For this comparison, we decided to test the following: fried chicken, chicken tenders, mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw, and biscuits.
First up, KFC. How do the special herbs and spices stand up?
The breading is pretty flavorful – not all that crispy, but peppery and savory with a slight buttery taste. You really can't beat the colonel's recipe there. However, the chicken meat is a tad greasy.
Same deal with the drumstick, although it's slightly crispier. The meat still has a greasy taste to it. Also, it's a little dry — not outrageously, but in a stringy sense.
But can Popeyes do any better?
In some aspects, maybe. Popeyes' breading is loads crispier, giving a satisfying crunch in every bite. That being said, the flavor is lacking when compared to KFC's. It's buttery, but not much else. Of note, though: This is Popeye's "Mild" variety, not their "Spicy" chicken.
The drumstick is similarly flavored: buttery, and a little salty. Big difference in the meat, however. Popeyes' chicken is juicy, and there's more meat on the bones than KFC's. It's a close call, but I'd say Popeyes' chicken is marginally better.
KFC's chicken tenders are a sight to behold, golden and crispy. They're meaty and crunchy, but still a tad on the dry side.
Once again, Popeyes' option is juicier and even crispier. But, be forewarned: The crispiness comes at a cost. There's a lot of breading on these, so less chicken overall. But still, that much buttery crisp combined with juicy chicken is a winning combo.
With Popeyes taking a surprising victory in the chicken area, it's time to tackle the sides. Nothing is a more classic side to fried chicken than mashed potatoes and gravy. Unfortunately, KFC's offering is bland, simply put. The gravy adds next to nothing to the dish — it's nearly the same consistency as the potato.
Popeye's mashed potatoes, while nothing near homemade, are better. They lean to the salty side of things, but the potato is firmer and convincingly real. The gravy has a nice, savory taste to it, although it's a very odd gray color.
Next up: coleslaw. The slaw from KFC is incredibly sweet and watery, with little kick.
Popeyes' coleslaw is just as sweet, but it has a slight tang to it as well that one expects from a good coleslaw. I prefer a more vinegar-heavy slaw, but for what they are, I have to hand Popeyes another win.
Of course, perhaps the most important side of all: the biscuit. KFC's biscuit is spongy and springy, and has a light, simple flavor.
Popeyes', however, is salty, hard, and has a strange fake butter taste. KFC wins the biscuit battle, for sure. But overall, Popeyes takes the crown in this comparison; the chicken is juicier and crispier, and the sides generally taste authentic and satisfying.
