The fried chicken wars are heating up – and suddenly KFC’s longtime global dominance could be under real threat.
Because even while KFC has absolutely stepped up its game with new flavors and offerings…
Let’s face facts – there’s a new great fried-chicken joint popping up on seemingly every street corner.
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And while KFC has its fair share of defenders…
So do their very best competitors.
In fact, these competitors’ superfans are probably convinced they’ve comfortably beaten KFC at this point.
(Probably helped along by the fact that KFC has unfortunately discontinued many fan favorites.)
Of course, the big question is:
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Are they right?
Is KFC on the back foot?
Or is its crown intact?
Well, that’s your call.
Here are eight giving KFC a serious run for its money, starting with:
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Where they are: Raising Cane’s is in 41 states and has over 800 locations. (They’re in the middle of a big expansion, so if you don’t have one locally, that’ll probably change in the next couple years.)
All about the fried chicken: Raising Cane’s has an incredibly simple menu – their focus is on chicken fingers and fries (they of course also have a chicken sandwich, and great sides like coleslaw and Texas Toast). They focus on doing just a handful of things remarkably well, and their sauce and chicken fingers are everything you could want from fried chicken.
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Where they are: A truly national chain, Popeyes has over 3,000 locations in almost every state. (Wyoming and Vermont are the only unlucky ones missing out. At least for now.)
All about the fried chicken: A good friend of mine has a tradition of eating Popeyes whenever he’s helping someone move – it’s just such great food for all that energy you need. And their new boneless chicken wings are absolutely delightful.
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Where they are: Big Chicken has gone broad but not deep, if that makes sense. They’re in 17 states, but just a couple of locations in each. You can also get Big Chicken on Carnival Cruise ships.
All about the fried chicken: Their tenders are fantastic, but really the star of the show is the Shaq Attack – a chicken sandwich with chipotle BBQ piled on top, plus pepper jack cheese and jalapeno slaw.
(Shaquille O’Neal is the founder, so they get to use his name.)
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Where they are: 3,000 locations in 48 states. Seems like there’s a Chick-fil-A everywhere these days, unless you live in Alaska or Vermont.
All about the fried chicken: Chick-fil-A’s chicken nuggets and original chicken sandwich are still two of the best fried chicken dishes in America. And their waffle fries are amazing.
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Where they are: Bojangle’s is more regional than national, with 17 states and 800+ locations. If you live in the South or Midwest, you’ve had it. Anywhere else? Probably not.
All about the fried chicken: Bojangles’ chicken is super salty and crispy, and honestly it’s the best thing with a soda. I highly recommend their cajun chicken filet biscuit or their 8pc chicken box for the uninitiated. Their cajun pintos are a great side.
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Where they are: Although it’s been on the decline, Long John Silver’s still has over 500 locations in 35 states, so you can still find them if you know where to look.
All about the fried chicken: Ok, I know Long John Silver’s is better known for its seafood than its fried chicken…but honestly, their chicken is surprisingly good. If it feels like a betrayal to go without getting seafood, try the fish & chicken platter – which has two pieces of Alaskan pollock and three pieces of chicken, plus two hushpuppies and two sides. My recommendation? The waffle fries and the cheese bites. Might as well lean in!
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Where they are: 14 states, plus the Philippines (where Jollibee is headquartered).
All about the fried chicken: Their Chickenjoy bucket is the closest analogue to KFC’s famous family buckets, and it’s absolutely delicious. My vote is “Treat D” – which gets you a 12-piece chicken bucket, plus five sides of fries and five peach mango pies as the default. (Switch one of the mango pies for ube if you’re feeling adventurous.)
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Where they are: Tupelo Honey Cafe only has 25 locations but is in about a dozen states, many of which are clustered around its home territory in Asheville, North Carolina.
All about the fried chicken: Ok, Tupelo Honey Cafe is NOT a chicken place first – it’s a breakfast place! – but their chicken is absolutely amazing. Try their sweat tea glazed fried chicken, or their honey-dusted chicken, or their sorghum black pepper chicken for a real treat. And they’ve got some amazing twists on the traditional “chicken and waffles” – sweet & spicy fried chicken and waffles, banana pudding creme brulee chicken and waffles. Everything is good, nothing is disappointing.
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Where they are: Mostly just in Tennessee (where they were founded), but starting to expand!
All about the fried chicken: It’s in the name – great, hot, fried chicken. You’ve got seven levels of spicy (the hottest is “shut the cluck up”), great crinkle-cut fries, and plenty of southern sides (my advice? Get the pimento mac & cheese).
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I couldn’t leave without giving KFC some love. I’ve spent a lot of good quality time with their chicken buckets…
Where they are: KFC has over 4,100 locations in the United States, including all 50 states and Washington, DC. If you want to find a KFC, you can. Pretty much always. (That goes for around the world too – there are a ton of KFCs in other countries too.)
All about the fried chicken: KFC’s five-piece chicken was a staple in my household for years – there’s something about how the crispy skin separates from the meat under that’s incredibly appetizing. (To say nothing of the biscuits!)
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So there you have it – eight fried chicken chains giving KFC a run for its money.
They all certainly have their pluses and minuses – price, sauce, crispiness.
But the big question as we look at them holistically is…
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Is KFC still the best?
Or have they fallen behind?
Let us know what YOU think in the comments!
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