Popeye’s has LEGIT fried chicken.
At least when it’s done right and you get a piece that doesn’t skimp on the meat (been there!).
All that said…
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Fans of other chicken places have made their cases, and some are quite compelling.
The chicken wars are on!
Popeye’s isn’t sitting still, but here are the ten fried chicken joints that can truly challenge Popeye’s for the throne…
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Where you can find them: Started in North Carolina, it now has over 800 locations in 17 states, mostly in the South and Midwest.
Fried chicken bona fides: There seem to be just as many hard-core Bojangles fans as there are Popeye’s fans with people clamoring for some in their neck of the woods.
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Where you can find them: Hattie B’s is small for the moment – just 13 locations total (five in Nashville), but they’ve got big plans!
Fried chicken bona fides: Their fried chicken runs the gamut from “Southern” (no spice) all the way to “Shut the Cluck Up” – and the flavor is consistently fantastic all throughout. Also, they got their start in Nashville, famed for its hot chicken … and this is some of the very best Nashville hot chicken!
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Where you can find them: Hangry Joe’s is in 24 states, and you’ll see a bunch of them in Virginia, Florida, and Maryland.
Fried chicken bona fides: Like Hattie B’s, this is Nashville-style hot chicken. Get the sando to start, and keep the coleslaw – you’re gonna need everything you can get to cool your mouth down!
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Where you can find them: Harold’s is mostly in Chicago but has also spread to several other states – as far west as California (and Arizona and Nevada), south to Texas, east to Georgia.
Fried chicken bona fides: Harold’s is unpretentious and doesn’t put on airs, but its chicken is absolutely fantastic. If you’re looking for a side, get the hush puppies and the pizza puff with fries.
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Where you can find them: Based in Baton Rouge, LA, Raising Cane’s has over 800 locations in 41 states…and growing fast!
Fried chicken bona fides: The only chicken you can get here is chicken fingers. And the specialization works helps keep the experience consistent! Always with a crispy, juicy tender with lots of meat. The (limited) sides are solid, too (shout out to the cole slaw and the Texas Toast!).
Haters will say that it’s a bland tender. Don’t worry, for those who like spice, there’s plenty later on this list!
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Where you can find them: This one’s out of Arkansas. Although it only has around 200 locations, it’s in 35 states!
Fried chicken bona fides: Slim Chickens differentiates itself with variety. You can get waffles to pair with your chicken tenders. And by our count, they literally have 15 sauces to dip your chicken into!
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Where you can find them: Founded in South Korea and based in Dallas, it’s got 139 locations, spanning 24 U.S. states plus some international stores.
Fried chicken bona fides: This is Korean fried chicken, which means it’s fried twice to be extra crispy. Stay clear of the drumsticks and get the spicy wings. So. Good!
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Where you can find them: Yup, Long John Silver’s is still around. And has over 500 locations in 35 states, no less!
Fried chicken bona fides: This is a tough sell, isn’t it? It’s known for its fish and it’s competing against these other amazing fried chicken places. But that Long John Silver’s batter is so good. Especially when it’s a good crispy batch and it has all those crunchies with it.
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Where you can find them: Every U.S. state except Alaska and Vermont (over 3,000 locations!)
Fried chicken bona fides: Your fried chicken has to be pretty baller to get away with being closed on Sundays! If you doubt how much people love Chick-fil-A, bring a tray of chicken nuggets to a party and see how popular you are!
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Where you can find them: Jollibee is headquartered in the Philippines and has restaurants in 14 US states.
Fried chicken bona fides: The Chickenjoy bucket is aptly named – think of it like a KFC bucket, but better. Go for “Treat D” – a 12-piece chicken bucket, plus five sides (get the fries) and five peach mango pies (consider switching one of the mango pies to ube if you’re feeling fancy).
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Where you can find them: Well over 3,000 stores across the U.S. (except Wyoming and Vermont).
Fried chicken bona fides: We couldn’t leave without giving Popeye’s its due. It’s the spice mix that sets Popeye’s apart. It proves that you don’t need to be super-spicy to be super-flavorful!
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• For fun lists, healthy living tips, and bar conversation topics, make sure to follow The Coconut Mama. Click here to access The Coconut Mama’s profile page and be sure to hit the Follow button here or at the top of this article!
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So there you have it – eight fantastic chicken places whose fans believe they’ve outstripped Popeye’s.
And they make a good argument, no doubt!
But here’s the big question…
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Is Popeye’s still the best?
Or is it one of the other contenders?
State your case in the comments!
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