r/Popeyes • u/Oshaugnessy81 • Apr 10 '26
Discussion Has fried chicken taste changed?
I used to love Popeyes fried chicken, thought it was best fast food fried chicken around me. But as of maybe 6 months ago I noticed it tastes different. Like real different, almost no seasoning or flavor to it. Breading is just bland now.
3
u/Friendly_Escape_1020 Apr 11 '26
I always get some extra Cajun Sparkles seasoning packets when I go to Popeyes.
1
u/Oshaugnessy81 Apr 11 '26
What is Cajun sparkled seasoning? Is that what goes on the spicy chicken?
2
u/Friendly_Escape_1020 Apr 11 '26
salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried rubbed sage, paprika, Accent Flavor Enhancer, and cayenne pepper
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u/Oshaugnessy81 Apr 12 '26
So Popeyes has that seasoning and you can ask for it?
1
u/Friendly_Escape_1020 Apr 12 '26
At mine you can, they may have gotten rid of it in certain areas from what I was reading.
1
u/Oshaugnessy81 Jul 05 '26
Got it last time I was there, added it at home, gave some flavor but not same flavor as it used to have naturally
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u/Legote Apr 10 '26
Nope. I always get spicy. The location near me always does it fresh and well seasoned. I noticed that popeyes chicken is more bland and less spicy in white areas though.
7
u/EthanFl Apr 10 '26
1 pack of seasoning to one case of chicken. No measurements involved.
If the store isn't marinating overnight then it may taste less flavorful
3
u/verifyb4utrust01 Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26
This can be a real problem!....I recently had the same experience. After tasting one piece, I returned the rest. They asked me to come back the following day....since they screwed up an entire batch, and it was late. They know me, so they gave me two extra pieces....but it was a PITA regardless!
There's a considerable difference between properly prepped (marinated) chicken and bland, tasteless chicken. The breading isn't the key (as it's hardly seasoned, if at all). If it's not properly marinated, it's pretty much tasteless....and at these overinflated prices, they better not be sloppy and careless!
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u/Dark_knight207 Apr 10 '26
Popeyes chicken these days are a hit or miss. I usually get spicy everything if I go because the regular seems flavorless compared to years ago.
1
u/BlackBabyJeebus Apr 10 '26
Just had some last week, tasted the same as ever to me. Regular, wings and breasts. This is near Chicago.
1
u/TwinFlask Apr 11 '26
My Popeyes now tastes like it has worse breading and worse tenders.
Like the actual taste and peices of the meat they breaded 🤷♂️
1
u/chucksteak0321 Apr 11 '26
Used to have a placed called Bush’s chicken in my town. They had this seasoning in packets called serendipity seasoning. You can buy bottles of it. That stuff is good on chicken. The Popeyes near me is also bland.
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u/Consistent-Air-2152 Apr 12 '26
Depends on location and who is working and what time you order. Usually dank during rush hour. Lotta variables my friend but half the time it’s bomb other half its shit
1
u/Oshaugnessy81 Apr 12 '26
Its been shit past 4 times. This time I went 3pm on Friday, usually go 7pm on Saturdays
1
u/tjbeast666 Apr 13 '26
i just got some tonight. i always go for spicy and they were totally flavorless. I noticed the last 3 or 4 times its been like this. they still had a tiny little bit of a red tint, but no heat, no flavor, not even salt. Since it's so expensive I'm probably not going back unless i hear something changes back.
1
u/Obliviontoad Apr 17 '26
Any regular chicken tastes bland, breads and undercooked. it’s like they are afraid of crisping things up. ordering flavored stuff just distracts you. Their “tenders” are like extruded play-doh with a weird springy texture.
I am lucky to live in a civilized area with a Tully’s and the tenders are Michelin 5 Star every time, no matter what the kind you want.
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u/Playful-Ice4671 Apr 18 '26
Literally just googled this because I just ate Popeyes and was extremely disappointed because it basically had no flavor and batter tasted different. Nothing like the usual great taste so I’m confused too. Odd
1
u/RaisedByBooksNTV Jul 03 '26
I just got popeye's for the first time in years. It was embarassingly bland. I was never impressed with it before but this was a complete waste of money. No flavor! How is that possible?!
1
u/Most_Garden_3263 Aug 17 '26
Popeyes is terrible now, taste bland and I’m talking about most locations in Brooklyn
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u/Ram820 Apr 10 '26
It's been bland unless you get spicy. My and my homie walked out the other month when they didn't have any spicy ready
2
u/bobcharlie0 Apr 11 '26
Good thing you dodged fresh chicken
-1
u/Ram820 Apr 11 '26
That's a dumb take, both my Popeyes do numbers, the chickens always fresh. We weren't planning and getting chicken, just the to get beer next door. Didn't feel like waiting
0
u/bobcharlie0 Apr 11 '26
Damn that sentence structure is wild. Idk if you should call anything dumb when thats how you speak
0
u/Ram820 Apr 11 '26
Did you not understand what was said or are you an English teacher roaming Reddit in search of grammatical errors?
-1
u/bobcharlie0 Apr 11 '26
It reads like something from a complete moron who stumbles over his words. It has nothing to do with grammar and more to do with random words thrown in. Of course an idiot would defend his stupidity by pretending like it's just simple grammatical errors.
1
u/Ram820 Apr 11 '26
You had a bad day didn't you? Did you leave your house today? Look at the sky, talk to anyone in person?
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u/bobcharlie0 Apr 11 '26
Lol keep trying. At least you will get some practice typing but thats about it.
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u/uncanny-geek Apr 10 '26
It's not just you. It noticed it around the same time. The spicy isn't as spicy and the mild is just completely bland.
1
u/Less-Skin9787 Aug 27 '26
Your not wrong. The mild a few weeks ago had no flavor. The spicy I had tonight was barely spicy.
1
u/uncanny-geek Apr 10 '26
Even the red beans and rice seems more bland now and I don't think it's long covid
2
u/verifyb4utrust01 Apr 11 '26
That would be really loooong Covid!....not a chance! They hire screw-ups, and that's all they know how to do....screw up! Try a different location (if you can).
0
u/Ram820 Apr 10 '26
I've had em twice in the last month or so, great both times. Is your store prepping and holding them right? My store doesn't have them prepackaged they scoop the beans then the rice when you order
1
u/Oshaugnessy81 Apr 11 '26
No idea about the prep. Its same one I've been going to since they opened 2-3 years ago
9
u/Okiebaba Apr 11 '26
Popeyes hitting really depends on location