Raising Cane’s is one of the best fried chicken joints out there, in my opinion.
And their sauce is just absolutely incredible.
Fans of other chicken places have made their cases, though, and some are quite compelling.
Because, let’s face it:
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There’s a LOT of great fried chicken out there!
And a lot probably depends on what you personally love the most, taste-wise.
With that said, here are the ten fried chickens their fans would swear are better than Raising Cane’s…
(And by the way, KFC did NOT make the list, because…come on!)
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Where you can find them: Bonchon’s US headquarters is in Dallas (they were founded in South Korea), and they’ve got 139 locations across 24 states and a few countries.
What makes their fried chicken fantastic: Bonchon continues the tradition of Korean fried chicken, which is double fried so it’s incredibly crispy. My two cents? The drumsticks have too high a “chicken to sauce” ratio – go for either the tenders or the wings. The fries are great, too.
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Where you can find them: 24 states, with most locations in Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. Plus Dubai. (Why not?)
What makes their fried chicken fantastic: If you like Nashville-style hot chicken, you’ll love Hangry Joe’s. The quality of spice is just great. (Make sure you drink lots of water.)
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Where you can find them: Popeye’s has over 3,000 stores across the US, in 48 states (sorry Wyoming and Vermont). If you want Popeye’s, chances are very good there’s one nearby.
What makes their fried chicken fantastic: Honestly, Popeye’s is one of my favorite chicken places because it delivers great chicken without resorting to tons of spice. And their biscuits are phenomenal.
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Where you can find them: Just like Popeye’s, Chick-fil-A has over 3,000 locations in 48 states. The only states missing Chick-fil-A are Vermont and Alaska. (Why is it always Vermont?)
What makes their fried chicken fantastic: The original Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich is still one of the best chicken sandwiches out there. There’s just something about it. Also the waffle fries and the Chick-fil-A sauce.
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Where you can find them: Hattie B’s is still in early expansion mode, with only 13 locations total (five of which are in Nashville – which is where I first had Hattie B’s).
What makes their fried chicken fantastic: Unlike pretty much everyone else on this list, Hattie B’s gives you the clear ability to adjust your level of spicy, with six levels ranging from “Shut the Cluck Up” (their spiciest) all the way down to Southern (no spice at all). Also, try their crinkle fries – you’ll love them.
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Where you can find them: I grew up in North Carolina, where Bojangle’s is based, so I thought they were everywhere. They are in fact NOT everywhere. Still, they’re in 17 states with over 800 locations total.
What makes their fried chicken fantastic: Honestly, their chicken is super salty and crispy, which pairs so amazingly well with their biscuits. If you have a Bojangle’s fan in your life, you know.
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Where you can find them: Slim Chickens is based in Arkansas and has spread to an amazing 35 states (with just 200 locations). Think about it this way – there are 4x as many Bojangle’s, but they’re only in half as many states!
What makes their fried chicken fantastic: It’s all about the sauce – 15 incredible varieties. Try the Sweet Red Chili and the Garlic Parmesan for two very different meals.
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Where you can find them: Church’s is in 25 states, plus the District of Columbia.
What makes their fried chicken fantastic: It’s Texas style, so the breading is extra crispy, and you’re gonna love it with the fries and mashed potatoes. Get the pumpkin cheesecake fried pie for something extra indulgent!
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Where you can find them: Jollibee is based in the Philippines and has restaurants in 14 states as well.
What makes their fried chicken fantastic: The Jollibee “Chickenjoy” bucket is a real joy to eat. It’s like a stepped-up KFC bucket. Make sure to get an ube pie on the side (it’s just like McDonald’s apple pies – but ube) if you’re up for something new!
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Where you can find them: Zaxby’s is in 18 states, mostly in the American South and Midwest (plus Utah), with almost 1,000 locations total.
What makes their fried chicken fantastic: Really, it’s all about the sauce options. (It’s a bit like Raising Cane’s that way.) With fun names like “Wimpy” and “Nuclear”, Zaxby’s has great options all around. You can toss them in one sauce, then dip them in another – my two cents? Toss them in Sweet & Spicy, then dip them in the eponymous Zax sauce.
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I couldn’t leave without giving Raising Cane’s some love – because honestly it’s one of my personal favorites.
Where you can find them: Raising Cane’s has over 800 locations in 41 states and originated in Louisiana.
What makes their fried chicken fantastic: The Raising Cane’s sauce is incredible, but to be honest the thing I love best is how juicy and thick their chicken tenders are. (Also I’m a big fan of Texas Toast, and theirs is great.)
Which brings me to the BIG question…
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So there you have it – ten chains with a reasonable claim to being even better than Cane’s.
And they make a compelling argument!
But here’s the REAL question:
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Who’s got the best fried chicken?
Is it Raising Cane’s? Or did someone else jump out to you as even better?
Let us know in the comments!
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