Popeyes

I always rely on Popeyes when I am craving a nice batch of fried chicken. It has always been my go to and always will be.

Whenever I walk in the enticing smell of fried chicken goes into my nose and you get the sensation like a shark who just tasted blood. You just want to go and eat. While you are ordering they keep the chicken just past the counter and when you see it, with its skin all golden brown and crispy you know you are in for a treat. After I am finished with my food I am always very satisfied, happy, and wanting to come back.

Popeyes is what you would expect it to be in terms of service. When you walk up to the counter the cashier greets you and asks if your meal is dine in or carry out. The process of ordering is very ordinary compared to other fast food places. The food comes out relatively quickly and as they walk out with your food you get that sense of anticipation that you are about to eat a very delicious meal.

When it is finally time to eat and you take that first bite through the crispy skin into the succulent and juicy meat it is like getting hit with a bucketful of flavor. The first bite is good but the rest are just as satisfying if not more. All of the dishes are served with a biscuit. The biscuit is good, it is soft and pillowy just like a biscuit should be. The only downside is when you are chewing it makes your mouth drier than the desert in the summer. You almost have to drink a gallon of water afterwards just to get the parched feeling out of your mouth. The sides are also very delicious. The mashed potatoes and gravy are very creamy and complement the chicken very nicely. The coleslaw is also very good, it has the right amount of everything you want in a good coleslaw. The fries are usually nice and crispy but sometimes they are a little soft and mushy. The one thing that is always consistent is the flavor of the fries, they are always full of flavor and really go well with the chicken.

The atmosphere has always been very good as well. Whenever you walk in you feel like you are walking into somebody’s home in the south. You just get that warm and comfortable feeling when you step into the restaurant. I think that it is the perfect ambiance to give off for this type of restaurant because it is a southern style restaurant. Also you are always greeted with a smile which just makes you enjoy the experience more.

The only thing I would knock them for would be the actual seating area itself. Some of the tables are a little squeaky and move when you put pressure on them. Also some of the booths are ripped in some places and they are not the most comfortable to sit on. They are the kind of booths where when you sit on them you sink in and then you are sitting with your head at the level of the table. There are some occasions where the floor underneath the booths are not swept. There are lots of crumbs on the ground beneath the table and sometimes pieces of food. If you come on a busy day and it is very crowded you also may have some tables that have not been cleaned. That is the worst because the table is all oily and there are crumbs all over the table. As well as if the person before you is a very messy eater and they get crumbs all over the seat. The chairs themselves are not bad. Some are a little wobbly or the cushion on them have been worn down but other than that they are fine. Those are the only real issues I have with the Popeyes.

The restaurant always keeps me coming back. Every time I am there I eat as much as I can, but after 2 or 3 hours I want to go back because of how good the food is. It is a craving that can never be satisfied because of how good it is.

You can not compare Popeyes to other chain fried chicken restaurants like KFC. Popeyes is superior in all ways. Their chicken is better, their crispy skin is better, their mashed potatoes are better, etc. I could go on and on about everything that Popeyes does better than other fried chicken places. But the one thing that sets them apart is their spicy chicken. They are the only ones, out of all of their competitors, to have that. The spicy chicken is fantastic. The chicken itself is the same but they make the skin spicy and the skin the best part of the chicken. It has just a little kick to it, which makes that much better.

Overall Popeyes is one of the best, if not the best, fried chicken restaurants to eat at. They make delicious chicken and delicious sides. They more than the typical fried chicken restaurants like spicy chicken. They have the best skin out of the competition and they have one of the best biscuits in terms of taste. The only thing you could knock them for is the cleanliness of the dining area. Sometimes it is sub par but most of the time it is just fine. They also create a great environment to eat in. It makes you feel very comfortable and at home when you are there. The service is good and all of the employees there are very nice and are willing to help you with any problems regarding the quality of the food or any mistakes on your order. After you finish eating your meal you just feel complete. From the first bite through that crispy skin, the first spoonful of mashed potatoes, and that first fry till the last it is one delicious meal. It will leave you satisfied but craving more at the same time. Popeyes is by far the most consistent and best fried chicken restaurant you could go to.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

5131 Westfields Blvd.

Centreville, VA, 20120