Raising Canes V. Chick-fil-A

breakerbreaker wrote:

The last time i ate at a dq i had a fried cockroach in my fries.

That there is a delicacy in some parts of the world.

I think Canes, KFC, Popeyes, and Chick-FIL are all meh. Dont understand the hype at all

Ive never had popeyes. Chick Fil A and Canes only a few times. I think they were good, better than KFC IMO. We just got another dang chicken joint here in St Cloud called Slim Chickens. Havent been there yet.

crappie55369 wrote:

I think Canes, KFC, Popeyes, and Chick-FIL are all meh. Dont understand the hype at all

Agree. The Sun Ray Cub foods Deli has the best chicken in the area.

-J.

Jon Jordan wrote:

The Sun Ray Cub foods Deli has the best chicken in the area.

The little Knowlans grocery stores in the east metro also have good chicken. They do the “Broasting” process.

What I like to do is show up and have them make a fresh batch order just for me. It’s worth waiting for. Then I drive home really fast…

Unpopular opinion (apparently) but I very much enjoy Canes. Something about chicken strips, fries, and Texas toast really soothes the soul. Canes sauce is top notch too

CFA does make a very good spicy chicken sandwich though

Used to get Chesters chicken from a supermarket and gas station near me. Great chicken, very crispy. Could get a 10 pack of legs and pound of mac salad and take it camping for the weekend. DQ and Chester’s are not getting enough love on this thread.

Man KFC is just plain gutter trash. I also don’t see the hype on CFA, although I will say the two times I’ve been there (st cloud and north carolina) it’s the cleanest, most well put-together fast food out there. Employees were happy and respectful. Never been to cane’s, no desire to go.

Cub has some of the best fried chicken around, including the wing zings. Chicken strips from Kwik Trip are pretty damn good too but only if you get them while they’re still crispy.

Chick Fil A spicy chicken! Not a fan of Canes, but my kids love it. Popeyes is ok. If you want something fun, Pollo Campero, the chicken, empanadas, corn cheese salsa all solid!!!

Like them both, but I do think CFA is over-hyped. It’s a great sandwich, but nothing I’m going to wait more than 10 min for. Usally their line moves fast, but if it’s long, I’m moving on.

Canes is a great business model and I think for what you get, it’s one of your cheaper fast-casual options. Fingers, sauce and bread are all great, IMO.

But if you want tasty chicken fingers at a bargain, it all about Kwik Trip.

I’ve tried the chicken sandwiches from BK, McD’s, CF, KFC, Wendys, Culvers since that is what we have near us. my only requiremnts are pickles and mayo. i would take the McD’s every time if given the choice. BK and CF is right up there but the bun is better at McD’s so that is my choice. Never had popeyes or canes but its on my to do list someday.
If we are rating:

McD’s 7.5
CF 7.3
BK 7.2
KFC 6.8
Culvers 6.2
Wendy’s 5.3

The quality of fast food varies from location to location. Seems the management, or lack thereof, is a major factor. The KFC in Forest Lake was super old and disgusting. It closed last year and has been sitting empty. I guess I should drive up to North Branch if they have a brand new one, lol.

I’ve had Canes and Chick Fil A each once I think. Not bad, but wasn’t really impressed with either.

I’ve never had either, and have no idea where the nearest one would be.

Some of the best “fast” chicken I’ve ever had was out in Colorado served on waffles. It was a small hole in the wall place and I’d drive at least an hour out of the way for that meal again.

lindyrig79 wrote:

The quality of fast food varies from location to location. Seems the management, or lack thereof, is a major factor. The KFC in Forest Lake was super old and disgusting. It closed last year and has been sitting empty. I guess I should drive up to North Branch if they have a brand new one, lol.

I’ve had Canes and Chick Fil A each once I think. Not bad, but wasn’t really impressed with either.

Been to the new one 2 times and both were fast and fresh. No complaints. That forest lake one was awful and had the worst parking lot. Pot holes that would eat a full sized truck

DaveB wrote:

Chick Fil A spicy chicken! Not a fan of Canes, but my kids love it. Popeyes is ok.!

