When I was in grade schoolhouse , we would have " Popeyes Fridays , " and , Quaker , those were some of the best days of my young biography . A two - small-arm box with a biscuit and a plaything was about the most brilliant affair I or any of my young compadres could guess . Even though it was institute in NOLA , we all know that Popeyes is a huge international mountain range now . But it still harks back to childhood , in all the best ways . So I did what I had to , and thoughtfully ate my style through the entire bill of fare . You cognize … for nostalgia . And science . And stuff .
23. Cajun fish
DO NOT EAT .
22. Mardi Gras cheesecake
If you are eating this , you are tire Mardi Gras bead out of season , and belike carrying a Hand Grenade from Tropical Isle .
21. Pecan pie
This should exercise really well in possibility , but it always fails in execution . Always . If you want afters at Popeyes , go for the fry PIE .
20. Mac & cheese
This is the individual most unsatisfying side in the whole eating house . I know some of you will differ with me , but I ’m holding firm here . It ’s not inedible , by any standard , especially if you care pasta drowned in tall mallow . But it sadly fails to survive up to the " Louisiana Kitchen " branding .
19. Cole slaw
OK , so it ’s a dependable melodic theme to eat something involving vegetable with a meal , and slaw is more often than not a solid bet . And vegetables doused in butter and cream can be toothsome . But this one is , to our taste , excessively creamy and bland ( read : absolutely loaded with mayonnaise ) , which fix the whole eating - your - vegetables concept feel like a wash .
18. Cajun rice
Any " marked-up rice " that is n’t made from scratch at the hand of a person from Opelousas or Thibodeaux ( or places similar ) is always going to give us pause . It ’s Sir Tim Rice with some spicery . Not terrible , but also not the real deal .
17. Green beans
Buttery light-green beans are a capital southern custom , so it does n’t take Dumbledore to image out why Popeyes add them to the fare . That said , as far as vegetables at Popeyes go , this is your secure bet . Andespeciallyif you add together some Madagascar pepper acetum . Now we ’re talking .
16. Jambalaya
It ’s not as good as their red beans ( more on this in a moment ) , but the Pope - YES does a somewhat swell job with their jambalaya ( chicken and sausage , of course ) . Yeah , it ’s not at ya mama ’s theatre , but as a side to geminate with your chicken ? Thumbs unwaveringly up here .
15. Cajun fries
One prison term , in a hamburger chemical chain in the mall in St. Louis , I was offered a " Cajun Warren Burger . " rum , I had to ask . " It ’s , um , like a regular hamburger , but it have Cajun on it , " add up the explanation by a clearly fagged shopping centre fast food employee . That ethos is evident in the Popeyes fries , which are just never crispy enough . If you need fast food tyke in NOLA , everyone experience it ’s Rally ’s or bust .
14. Cinnamon apple pie
People do n’t unremarkably think of desserts when they think of Popeyes , but this fried pie is about as tightlipped as we locals can get to a Hubig ’s pie these days ( RIP ) , and on that score , it totally fits the bill .
13. Popcorn shrimp
These are great only if you ’ve had a few drinks .
12. Butterfly shrimp
amazingly good , for peewee at a poulet chain . These wo n’t be the best fry peewee you’re able to have in NOLA , but a firm effort . ( You should really opt for the crybaby here , though . )
11. Seafood po-boy
Honestly , this is a altogether standup seafood po - boy . Not that Popeyes would be your go - to destination for a seafood po - boy in NOLA , but it ’s enjoyable , with nicely fry seafood and a gentle bowl of Gallic bread to apply it together .
10. Mashed potatoes
Mashed murphy are kind of hard to mess up up , but these are peculiarly larder and creamy , which is decidedly a addition . Outside of the red bean , these are in all likelihood the greatest side dish at Popeyes .
9. Tenders (blackened)
Why does anyone stress to " eat healthy " at Popeyes ? It ’s an existential conundrum to which we ’ll never have an answer . That said , for grilled volaille at a place where you postulate to be ordering fried , these are n’t spoilt .
8. Strawberry ‘n’ cream cheese pie
This bad male child is like a hot , creamy , sugary , beautiful , spunk - lay off drug .
7. Chicken po-boy
It ’s a solid polonium - son . Not the best po - son in townsfolk , granted , but there ’s a reason folks line up every day for this sandwich . peculiarly when garb in true NOLA mode , with pickles , tomatoes , lettuce , and " mynez . "
6. Tenders (mild)
Great , but not the same without that red pepper kick . If you ’re going Popeyes , you need to go spicy …
5. Tenders (spicy)
There ’s something ineluctably sad about take Gallus gallus from the os , a loss of an essential , elemental carnivorous portion . That state , these tenders are our jam . They are design to be eaten by the bucketful .
4. Red beans and rice
No kidding , the cherry beans at Popeyes areamazing , and anyone telling you otherwise has never had truly cracking crimson bonce . well consumed on Mardi Gras Day . Or really , any day .
3. Bonafide chicken (mild)
Second full cousin to the spicy volaille , the less - seasoned version is still heavy , and always will be . But there ’s no maintain a taper to that spice . This is the chicken you get for grandma , or invalids . It does the Book of Job , but it ’s not very exciting .
2. Biscuits
I have seen so many poor chef essay to copy the thaumaturgy of a Popeyes buttermilk cookie – even with Hellenic training and ingredients from local farms ! – and inevitably fail . Miserably . You ca n’t have the chicken without the biscuit . It is the police force of the body politic here .
1. Bonafide chicken (spicy)
I do n’t wish where you are in the human race , the flavor of Popeyes naughty wimp will invade an intact elbow room ( usually a ginmill , and often on Saints Sunday ) , and if you grew up in these part , it ’s our equivalent to Proust ’s madeleines . But it really is secure here in NOLA than anywhere else , even if they have a Popeyes in Dubai or wherever . That crackly peel and fragrant , blue meat … it ’s basically our birthright . This beautiful , live crybaby is the ground that Popeyes exists , and boy howdy , do we love it .
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Cole Saladino/Thrillist
Cole Saladino/Thrillist
Cole Saladino/Thrillist
Cole Saladino/Thrillist
Cole Saladino/Thrillist
Cole Saladino/Thrillist
Cole Saladino/Thrillist
Cole Saladino/Thrillist
