Best part of Tug - anything can be interesting here.
Not generally in the market for a drive-thru chicken sandwich, but would point car to Wendy's.
On my last job, we had to travel out of state to training, always by car, and we took turns in who chose eating establishment. One of the guys is a big Popeye's fan, but I had never been. I guess the food was ok, but I wasn't blown away. For me, it wasn't chicken like I expect, has everything to do with herbs and spices. No one makes it like grandma did, so I had to lower my standards decades ago. I'm not a hot n spicey person, rather ruins it for me, and I think that's the difference that Popeye's has that will cause me to not be a regular customer. I don't recall there being actual food issues beyond "not to my taste".
Taste is subjective, and that's what makes a market.
I am much more of a fried chicken person vs sandwich, and generally get my fried chicken from one of the grocery stores that does it well (I have many options around here). A leg and a thigh, and I'm happy. It is important to time it right, however, as chicken fried hours ago sitting under heat lamps is generally not good. I can tell you that between 4 and 5 is when to hit the busy Kroger, some Meijer stores seem to keep frying all day, but get there before 7pm. yeah, I'm a geek, I have my data....
KFC lost me long ago. I could not identify what that layer of gook was between chicken and crisping. Then they would only do extra crispy in the spicey variety. Broke down a time or two and got old dried out chicken which fully sealed the No Go for me. Too bad, really, one would think that a place that specializes in chicken would actually, you know, make it special.
If others dig Popeye's, I'm glad for them, probably a great replacement for KFC. I miss when Hardee's did good fried chicken, but that is long ago.
I don't like the chicken biscuits at Chick-fil-A. Too yeasty and sweet. I do love their sandwich and lately have been getting the chicken strips with honey mustard dipping sauce thinking myself saving calories on the bread. Definitely not a driving meal. 10 or more years ago, I used to get Popeye's chicken biscuits occasionally in the mornings. I recall it being overcooked and spicy. But I will try the sandwich one day. Just not near one very often. There is one on Folly Road on James Island but I only drive by it once a month at either 9AM or 3PM.
