We tried two cult chicken chains that are quickly taking over the nation - and the winner was clear

Zaxby's and Raising Cane's are two of the fastest growing chains in the entire restaurant industry. Zaxby's grew 13.3% in 2016, reaching $1.6 billion in annual sales and earning the 8th spot in Nation's Restaurant New's list of fastest growing chains. Raising Cane's took the No. 1 spot, increased sales by a whopping 25.9% in 2016 to reach $640.5 million.

Both chains are children of the '90s - millennial chains, if you will, with Zaxby's opening in 1990 and Raising Cane's opening in 1996. Now they're giving the rulers of the roost, like KFC, Chick-fil-A, and Popeyes, a run for their money.

Intrigued about this upstart ingénues, Business Insider ventured south of the Mason-Dixon to see what the hype is around these Southern cult favorites.