A One Hit Wonder vs. A Legend

Oluwajoba Ogun | Staff Writer

Chick-fil-a is known to be the most popular fast-food restaurant. From their great service to their delicious and healthy tasting food, Chick-fil-a has been the one to beat — especially with their chicken sandwiches. But it looks like a challenge is underway as a well known fried chicken franchise has come out with their own spicy chicken sandwich. Will Chick-fil-a have to give up their crown and make way for a new champion?

Popeyes is known for their fried chicken, biscuits and salty fries. Their food resonates with the southern cooking of African-American families — which also includes one important thing that Blacks favor about their food: seasoning. Popeyes (as well as Bojangles) reminds us of the traditional flavors of Black cooking with the seasoning of their chicken and fries. So when Popeyes came out with their spicy chicken sandwich, customers were quick to jump in line and try the anticipated meal. 

Soon after its debut premiere, people then started to compare it to the famous Chick-fil-a sandwich. Hashtags saying #Chick-fil-a vs. Popeyes started to boom all over Twitter as well as video reactions to customers trying out the Popeyes sandwich. Responses to the comparisons have surprisingly been split up. It seemed as though Popeyes has astonished people with the new meal. 

A food critic from Sun-Sentinel called the sandwich, “…a thick toasted brioche bun and a big, plump breast with thick batter with thick, garlic sweet pickles and condiments of mayonnaise and spicy remoulade; reiterating its similarity to a seasoned black meal.”

Though others continue to stand beside Chick-fil-a, praising its originality and simplicity, complementing the richness of its chicken and the consistency of its sweetness. Twitter users were quick to come to the defense of the Chick-fil-a sandwich.

https://twitter.com/cottoncandy643/status/1163812583763136513

Another subtopic that is part of the Chick-fil-a vs. Popeyes conversation is the availability of the two restaurants. Chick-fil-a isn’t open on Sundays because of its Christian background, which feeds way to go to Popeyes, plus who doesn’t like having a good lunch meal after church service right?

Also with the continuous discussion of the election, there have been many people boycotting places that support Trump or that are funding his campaign. Since Chick-fil-a is part of the affiliation, and we are in the age of equal rights and justice, everything opposite of Trump is good for business. 

Back to the main argument: the food. Popeyes and Chick-fil-a are from two different entities. One representing Southern cooking and goes hard on seasoning, while the other is on the healthier side; sweet, but not salty. The key point is consistency — something that all fast-food restaurants should display in their food and service — which is something that Chick-fil-a constantly set forth. 

Despite this being a comical feud between restaurants, this can show us the importance of originality and consistency. At NC State, as we go from writing many papers to studying for exams, let’s remember that the work that is put in determines the result, it doesn’t just take a one-hit wonder to change the whole game.