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  4. I went through the drive-thrus at Popeyes and KFC to compare, and even though the former left me in my car for 20 minutes I still prefer the experience

I went through the drive-thrus at Popeyes and KFC to compare, and even though the former left me in my car for 20 minutes I still prefer the experience

I went to a Popeyes in Rochester, New York to begin my comparison with KFC.

I went through the drive-thrus at Popeyes and KFC to compare, and even though the former left me in my car for 20 minutes I still prefer the experience
Retail1 min read
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
  • I visited KFC and Popeyes drive-thrus to compare the head to head.
  • Popeyes' drive-thru is slow and inefficient at filling even basic orders.

I went to a Popeyes in Rochester, New York to begin my comparison with KFC.

I went to a Popeyes in Rochester, New York to begin my comparison with KFC.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Signs and posters around the restaurant exterior advertised mac and cheese and chicken sandwiches.

Signs and posters around the restaurant exterior advertised mac and cheese and chicken sandwiches.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I went through the drive-thru, which most customers also opted to do on the snowy day.

I went through the drive-thru, which most customers also opted to do on the snowy day.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The parking lot was relatively full too, despite the bad weather.

The parking lot was relatively full too, despite the bad weather.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The drive-thru itself was standard, with no modern frills or updates.

The drive-thru itself was standard, with no modern frills or updates.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

It only has one lane, and a static menu board.

It only has one lane, and a static menu board.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

It was easy enough to make a mobile order, though, which I did ahead of time. I just gave the cashier my name at the speaker.

It was easy enough to make a mobile order, though, which I did ahead of time. I just gave the cashier my name at the speaker.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Service at the Popeyes drive-thru always seems to have some sort of hiccups, in my experience, and this visit was no exception.

Service at the Popeyes drive-thru always seems to have some sort of hiccups, in my experience, and this visit was no exception.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

At the payment window, the Popeyes worker told me to pull ahead out of the drive-thru lane and someone would bring out our food.

At the payment window, the Popeyes worker told me to pull ahead out of the drive-thru lane and someone would bring out our food.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

This seems to happen every time I go to Popeyes. It usually means the food will take a bit longer, and they don't want to hold up other customers in the drive-thru.

This seems to happen every time I go to Popeyes. It usually means the food will take a bit longer, and they don
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

This time was the slowest service I've ever had. After about 20 minutes I went inside and asked about my order. After about five more minutes of waiting inside, I finally had my order.

This time was the slowest service I
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

My experience was in line with typical Popeyes service. In Food Service Results 2020 drive-thru study, Popeyes ranked last in speed of service out of 17 fast food chains.

My experience was in line with typical Popeyes service. In Food Service Results 2020 drive-thru study, Popeyes ranked last in speed of service out of 17 fast food chains.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Source: QSR Magazine

After about five more minutes of waiting inside, I finally had my order.

After about five more minutes of waiting inside, I finally had my order.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I was absolutely starving by the time I got home with my food, a half-hour later than I'd anticipated.

I was absolutely starving by the time I got home with my food, a half-hour later than I
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The inconvenience of getting my food didn't take away from my enjoyment, though.

The inconvenience of getting my food didn
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Service might disappoint, but the spicy chicken sandwich never does.

Service might disappoint, but the spicy chicken sandwich never does.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The sauce, the pickles, the breading on the sandwich — it's my vote for the winner of the chicken sandwich wars.

The sauce, the pickles, the breading on the sandwich — it
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Popeyes also has some of the best fries in the fast-food game in my opinion.

Popeyes also has some of the best fries in the fast-food game in my opinion.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I also got some nuggets to round out my test, which came in this cute little box.

I also got some nuggets to round out my test, which came in this cute little box.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

My biscuit was placed inside with the eight-piece nuggets.

My biscuit was placed inside with the eight-piece nuggets.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I never leave Popeyes without ordering a biscuit on the side.

I never leave Popeyes without ordering a biscuit on the side.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

They're perfectly light and fluffy.

They
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The nuggets are small but crispy, with just the right level of seasoning.

The nuggets are small but crispy, with just the right level of seasoning.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I also got a free side of mashed potatoes, thanks to the Popeyes app.

I also got a free side of mashed potatoes, thanks to the Popeyes app.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I ended up paying $16 for an eight-piece nugget, a medium drink, biscuit, and spicy chicken sandwich combo meal.

I ended up paying $16 for an eight-piece nugget, a medium drink, biscuit, and spicy chicken sandwich combo meal.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Next, I went to KFC on an equally snowy day.

