Every Fast Food Chicken Restaurant, RANKED

We do not consider ourselves chicken experts. We are not chefs. We do not work in the culinary world. What we do bring to the table are healthy appetites and strong opinions. As far as we are concerned, that is enough.

This ranking has been months in the making. We have debated qualifications, categories, service, and a million other criteria. We’ve gone back and forth on what chicken places even qualify for our ranking. At one point, KFC and Bojangles were out, since they are better known for classic fried chicken and are not really in the same world as places like Chick-Fil-A or Zaxby’s. Eventually, we felt they deserved to be included since while different, they checked a lot of the boxes we were analyzing.

At one point in the creation of this ranking, we developed a multi-point rubric. We played around with it for a while but eventually, we realized we were ranking chicken restaurants and maybe grading rubrics were a little overkill even for us.

We had 12 voters for this list, which we think is a record for us. What that means for you, dear reader, is that this list is robust, comprehensive, and clearly superior to all other lists of its kind.

That’s a lot of words that most of you are probably not even reading. We know that when we post our rankings, most of you simply scroll through the list as fast as you can, barely reading our erudite and hilarious palaver. And while knowing that to be the case is painful to our egos, we press on because this is our calling. Our raison d’être, if you will. So, without further ado, we proudly present our Chicken Restaurant Ranking. Bon appétit!

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Honorable Mention: Waldo’s Chicken and Beer (We do not endorse the beer.)

It did not quite make the cut, as of publication date, there are less than 40 total locations, but keep your eyes on Waldo’s Chicken and Beer. (We do not endorse the beer.) A few of our staff have been fortunate enough to dine there and to say we were impressed is the understatement of the year. Waldo’s is going places and we are more than happy to go along for the ride!

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7. Zaxby’s

I like Zaxby’s. That opinion put me in a minority among our voters, but here I stand, I can do no other. Their menu has good variety. Their salads (I refuse to call them Zalads!) are the best in fast food, and Zax sauce is the best of any place on this list, with the possible exception of Cane’s sauce. Their chicken tenders are often too small, and they can be stingy with sauce on their sandwiches. These shortcomings hurt them in the eyes of our voters, but I try to see the positive in people and fast-food chicken places. (Michael)

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I would like to offer a counterpoint to Michael’s endorsement of Zaxby’s. I used to love Zaxby’s. That is, until they served me raw chicken sandwiches two visits in a row. That sort of experience leaves a mark on a man’s soul, and his digestive system. (Phill)

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As a kid, I always loved Zaxby’s. My go-to was always the Three Nibblerz Meal. Oh my days, it is good. The Zax sauce on the chicken sliders makes all the difference and, if seasoned well, the fries are always amazing. That being said, as a child I was blinded by my love for the Nibblerz. I’ve had family members end up with raw chicken on multiple occasions from multiple locations. As someone who has worked food service, that can’t slide. All that to say, I’ve never gotten raw chicken, so good job Zaxby’s. (Ethan)

6. Bojangles

I’m not a huge Bojangles fan, but Bo rounds are the best side item from the places on this list. They are worth making a trip to Bojangles, even if you don’t like their chicken. (Michael)

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I want to love Bojangles, but their food hurts my tummy. Woe is me. (Phill)

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I’m sure somebody out there knows why but Bojangles changed their chicken sandwich years ago. Before that I’d have put them 2nd. (Gowdy)

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I used to be a Bojangles hater, and then I married a girl from eastern North Carolina. You spend any considerable time out there and you’d think Bojangles is written in their state constitution. Needless to say, Bojangles became a road trip staple for us, and over time it has worn me down. I used to scoff at people who claimed “North Carolina Bojangles was better than anywhere else,” but now I’ve become one of them. I feel like I’ve betrayed all those around me, but I can no longer deny what I know to be true. The massive chicken tenders, the extra seasoned fries, the sauce containers the size of a small cereal bowl, the fresh biscuit with every combo…all this and more cement Bojangles as a top 3 option in my book. (Aidan)

5. KFC

I love KFC but my biggest knock on them is consistency. Sometimes the food isn’t done right and the service is terrible. But if done right, I’d put it up there with CFA and Cane’s. All of their chicken options are in my wheelhouse, but I love their sides as well. Cole Slaw, Mashed Potatoes, whatever. Doesn’t matter. I love it. Getting a meal with 3 pieces of chicken and two sides at KFC (on a good day) is on the short list for what I’d strongly consider if I knew I only had one more meal. (Gowdy)

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I agree with Gowdy completely. At its best, KFC is near the top of my list, if not at the top. But you rarely get KFC’s best, so that knocks it down a few spots. Their fried chicken is elite. Their sides are as good as it gets. And the Colonel is a distinguished looking gentleman with a sparkle in his eyes and a dream in his heart. Plus, he has a really cool bowtie. (Phill)

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Phill and Gowdy took the words out of my mouth. Does KFC sometimes have bad service? Yes. Do they occasionally run out of chicken in the middle of the day? Incredibly, this is also a “yes.” Despite these admittedly major flaws, a bucket of original recipe chicken, flanked by mashed potatoes and gravy and some coleslaw is one the best meals you can have. Maybe that is just nostalgia, but it’s how I feel. (Michael)

4. Popeyes

Popeyes is at the center of a great and contentious ideological battle in my family. Some of us love their take on fried chicken. This group, who we will call The Bastions of Good and Light, love their breading, their spices, and the Cajun-inspired flare that permeates their menu. On the other side, we’ll call them The Forces of Woe and Despair, stands a sad group of disgruntled and bitter agitators who love to watch the world burn. This group thinks Popeyes is just too flavorful and delicious and fried chicken places aren’t supposed to have that much personality and style. We’ll let you decide which side is correct. (Phill)

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Popeyes puts too much breading on their chicken, and I am not a fan. I am glad they finished in the middle of the pack in our voting because that is where they belong. (Michael)

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When Popeye’s aggressively took to social media years ago to try to go mano a mano with Chick-fil-A, part of me wanted to be mad at them. But the truth is, I couldn’t be. Their food is too good! In fact, before Chicago got a Chick-fil-A (see below) I used to walk half a mile from my Chicago apartment probably once a week to get Popeye’s. The people who worked there weren’t super nice, but the service was efficient and the food flooded my soul with joy every time. Much like KFC I love all their chicken options and their sides. The one side that beats KFC to me is their biscuits. They are delectable!

