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Best fried chicken -- KFC or Popeyes? Photo: Elizabeth Hait, AOL
Last week we announced that Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen was taking on the Colonel in a taste test that pitted Louisiana cookin' against Kentucky's finest fried fowl.
This past Monday, Popeyes said that it beat KFC Original Recipe in a national taste test. Well, we just couldn't resist conducting our own.
With over 60 pieces of chicken breasts (we compared only white meat) lining the counters in the AOL kitchen, we asked the office to join us for our own taste test.
See if our co-workers agreed -- is Popeyes fried chicken better than KFC?
Based on appearances, it looked like Popeyes had a shot at winning the title -- the skin was noticeably more crispy and crunchy and the pieces of chicken were meatier. However, our testers felt differently when it came to the taste. While a crunchy crust is important, it's all about the flavor of the meat and spices used in flavoring the crust.
Final Count: KFC 24 vs. Popeyes 9
Winner: KFC Original Recipe (A, Red Plate): Lightly breaded fried chicken with the patented 11 herbs and spices.
Nutritional Facts (per piece): 320 calories, 15 grams fat, 710 mg sodium
What people said:
"Juicer, crispier, more white meat on the bone and also less salt. It's tender inside and crunchy outside."
"A was a much more spicy and flavorful chicken. The meat tasted slightly more juicy though the quality and thickness of the breast meat was basically the same."
"Enjoyed the crunch of B better, but the flavor of A more."
"The spices in A were much more flavorful, especially the black pepper."
"A is more flavorful and most. The biggest problem with B is the weird crunchy crust."
"A is better seasoned -- B just cut the roof of my mouth."
"B has a great skin, but that's it."
"The chicken is juicer, more flavorful."
Loser: Popeyes Mild Fried Chicken (B, Blue plate)
Nutritional Facts (per piece): 350 calories, 20 grams fat, 1130 mg sodium
What people said:
"B wins with a crispy texture and the extremely moist chicken."
"I find that less spices allows the juiciness and natural taste of the chicken to really shine through."
"The crispy skin and juicy chicken of B are superior. Chicken B brought back childhood memories."
"A crispy crust and exceptional flavor."
"Juicer meat and better crust."
"Chicken B had a better crust and was less greasy than A."
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KFC vs. Popeyes Chicken
Can you tell which one is which?
Over 60 pieces of chicken lined our counters.
Jake from Asylum.com ready to dig in.
The Asylum crew debating the 11 herbs and spices over the Louisiana classic.
Tim from BlackVoices.com is pretty sure he knows which one is which.
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9-01-2010 @3:25PM jim marett said... Their taste budsmust be dead Popeyes is the best fast food Chicken there is
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9-01-2010 @3:28PM Chuck said... Let me guess, all you "judges" are from somewhere North of experienced. . . you know nothing about fried chicken which is confirmed by the fact that you were too "chicken" (pun intended) to have Popeyes' spicy blend. . . . if you thought that black pepper made the chicken better come a little further south where "pepper" is a lesson, not a color.
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9-01-2010 @3:26PM Jerome said... Sorry folks...NOBODY beats Popeyes spicy chicken. The colonel will not be able to come to close to it - including their mild ingredients. Popeyes just needs to keep the 2 for 99 cents going and the winner will definitely win by economic & taste factor.
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9-01-2010 @7:50PM cb said... I don't care what you see, I still like Popeye's chicken better, besides the original recipe for KFC was probably from a back woman and that "old gizzard Sanders" stole the recipe..
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9-01-2010 @3:32PM Pam said... There is nothing better than KFC Chicken. Popeye's is secondary. It's too well done and has no flavor. I prefer my chicken in the oven to Popeye's.
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9-01-2010 @3:28PM Bob said... Don't know why anyone would choose either. Publix grocery store has the best fried chicken anywhere
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9-01-2010 @3:36PM Cindy said... You have got to be kidding me. Publix sells rotisserie and fried chicken, not only is it over-priced but its lousy chicken. Its only sold as a way for publix to get rid of chicken close to expiration date. Publix uses the same cheap batch fryer found in those nasty citgo gas stations.
9-01-2010 @3:41PM Dee said... Bob, thats just what I was thinking!! KFC is just tooooo GREASY!! Dont have a Popeyes by me, I really like Popeyes but Publix does have t he best chicken and the best price!!
9-01-2010 @3:41PM Dee said... Cindy you must be going to a "not so good" Publix, my Publix has the best!! Big, moist pieces, and a nice crunchy breading.... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm soooooooooooooo good!