Next, I went to KFC on an equally snowy day.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The parking lot was a bit less busy than at Popeyes, but there were still some lunch customers.

The parking lot was a bit less busy than at Popeyes, but there were still some lunch customers.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Signs on windows around the restaurant advertised chicken sandwich and new Beyond Fried Chicken nuggets.

Signs on windows around the restaurant advertised chicken sandwich and new Beyond Fried Chicken nuggets.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Source: Insider

The KFC drive-thru was the same basic design as Popeyes, with a single lane and static menu board.

The KFC drive-thru was the same basic design as Popeyes, with a single lane and static menu board.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

KFC isn't known for a particularly fast drive-thru, but it ranked just ahead of Popeyes in the 2020 study, and in the middle of the pack in 2021.

KFC isn
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Source: QSR

While drive-thrus have grown recently, KFC has also pushed customers to try out its quick pick-up order method to ease some of the pressure of long car lines.

While drive-thrus have grown recently, KFC has also pushed customers to try out its quick pick-up order method to ease some of the pressure of long car lines.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The wait was by far the biggest difference. I was in and out of the drive-thru in about five minutes.

The wait was by far the biggest difference. I was in and out of the drive-thru in about five minutes.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I made a very similar order at KFC to closely compare the two chicken chains.

I made a very similar order at KFC to closely compare the two chicken chains.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

KFC's crispy chicken sandwich is delicious, as I've written before.

KFC
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Source: Insider

The sandwich is huge, with a substantial chicken breast in each serving.

The sandwich is huge, with a substantial chicken breast in each serving.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Somehow, KFC manages to keep the sandwich both crispy and juicy despite the large size.

Somehow, KFC manages to keep the sandwich both crispy and juicy despite the large size.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The chicken tenders came in a box much like the one from Popeyes.

The chicken tenders came in a box much like the one from Popeyes.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The chicken tenders, which I ordered as part of a combo meal, were crispy and delicious.

The chicken tenders, which I ordered as part of a combo meal, were crispy and delicious.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The combo meal included fries, a biscuit, and a drink.

The combo meal included fries, a biscuit, and a drink.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

They were good enough to eat on their own, but even better smothered in honey mustard sauce.

They were good enough to eat on their own, but even better smothered in honey mustard sauce.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The biscuit, while not bad, was denser than Popeyes and not quite as good.

The biscuit, while not bad, was denser than Popeyes and not quite as good.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I felt the same way about the fries. They're perfectly fine but can't live up to Popeyes' seasoning.

I felt the same way about the fries. They
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The mac and cheese, however, is creamy and decadent and can stand up to any competitor.

The mac and cheese, however, is creamy and decadent and can stand up to any competitor.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

My KFC meal totaled about $20 for a box with a sandwich, three sides, and a drink, plus a chicken tenders combo meal.

My KFC meal totaled about $20 for a box with a sandwich, three sides, and a drink, plus a chicken tenders combo meal.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Prices between the chains are nearly exactly equal because I had a slightly bigger order at KFC.

Prices between the chains are nearly exactly equal because I had a slightly bigger order at KFC.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

There's no question that KFC had a faster, more efficient drive-thru.

There
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Even so, Popeyes is better in my eyes.

Even so, Popeyes is better in my eyes.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Popeyes parent company, Restaurant Brands International, said it plans to roll out updated drive-thrus with more modern technology across the US by the middle of 2022.

Popeyes parent company, Restaurant Brands International, said it plans to roll out updated drive-thrus with more modern technology across the US by the middle of 2022.
Courtesy of Popeyes

Source: CNN

The brand has moved more slowly than competitors in updating drive-thrus, possibly because it can continue to rely on the viral success of its spicy chicken sandwich and lean on celebrity endorsements like Megan Thee Stallion.

The brand has moved more slowly than competitors in updating drive-thrus, possibly because it can continue to rely on the viral success of its spicy chicken sandwich and lean on celebrity endorsements like Megan Thee Stallion.
Popeyes and Megan Thee Stallion Hottie sauce.      Erin McDowell/Insider

Source: Insider

I would and have returned to KFC, but Popeyes sandwiches and fries are unmatched in the rest of the fast-food landscape, even if they leave you waiting in your car.

I would and have returned to KFC, but Popeyes sandwiches and fries are unmatched in the rest of the fast-food landscape, even if they leave you waiting in your car.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.

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