True story: once before I ran a marathon in Chicago, I ate the stereotypical “carbo load” meal the night before–pasta. But I also went I got eight Popeye’s biscuits too. That was some overkill carbo-loading, but I have no regrets. (Gowdy)

3. Chick-Fil-A

I have very little to say about Chick-Fil-A, so I’ll limit myself to a few words, in hopes that my brevity will truly communicate my heart. Chick-Fil-A is overrated. (Phill)

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Even though Chick-fil-A is my #1, I actually had a hard time ranking these because there are so many good chicken places. Even my last place ranking (Zaxby’s) is somewhere I go and can enjoy! And CFA isn’t #1 by very much. Trying to pick my favorite Chicken Place is like trying to pick my favorite Gamecock athlete of all time (I am destined to love chickens! And chicken).

But I love CFA the most because the sandwich just does it for me. The nuggets are a close second. The service is amazing but even without that I’d still go all the time. One of the highlights of my life pre-marriage was being one of the first 100 customers in the first ever Chicago Chick-fil-A in 2011. (Gowdy)

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CFA was number 1 on my personal list as well. Here are my top 4 reasons in reverse order:

4. Sauce selection and availability. They don’t have a single sauce as good as Cane’s sauce or Zax sauce, but they have a great variety of delicious sauces. Also, they are never stingy with sauce. No extra charge, no sideways glances, just a friendly “my pleasure” as they hand you whatever ridiculous number of sauces you requested.

3. Service. Their service is legendary despite almost always being incredibly busy. We’ve all seen the jokes and memes saying, “If CFA was in charge of __________ (insert woefully inadequate industry) things would be so much better.”

2. Chicken sandwiches. I agree with Gowdy, CFA has the best sandwiches and that goes a long way in my book. I prefer the spicy sandwich, but the regular is great as well.

1. Breakfast. Only two places on our list serve breakfast. While Bojangles has a good breakfast, CFA’s is next level. The chicken minis are great, but their spicy chicken biscuit is my favorite single item from any of the places on our list.

These reasons were enough for CFA to take the top spot for me even though their fries are pretty terrible. (Michael)

2. Slim Chickens

Similarly to the divisive and controversial Popeye’s opinions held between our family, Slim Chickens found itself anywhere between first and last on people’s lists, and arguments ensued. Lies were shouted, blood oaths were drawn, and grown men cried–all over finding the true quality of this one restaurant. I myself fight for the side of Slims. 

For starters, Slim Chickens has the best menu in the fast food game. While other chicken restaurants may excel in one area and fail in another, or have too complicated a selection process or too simple, Slims is the medium between all of these, perfectly balancing variety and flavor. No matter what you order, you can never go wrong. Their cayenne ranch chicken sandwich, their tender mac n cheese bowls, the classic tender and fries combo, wings, fried pickles, jar desserts, you name it. Slim Chickens has the perfect menu item for you.

Just as important as the items themselves, Slims boasts an unbelievable selection of sauces. I am a firm believer that a great restaurant must have a great sauce game, and Slim’s is the best in the business. Shall I side with the ever-pleasing Slim’s sauce, or spring for the creamy yet powerful cayenne ranch? Do I go with a classic honey barbecue, or am I feeling adventurous with a little garlic parmesan?

I rarely know the answer to these inescapable questions, but I do know the important and vital role each of these sauces play in the flavorful dance between all the players of the Slim Chickens menu–a dance that I, for one, am eternally grateful to have received an invitation to. (Aidan)

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What Aidan said. Oh, and Slim Chickens mascot – Slim – would wipe the floor with all other fast food and fast casual mascots in a Battle Royale. Just look at that guy!

Who is beating him? Absolutely no one. (Phill)

1. Raising Cane’s

I’ve had Raising Cane’s twice in my life. Once was carryout in my home for a family get-together and the other was in the restaurant. Both times, the chicken was delicious. In the restaurant, they were the best chicken tenders I have tasted. So yes, my sample size is small, but my visits told me everything I needed to know. Raising Cane’s is incredible. (Phill)

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There is an elegant simplicity to Cane’s menu that other places could learn from. No, you can’t get certain sides at Cane’s. You won’t find bone-in chicken there or chicken wings or nuggets. What you will find are the best chicken tenders of any place on this list. Those tenders were good enough to put Raising Cane’s at the top of our list. (Michael)

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I have had this twice, just as Phill has, and I had a similar experience. I wonder if I had had it more if I’d have put it higher than #3 on my personal list. Maybe even giving CFA a run? It was about as well done as this type of food can be. I echo Mike’s comment about the menu simplicity. I definitely get paralyzed by options and lengthy, detailed menus and I was so thankful I just had decide how much food I wanted and not what food I wanted. By the way, it was the biggest amount possible (for one person) both times! (Gowdy)

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Final Thoughts

And there you have it – a list that will make absolutely no one happy! And we are okay with that because it’s our website and we can do whatever we want with it. Let us know what you think in the comments or on one of our social media platforms. And please do us a favor and read our blurbs. We spent a lot of time on this and we would be very sad if no one read our incredible chicken commentary.