I visited Raising Cane's 8,000-square-foot flagship restaurant in New York City. Look inside the Times Square location that's filled with quirky nods to the chicken chain.

Erin McDowellJun 29, 2023, 22:05 IST

I visited the grand opening of the new Raising Cane's flagship restaurant in Times Square.Erin McDowell/Insider

I attended the grand opening of the new Raising Cane's flagship restaurant in Times Square.
The 8,000-square-foot space features murals, a bread-inspired seating area, and a dog statue.

Caniacs, unite — a giant new Raising Cane's location just opened in Times Square, and it's seriously over-the-top.

I was invited to the grand opening of Raising Cane's new flagship restaurant in Times Square on Tuesday. The 8,000-square-foot space features murals, a bread-inspired seating area, and a dog statue that pays homage to its current mascot, Cane III.

On top of getting to meet the yellow Lab myself and trying one of the chain's meal combos, I also got to tour the space and speak to fans about why they might line up around the block to attend opening day — and line up, they did.

Here's what it was like to go to Raising Cane's in Times Square.

On Tuesday, I attended the grand opening of the brand-new Raising Cane's flagship restaurant in Times Square.

A Times Square billboard announces the opening of the new Raising Cane's flagship restaurant.Erin McDowell/Insider

Surrounded by members of the press, influencers, and former "Bachelor" contestants who were also invited to the opening, I anxiously awaited the opening of the 8,000-square-foot restaurant and the arrival of its founder, Todd Graves.

Raising Cane's founder Todd Graves cut the ribbon to open the new Times Square restaurant.Erin McDowell/Insider

Surrounded by members of the press, influencers, and former "Bachelor" contestants who were also invited to the opening, I anxiously awaited the opening of the 8,000-square-foot restaurant and the arrival of its founder, Todd Graves.

Lines of fans wrapped around the block to get into the new restaurant.

A line of Raising Cane's customers stretched around the block.Erin McDowell/Insider

One "Caniac" I spoke to wore a shirt featuring the chain's canine mascot and carried a 25th-anniversary Raising Cane's stuffed animal.

A fan waiting to get into the Raising Cane's restaurant in Times Square.Erin McDowell/Insider

Inside, there was a gift shop of sorts where customers could pick up Raising Cane's-themed T-shirts, key chains, socks, and more.

A kiosk selling Raising Cane's apparel.Erin McDowell/Insider

Another section of the restaurant featured glass enclosures of its merchandise.

Merchandise displays.Erin McDowell/Insider

A statue of the chain's mascot, a yellow Labrador named Cane, sat at the entrance to the restaurant wearing a Statue of Liberty costume.

The Cane statue at the front of the restaurant.Erin McDowell/Insider

Cane III himself was part of the action at the grand opening.

Cane III at the grand opening of Raising Cane's in Times Square.Erin McDowell/Insider

By the front of the restaurant was a booth seating area with chairs designed to look like bread buns.

The Caniac Corner seating area.Erin McDowell/Insider

Signage throughout the restaurant paid homage to the chain's primary product: chicken fingers.

A neon sign.Erin McDowell/Insider

Ordering was a breeze. There were multiple stands that allowed customers to place orders with cashiers.

The ordering station at Raising Cane's in Times Square.Erin McDowell/Insider

The dining room featured every kind of seating one could imagine.

The main dining area inside Raising Cane's.Erin McDowell/Insider

A napkin station also offered ketchup.

The napkin station.Erin McDowell/Insider

A large mural apparently inspired by iconic New York City artist Keith Haring took up the main wall of the restaurant.

A mural inside Raising Cane's flagship restaurant.Erin McDowell/Insider

Another sign paid homage to the New York City subway system.

A subway sign inside Raising Cane's Times Square.Erin McDowell/Insider

An interactive wall featured digital french fries that moved as you walked past them.

The interactive french-fry wall in Raising Cane's Times Square.Erin McDowell/Insider

In the back dining room, another wall featured a mural of New York City.

The back dining room.Erin McDowell/Insider

Even the tables featured images of New York City.

A table inside the back dining room of Raising Cane's.Erin McDowell/Insider

As the grand opening came to a close, of course I had to have some of the chain's iconic chicken fingers — and they were just as good as I remembered.

A chicken finger combo from Raising Cane's.Erin McDowell/Insider

My party of 3 spent $120 at Disney World's Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, and the massive $36 sundae is worth every penny

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

I visited Raising Cane's 8,000-square-foot flagship restaurant in New York City. Look inside the Times Square location that's filled with quirky nods to the chicken chain.

On Tuesday, I attended the grand opening of the brand-new Raising Cane's flagship restaurant in Times Square.

Surrounded by members of the press, influencers, and former "Bachelor" contestants who were also invited to the opening, I anxiously awaited the opening of the 8,000-square-foot restaurant and the arrival of its founder, Todd Graves.

Lines of fans wrapped around the block to get into the new restaurant.

One "Caniac" I spoke to wore a shirt featuring the chain's canine mascot and carried a 25th-anniversary Raising Cane's stuffed animal.

Inside, there was a gift shop of sorts where customers could pick up Raising Cane's-themed T-shirts, key chains, socks, and more.

Another section of the restaurant featured glass enclosures of its merchandise.

A statue of the chain's mascot, a yellow Labrador named Cane, sat at the entrance to the restaurant wearing a Statue of Liberty costume.

Cane III himself was part of the action at the grand opening.

By the front of the restaurant was a booth seating area with chairs designed to look like bread buns.

Signage throughout the restaurant paid homage to the chain's primary product: chicken fingers.

Ordering was a breeze. There were multiple stands that allowed customers to place orders with cashiers.

The dining room featured every kind of seating one could imagine.

A napkin station also offered ketchup.

A large mural apparently inspired by iconic New York City artist Keith Haring took up the main wall of the restaurant.

Another sign paid homage to the New York City subway system.

An interactive wall featured digital french fries that moved as you walked past them.

In the back dining room, another wall featured a mural of New York City.

Even the tables featured images of New York City.

As the grand opening came to a close, of course I had to have some of the chain's iconic chicken fingers — and they were just as good as I remembered.