had mashed potatoes at Legoland in Denmark.) > > That said, they’re definitely better than KFC. And they’ve been expanding in Southern Ontario. There’s a location in Whitby and one in Oshawa as well. They were mentioned in posts 9. 17, and 29. They were kind of mentioned in a few others where they say “other than the regular chicken place sides.” Mashed potatoes at a chicken place are about as rare as fries at a burger place. They were one of the original KFC sides. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/67 "2014-09-04T01:41:35Z")
Serious Eats has the two Wylie Dufresne recipes up on their site: [http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/09/popeyes-style-chicken-tenders-and-biscuits-fr.html](http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/09/popeyes-style-chicken-tenders-and-biscuits-fr.html) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/68 "2014-09-04T01:54:46Z")
Popeye’s is better than KFC, buty my default chicken joint is [El Pollo Loco](http://www.elpolloloco.com/#). Much better than KFC, Church’s, Popeye’s, …anybody. ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/69 "2014-09-04T02:40:25Z")
While I prefer Popeye’s to KFC, I can’t really compare the two. Calling them both a fast food chicken place is true, but they are completely different foods made that just happen to be made with some of the same ingredients. To me, KFC, Churches, and Bojangles are all fast food places that serve fried chicken. One might sound more appealing then the other depending on my mood, but they’re all pretty much interchangeable. But when I’m in the mood for Popeye’s, nothing else is really a substitute. As for sides, I wish I could have tried Colonel Harland David Sanders original mashed potatoes and gravy. I read somewhere that he was more proud of that then the chicken. The current recipe is OK though. I think Popeye’s most under-rated side is the Cajun Fries. Churches and Bojangles; none of their sides really stick out. Peace - DESK ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/70 "2014-09-04T11:45:25Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Love Popeye’s. Probably the best of the fast food chicken chains. You don’t have to get the spicy version, but you really should. You can also get a side of red beans & rice. Ditto. Twice over. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/71 "2014-09-04T13:51:32Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Popeye’s is better than KFC, buty my default chicken joint is [El Pollo Loco](http://www.elpolloloco.com/#). Much better than KFC, Church’s, Popeye’s, …anybody. Where’s the ‘like’ button again? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/72 "2014-09-04T14:38:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > KFC has had mashed potatoes forever. You must’ve missed it. Some KFC’s don’t offer potatoes, especially the smaller ones that are combined with another restaurant - like the KFC/Taco Bell combo down the street from where I live. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/73 "2014-09-04T15:18:22Z")
I wasn’t a student but I was broke and there was a Popeye’s near where I worked in North Hollywood. Red Beans and Rice for lunch many days. Then I moved to an area without Popeye’s. When I moved here (Baltimore) I was cheered to find a Popeye’s near work again. This particular location is not well managed, and there are much better sources for fried chicken in the neighborhood. Now that I’ve read this thread, though I’m going to have to arrange some errands around the farther away Popeye’s. My last Popeye’s comment: When he was a very new reader my son took delight in sounding out every word that passed in front of his face. We drove past a sign that looked like [this](http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111215230614/logopedia/images/2/2d/Popeye%27s_logo_pre_1992.jpg), and he said “Pope Yes.” So, that is what I call that restaurant now. ---
**Author:** ![Imaginary\_Muffins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Imaginary\_Muffins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imaginary_Muffins)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/74 "2014-09-04T15:26:01Z")
> [@Amberlei](#): > > And I seconded it. Sometimes I forgo the chicken and just get red beans and rice. Me too! Love the red beans and rice, but they always left me with an upset gut. Still, worth the price 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/75 "2014-09-04T15:40:34Z")
INteresting how some folks prefer it to Bojangles and some vice versa. I think Bojangles is very location-dependent; I’ve had excellent chicken and horrible chicken there. How does the spice level of Popeye’s compare to Bojangles? ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/76 "2014-09-04T15:46:18Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > My last Popeye’s comment: > When he was a very new reader my son took delight in sounding out every word that passed in front of his face. We drove past a sign that looked like [this](http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111215230614/logopedia/images/2/2d/Popeye%27s_logo_pre_1992.jpg), and he said “Pope Yes.” So, that is what I call that restaurant now. That’s what the spouse and I call it, too! Sometimes we take it even further and call it “The Pontiff of Poultry.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/77 "2014-09-04T15:52:23Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > If you ever get the chance (if you haven’t already), try [Pollo Campero](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollo_Campero). It’s Guatemalan fried chicken, and they have Latin sides and sauces. It’s definitely a different take on fried chicken, and I really like it (though it is a little bit more expensive than the Southern-style joints, at least in my area). I’d say it’s easily the best fast food fried chicken chain I’ve ever visited, and it isn’t really close. I like Popeye’s, but it has too much crust for my taste. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/78 "2014-09-04T15:58:45Z")
Popeye’s has always been my favorite chicken place, but Bojangles is close second. I was introduced to Bojangles a couple of years ago, and they seem to be springing up exponentially since. I think Popeye’s chicken is superior to Bojangles. And of course you can’t beat their red beans and rice. But the biscuits are just as good at Bojangles, and their dirty rice is yummier. My sister swears by Church’s chicken. I can’t believe that girl is related to me, believing that kind of blasphemy. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931/79 "2014-09-04T18:03:23Z")
First time I had Popeye’s was in New Orleans after a drunken night of carousing and ghost tours (not in that order, exactly) and I reaaaaally enjoyed it and still did after I went back sober the next day. As noted, the spicy chicken blows KFC out of the water, which is pretty easy as KFC just blows goats. Supposedly they are opening one in Edmonton, Yay! The only real problem I had was that for weeks afterward I couldn’t see the sign without hearing Popeye’s Chicken’n’biscuits (said as fast as humanly possible as one word). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-popeyes-the-fast-food-joint-like/696931.md?page=3)