Popeyes
“Thank you, Louisiana, for bringing your culinary delights to NYC.”
“I've been to every Popeyes in Manhattan, except for one, and the service sucks in most.”
“8 pieces of spicy chicken, 4 buttery biscuits, a tub of cajun fries and a gallon of diet coke?”
Popeyes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
5 reviews
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Fa(s)t Food in a mini format makes Popeyes a shoe in amongst the Taco Bells, Burger Kings, McDonalds, Wendy's, and Starbucks along 14th Street. The place is smaller than the location on 34th and overly crowded during the daytime. This makes for a nice stop for those who crave the buttery, salty biscuits and the fried chicken that tastes a tinge different than the average KFC.
I have noticed they tend to run mini-specials here from season to season that is different from the other Popeyes locations around the city. In addition, this location is cleaner than the others, but the seating is more tight as the place is smaller.
Cleaner than most fast food chicken places I've been to. Service is fast and good. Prices are decent and the food, well, it speaks for itself. Yummy!
In the few times I've visited this location I've never had a bad experience.
Best chicken and mash potatoes ever!!!
A Popeye's in the city that doesn't suck. Now that's a surprise!
This place is pretty clean, which got my attention right away. I was also taken aback by the fact that the service was fast, friendly and the food was on my plate in a hurry, which is unusual for a "fast food" joint in the city. Seems like this place is operated by a lot of Chinese folks, which may perpetuate the stereotype that they are efficient and get things done.
Nonetheless, the food here is what you expect – greasy ass, tasty fried chicken that hits the spot whenever you need something to get rid of that nasty hangover or have that serious chicken craving.
Sometimes, this is all you really want. I have tried many fried chicken in NYC and got tired of contrived versions of it like Momofuku (Old Bay Fried Korean Chicken. huh?), all kinds of places in the Village, LES and Brooklyn, and Blue Ribbon (boring) and though Amy Ruth's and Charles' is a good fried chicken, they're homestyle and that's good but I was craving something that reminded me of that great crispy fried chicken I used to eat…. like Popeyes. So we went to Popeyes!
I hadn't had Popeyes in a while, so gathered a group and went and got the Spicy 18 piece meal with Biscuits, a large tub of Red Beans and Rice, Mashed Potatoes w/gravy, Cajun Fries, Slaw and a gallon of Cane Sweet Iced Tea.
Had the meal there, the fried chicken is a wonderfully crispy crust and skin straight up unadulterated deep fried goodness. The seasoning is perfect, and not overpowered by too much salt. I don't identify any overwhelming flavor, no weird herb taste either like other places, just balanced perfectly and delicious. Also, it's not overtly spicy but then after a few bites, the cayenne hits you in the back of the mouth. Very nice. The meat is very good, I tried various pieces, the white meat is tender and juicy. the dark meat just as good. What makes this place though is the crust and nobody else makes it like this. Points for sustained uniqueness.
Next, the red beans and rice comes in a large styrofoam tub, the beans are on the bottom and the rice on top. There is an earthy Cajun flavor I detect, some cumin, some cayenne, and tastes like beans have been simmering for hours. Delicious. Next, the mashed potatoes. Not bad, a hint of garlic in potatoes I detect, serves it's purpose. The slaw was good, nice and crisp, not drowned in mayo. Solid. The Cajun fries are absolutely delicious fresh out of the fryer. Nice cajun style flavor and crunch. I could eat these all day. Finally, the biscuits are ok but a bit dense and a little too much butter. In some ways, it eats more like a small round buttery scone.
I have eaten at privately owned fried chicken joints down south, up north, out west, and nobody makes fried chicken like Popeyes, it's as simple as that. It's unique bite and flavor puts their chicken at the top of the pyramid. This location is very clean, fast and courteous service, the cashier provided extra utensils, paper plates, cups and condiments for our Popeyes feast.
When doing any sort of comparative research, one must have a baseline measure… and in the quest for best fried chicken in NYC, that baseline is Popeye's. If you can't be better than Popeye's, then FOH. You'd be surprised at how many fried chicken places I think fall into this category.
First off… they actually have spicy fried chicken where the spiciness is mixed into the batter, and not just some lame hot sauce you add after. Grow a pair all you fried chicken wannabe restaurants and turn it up a notch! Second, the rotating specials… the most recent ghost pepper wings were awesome! This chain is doing it right and not afraid to experiment with new stuff.
And some nice staff at this particular location too…. I ordered a combo, but didn't want a drink, so they gave me an extra biscuit instead.
Top that KFC.