Fried chicken is popular for its crispy and juicy flavors, with a blend of seasonings that create mouthwatering tastes. Deep-fried chicken became popular in the 18th century when Scottish immigrants brought the dish to American plates. So, what popular fried chicken locations around Austin are really worth visiting?
When it comes to fried chicken, Chick-Fil-A, Raising Cane’s, Golden Chick, and Bush’s Chicken all offer something unique that turns first-time customers into regulars.
Raising Cane’s is a famous fried chicken restaurant, serving chicken finger meals nationwide. The company is influenced by Todd Graves’ childhood desire to create a fun environment that serves high-quality food. Founded in August 28, 1996, in Baton Rouge, LA, Raising Cane’s began as a business developed through a college course that aimed to exclusively sell chicken fingers.
Raising Cane’s, located at 3201 Bee Caves Rd,. Austin, TX is open Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. It uses a relatively small menu, serving only chicken finger meals and soft drinks.
The building’s atmosphere is casual and welcoming, with a focus on fast service and a clean environment. After walking in, you are greeted with a simple but high-quality menu and a polite staff. There’s no overcrowding in the parking lot or eating area so you can easily order at the register and comfortably enjoy your food.
I ordered the three-count chicken finger meal, which included crispy crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, a creamy pinkish-orange Raising Cane’s sauce, and juicy chicken tenders. Although the food was very good and cooked well, my so-called freshly squeezed lemonade was watered down, leaving the drink with minimum to zero flavor. While the food was delicious and satisfying, the disappointing drink dropped the overall rating for the restaurant’s quality.
Chick-Fil-A is a world-wide fast food restaurant chain with two locations in South Austin, 161 W Slaughter Lane and 5033-D US 290 W. Austin that is open Mon-Sat 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. They serve Chick-Fil-A classics like chicken sandwiches, waffle potato fries, chicken nuggets, and more.
Founded by S. Truett Cathy in 1946, Chick-Fil-A has gained fame for its top notch customer service and food quality. Their menu offers a wide-range of fresh items for everyone including salads and wraps.
While Chick-Fil-A excels with customer service, the atmosphere feels overcrowded and less maintained during their peak hours. The dining area’s tables are too close together, which creates tension within the space and a lack of cleaning between each customer causes a more chaotic dining experience.
Upon entering, there are long lines of customers waiting for service. I ordered the eight-count chicken nugget meal. The nuggets came in small portions but were crispy and flavorful, the fries varied from either being potato skin or regular waffle fries, and the lemonade was very sweet and had a lot of pulp causing a conflicted texture. Overall, while the meal at Chick-Fil-A had many highlights, such as the crispy nuggets, but the inconsistent portion sizes and overcrowded atmosphere left much to be desired.
Bush’s Chicken was founded by Keith Bush in 1996 in Waco, TX. With over 75 restaurants Bush’s Chicken aims to be family-oriented and community-friendly.
Compared to other nation-wide food chain franchises, Bush’s is only located in Texas. The two South Austin locations are 9815 Brodie Lane and 12336 Ranch Rd 620. Both are usually open on Mon-Sat 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with consistent menu offerings like chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, and fries.
The environment at Bush’s Chicken offers a mix of negative and positive experiences, depending on location and time. The location I visited had an outdated interior that was overcrowded and noisy. Although the atmosphere wasn’t enjoyable the staff were incredibly polite and there was fast service.
The menu offers a variety of classic fried chicken options with a straightforward ordering system of either dine-in or drive-through services. I purchased the traditional chicken sandwich, which had a very crispy texture and soft bun. Overall, the chicken sandwich was a satisfying choice but the restaurant’s environment wasn’t my favorite.
Golden Chick was founded in 1967 in San Marcos, Texas by Howard and Jacque Walker. The company has over 230 restaurants that all serve flavorful chicken.
Restaurant hours vary, but most locations open Mon-Sun 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. With a headquarters in Richardson, Texas there are multiple locations in South Austin including 616 W. Stassney Ln.
The setting within Golden Chick depends on how efficient the staff is during peak hours. The restaurant I reviewed was so relaxed to a point where the service time was incredibly slow and the interior was messy. Despite the setting being slow the food quality was good.
Golden Chick offers a diverse menu featuring their famous golden tenders and catfish. Their tagline is “The Original and Still the Best” to reflect their longtime commitment to chicken. I ordered the original chicken sandwich, which was cooked nicely but needed more flavor. Overall, Golden Chick was average and an unmemorable experience.
While each restaurant had its own unique offerings, I found that Raising Cane’s stood out the most because of the clean environment, fast service, comfortable seating, and food quality that focuses on their signature chicken fingers.