9-01-2010 @4:50PM JOHNNY SIMANCAS said... IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND OUT WHO HAS BETTER CHICKEN , TASTE IN HUMANS ARE VERY DIFFERENT , NOT TWO HUMANS HAVE THE SAME TASTE . ALSO IF YOU ARE VERY HUNGRY AT THAT MOMENT YOU EAT KFC OR POPEYE , AFTER YOU ARE SATISFY WITH YOUR HUNGER YOU MADE A DECISION , BUT IS YOUR PERSONAL DECISION . NOT MY. KFC DO NOT HAVE MSG , MSG IS NORMALLY USED IN CHINESE AND CARIBEAN FOOD . KFC HAS 11 HERBS , COUNTING SALT AND PEPER . POPEYE HAS 7 WITH SALT AND PEPER . KFC FRIED THE CHICKEN WITH A NEW OIL , POPEYE STILL USING THE GREASE-OIL , IT LAST LONGER THAN THE OTHER . THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT IN THEIR CHICKEN RECIPE , HOWEVER ONE OF THE BEST CHICKEN , IN THE SAME STYLE AS KFC AND POPEYE , THAT I EVER EAT WAS FROM CHICKEN DELIGHT , BACK IN THE 70'S , WAS FRIED WITH WHITE FLOUR , OREGANO, CUMIN , GARLIC, BASIL, ROSEMERY , SAGE , SALT AND WHITE PEPPER , IT WAS DELICIOUS , VERY CRISPY , NOT GREASE, 48 PIECES OF CHICKEN WERE FRIED IN A DEEP COOKER , AND THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 48 PIECES . iT IS MY OWN OPINION
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9-01-2010 @3:29PM Robert said... KFC CHICKEN IS OK BUT THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK THERE HAVE VERY LOW STANDARDS, INCLUDING THE SHIFT MANAGERS. THEY ARE IRRESPONSIBLE AND TEND TO DO THINGS WITH THE FOOD CUSTOMERS WOULD PREFER NOT TO KNOW ABOUT. POPEYES HAS THAT OLD HOMEMADE TYPE CRUST AND THE STORES ARE RUNE VERY EFFECTIVELY BY AN ATTENTIVE SHIFT MANAGER. EVERYTHING IS OUT FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE. BEWARE OF WHAT THE KIDS HAVE DONE TO YOUR FOOD AT KFC !!!!
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9-01-2010 @3:30PM MANFROMPHILLY said... In this sodium conscience society we live in. I'm suprised at how much salt is put on the food at these esablishments especially the salt content of the fries or the potatoe wedges these teenagers who work in these establishment pour so much salt on the food when they are preparing it so I'm wondering why should just (MSG) be the main health concern when it's sodium in general !!!
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9-01-2010 @5:53PM Buddy said... If your ever on the West Coast in Ontario Ca... You have to try Donahoos Chicken on 4th and Grove. Off the 10 fwy. As a chicken Lover and foul expert my self.... Thats the Best of the West... Sorry Mr. Sanders and Sister girl from Louisiana...You all got competition in the I.E.
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9-01-2010 @3:31PM Mw said... I don't eat fried chicken out, expensive, and I make oven baked fried chicken better, and healthier. I know its cooked throughly.
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9-01-2010 @3:32PM sam said... I vote for Church's fried chicken too. Far better than both the other's Sadly, the only one I ever knew of in my area isn't here anymore.
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9-01-2010 @5:52PM Buddy said... Oh yea....At Donahoos....... The Rolls are legendary....
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9-01-2010 @3:42PM Mike said... Apparently you compared KFC Original Recipe with Popeye's. What the point of that? They're totally different. Comparing Popeye's with KFC Extra Crispy would have made sense. Extra Crispy is what KFC came up with in defense of their brand when Popeye's began cutting deeply into their market share. Btw, I prefer Original Recipe because I love the taste, but the crunchy texture of the Extra Crispy,/Popeye's/Church's coatings is pretty awesome, too. Sometimes when I go to KFC I get a little of both Original Recipe and Extra Crispy. (I'm making it sound like I eat out at fried chicken chains all the time. I don't. But everything in moderation, no?)
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9-04-2010 @4:42PM Carmine said... There is no comparison. Popeyes all the way. I agree with the other comment. They should have done the test with the Spicy chicken. KFC is not consistant and you never know if it will be raw inside. Popeyes is always cooked fresh and hot everytime I go there. The sides are awesome and the prices are reasonable. They also have excellect customer service if you have any problems there. I had a problem with there service once and they made good on it and not only personally apologized but they gave me a free meal. Popeyes all the way! On the other hand you just might like greasy uncooked inconsistantly cooked chicken with sides which have gone down hill for years. I vote for Popeyes.
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9-01-2010 @3:39PM Sean said... Quit wasting money on KFC chicken. This chicken is nothing like the Colonel original recipe. The secret recipe is nothing but sugar, flour, salt, black pepper and monosodium glutamate (MSG) and a mixture of cooking oils. After the company was sold to PepsiCo Harlan Sanders was quite vocal about his opposition to the added MSG. Pieces of chicken are small, greasy and way too salty Even the sides are boring, flavorless and far overpriced.
Popeye's has large meaty, moist, crunchy chicken and great sides. If your looking for spicy, Popeye's would win hands down.
Actually I perfer FAMOUS RECIPE which is the Colonel's original receipe dipped in honey. I think it was started by the colonel's nephew after KFC was sold back in the late 60's or early 70's.
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9-01-2010 @3:39PM Empress said... Just to let you guys know, Popeyes in the Northeast region stopped selling the Spicy Chicken strips, I went to about a dozen Popeyes in the NY area, and they told me they no longer make it.
They were the BEST spicy strips I ever had...but it seems the yuppies up here didn't want spicy.
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