Popeye’s Cajun Battered Fries
Popeye’s is often overshadowed by fast food chicken giant KFC. With 11,000+ stores compared to only 1,800 for Popeye’s, it’s no wonder. But while they finish a distant second in the numbers game, their neck and neck on quality. The menus and flavors are distinctively different, but the smaller chain based in New Orleans can hold it’s own against the Colonel, and in some cases win. One example is fries.
KFC has potato wedges which are decent enough, but they are too thick and soft to be eaten like regular fries. Popeye’s wins this category hands down, but not just because their fries are more typical in size and shape. They win because their Cajun Battered variety of the classic potato side order is delicious and awesomely satisfying.
Perhaps the most flavorful non-curly fries on the fast food market. The potatoes are cut medium-thin, and the skins are left on. The batter is put on thick, and loaded with mild spices. A freshly cooked order has the perfect balance of crispy tasty coating outside with tender warm potato inside. They definitely come closer to french fry nirvana than anything I expected from a chicken place. Indeed — damn good fries!
Seasoned fries don’t always work too well with ketchup or sauces, but these do. The flavor is terrific on it’s own, and it doesn’t need anything else, but it’s not so strong that it prevents other flavors from joining in the fun. It’s spicy, but mild and subtle.
I attempted to find out what exact seasoning is used, but they won’t tell me. I’m sure there’s garlic, pepper and paprika, but that’s where my search hit the magic ingredient simply known as “spices”. They aren’t about to give away the secret recipe, and of course that’s to be expected. I must remind myself of the line which exists between good journalism and being a nosy pain in the rear. I’m just here to review food.
The Cajun Battered Fries from Popeye’s are excellent. They’re delicious alone, and they also get along nicely with ketchup and BBQ sauce. But once you eat the first one, it’s rare the others last long enough to worry about choosing a dipping partner.
Price: $1.69 / Website: Popeyes.com
Fast Food Critic Score: A
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Nutrition Facts - Popeye’s Cajun Battered Fries.
Calories - 310
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 17 grams
Carbs - 35 grams
Saturated Fat - 7 grams
Trans Fat - 1.0 grams
Cholesterol - 7 milligrams
Sodium - 660 milligrams
Protein - 4 grams
Wow, those do look good. I just got some Popeye’s coupons in the mail too, gonna have to give it a shot.
Right on! I agree their fries are dynamite, like something you get at a quality burger joint. Popeyes is my favorite chicken too, I like it better than kfc or churchs but thats just my personal taste.
“Perhaps the most flavorful non-curly fries on the fast food market. ”
Popeye’s is the only chicken place I eat at, don’t like KFC and Church’s isn’t reliable anymore imo.
Five Guys sell spicy fries too though I prefer the non-spiced I think they use Old Bay seasoning or their own version of it.
They probably win the best fast food fries contest on account of they cook the fries to order (no sitting around under a heat lamp) with peanut oil. Fries with Old Bay are very popular in the mid-atlantic region. A small order of fries at Five Guys is $2.49 but they give you more than enough fries for two people. A large order is enough for four people.
For westerners, Five Guys is a rapidly growing burger chain that is a lot like In-And-Out (from what I’ve heard, never eaten in an In-And-Out myself).
I used to eat at the original Five Guys in Arlington, VA, I highly recommend them. If I ever get around to buying a digital camera I’ll take some pics. Ate there yesterday and the only disappointment was no tomatoes.
Rob,
I look forward to trying Five Guys. Ratbuddy had recently told me they were opening 2 stores here in Texas, soon. Both of you make it sound mighty good!
When you walk in, the place is full of giant sacks of potatos, no frozen fries anywhere to be seen. Order a burger and fries, and they put the burger in the bag, a styrofoam cup of fries, and then dump a scoop of fries on top as well. Tasty and huge quantity. I prefer plain to ‘cajun’ which are a bit salty.
I still have to try those Popeye’s fries though, they look really well seasoned.
Cool. Reminds me of the one of the ONLY foods that I actually crave from my college dining hall–seasoned fries. Mmmmm, I can’t believe I’m missing them, but I do. These look like a great replacement, thanks!
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