I am with Dave, Spicy Chicken and waffle fries is perfection and I usually get one or twice a month. I could take or leave the rest…

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Either way have you caught the length of the lines waiting to get chicken? Unbelievable!

Ya. You should have seen the lines here in Saint cloud the first few months after the Popeye’s chicken opened. often a Hr. + Now you can Go there and drive right up to the order screen without a wait. The same when the Canes opened here a few months ago. We have Canes, Chick-fil-a, Popeyes, and 2 KFC’s here in town. I would rate them Canes, KFC, Chick-fil-a, and then Popeyes. I was really excited when the popeyes opened here because I use to love it when I lived in the Metro. Foe some reason this one here is just not as good.

fishthumper wrote:

We have Canes, Chick-fil-a, Popeyes, and 2 KFC’s here in town.

Dont we only have 1 the one in Waite Park? The one on 10 is closed I think for a few years.

Yes, only the Menards KFC is open.

CaptainMusky wrote:

Dont we only have 1 the one in Waite Park? The one on 10 is closed I think for a few years.

Oh that may be. I guess I did not realize that it was closed. I thought I have seen cars in the parking area when I’ve drove by. Guess I’m glad I never ran over there for lunch.

Youre probably seeing cars that are at the DQ next door.

KFC is iconic but I always feel like everything is so small. like are these cornish hens?

Popeye’s sides are the best. – their chicken is very good too. and the chicken sandwich is very good. The issue is that our popeyes are basically warzones. I’ve not yet had an experience out of the dozen or so where there wasn’t some emplooyee fighting with a customer. screaming and shouting. I actually stuck around once because the manager literally got in a fight with a dude and the cops had to be called. https://www.kwqc.com/content/news/Employee-punched-in-the-face-at-Moline-Popeyes-police-search-for-suspect-570277041.html

Chickfila basically wins by a small margin because you will likely not have to get into fisticuffs with someone there. and chickfila sauce is better than kanes sauce.

I have kanes a few times. Its ok. it seems like standard fare chicken strips and I do not like krinkle fries.

Re DQ. I refuse to eat there on principle due to the “$5 Buck Lunch” promotion. which essentially reads “Five Dollar Buck Lunch” which doesn’t make any sense. This had to go through corporate and a board room full of marketing execs and noone was like guys, you can’t do this. “5 Buck Lunch” is basically “5 Dollar Lunch” and if you put a $ before the 5 in that sentence it would be “Five Dollar Dollar Lunch”

Anyway that might seem a bit ridiculous of a reason to boycott DQ but I’ve never claimed that I was not a ridiculous person.

Canes for me. That sauce and texas toast are so good. The chicken has the right amount of breading too. If I could get the waffle fries from Chic Fil A with my order at Canes it would be perfect.

Popeyes is better then canes or Chickfila.

But if you want good chicken not fast food and near SSP stop and order the Coop. Some of the best chicken around. Cony’s are awesome also.

hnd wrote:

The issue is that our popeyes are basically warzones. I’ve not yet had an experience out of the dozen or so where there wasn’t some emplooyee fighting with a customer. screaming and shouting.

Warning this is really loud but accurate: https://youtu.be/pqWkwolb3as

Popeyes and Canes are pretty equal in my book.

My gal likes Popeyes, more selection of dipping sauces. Biscuit better than the toast.

Reef W wrote:

Warning this is really loud but accurate:

I kinda want to go to a Popeyes now just to see this for myself but I have a feeling the one in St Cloud is not like this.

Makes the soup nazi look tame…

Canes sauce sucks, offer BBQ and I’d go there.
There I got it off my chest.

Bearcat89 wrote:

Canes sauce sucks, offer BBQ and I’d go there.
There I got it off my chest.

The sauce is what I like best. Their cole slaw is very good also.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

The sauce is what I like best.

X2, caniac sauce is the bomb.

I’ll trade you bbq sauce for caniac sauce, BC. Win-win.