Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen — Restaurant in Grand Rapids

A snapshot of good old times on a fast food plate, the best chicken sandwich in GR isn't where you think. Read on. (And if you read this and it made you want to go to this Popeyes, you could do me a huge favor and tell whoever is at the counter that this review brought you here. It would send some love to the crew there, a team that I appreciate and want to encourage.)

When I took the first bite, I responded instinctively. "OMG" came out of my mouth. My problems disappear, as those cajun seasonings whisper to my palate, in a not-quite-audible voice, the name of spices. Thus unable to separate each ingredient separately, it just tastes like a memory, home, lazy Sunday afternoons.

Forget that other chicken place, cracker with a rank, where the seasonings in the batter are nearly a smack in the mouth. Popeyes advises, "Slow down with grabbing and shaking all those spices, son. Use a lighter touch, let the chicken be the star. You've got a nice lengthy afternoon stretch. Got to make it mellow.

Skip that other other chicken place...queue up in a line of 50 cars and silly construction cones, acting all like they invented putting pickles on a chicken sandwich, and with an overly narrow customer demographic.

Forget the rest with the upscale, Johnny-come-lately Nashville fad gone Midwest. It will fade not much slower than your memory of the sandwich, which typically is drier than what you'd like.

Back to dinner. While eating my meal. I found myself pausing a little. My eyelids closed briefly and a slight smile appeared on my face, prompted by the single thought, I needed this chicken.

The biscuit is sitting right next to the chicken, hanging out until summoned, they're friends. Belong together. Pass the honey.

I recommend a side of macaroni and cheese, the curly OG MC that pulls it all together. As if it weren't already tasty enough, they gave it a hat of melted cheese. Also, try the red beans and rice. Maybe Kentucky isn't far enough down the map for sides that restoreth your soul. Cajun food is soul food.

Get a jalapeño, dice it up if you've got a knife, and toss it around like manna. Or just take little bites to chase bigger bites. Whole peppers are sold a la carte. Brilliant. Another option, get the grandfather of all hot sauces, Louisiana hot sauce. Down south, a bottle of it sits on every table in nearly every diner. Popeye's hasn't forgotten.

Next matter of importance--forget the diet. Consider getting the sweetened ice tea. Or as Southerners call it, "tea."

The decor is nice, with little tasteful touches, including the overhead light and colorful wall tiles. Not paranoid about secret spices, they've got display jars proudly showcasing some of their best ingredients. The music is...what? Jazz and blues, where it all got started. Icing on the cake.

I'm getting into my meal more now. The tangyness complements that rich chicken flavor, so chicken bite, then mac. The light saltiness in the cheese beckons ice tea, now it all comes together. You could almost imagine yourself sitting on a porch with relatives, wishing they'd stop telling loud stories so you can think about your food. Those old tales have been rewarmed a dozen times. This drumstick I'm holding just dropped.

Go around again. Meal-courses-separator people: switch it up this one time. You might start making exceptions to your regimented plate navigations. Marry the flavors together.

Oh, and when you go, be friendly. These are good folks here. The vibe is southern; try to make your manners match. Give them a little smile, they might be 15 upset complaints into their day. You're on your first.

True, most of my problems will still be waiting for me as I'm rubbing a little grease off my thumb and forefinger. But now I feel like Popeye. My not-rushed meal got me strong and ready to get back in the fast lane. I know I can come back anytime I get that urge that only fried chicken can fill.

We can't all be born on the bayou. We won't all visit (which is a relief because we wouldn't all fit). But Popeyes can take you there for a...

MY POPEYES JOURNEY

New update 2-22-24 Popeyes let me down again. Ordered a spicy strip combo with red beans and rice. They gave me regular strips and failed to give me silverware or napkins. I decided not to drop a star because the strips were nice and fresh and tasted good. Would have tasted better if they were spicy!

2-11-24 They popped back up to 3 stars, because the order was 100% accurate and the wings were delicious!!! We devoured them like savages as soon as we got home. Popeyes wings are legit!!! 🔥

1-28-24 Classic Popeyes strikes again. I ordered a 6 piece wing combo and an additional 6 wings by themselves. The combo was supposed to come with Mashed Potatoes and a biscuit, but of course they forgot the mash and biscuit. I guess it's my fault for not checking. You were doing so well, Popeyes. Why do you do this to me? 🥺

1-3-23: Popeyes took a step backwards today and they were doing so well. Order a 3 piece SPICY strip with red beans and rice and added 1 strip. My drink was supposed to be a Dr. Pepper. Got home and noticed and noticed they didn't give me the extra strip. Not the end of the world, but a mistake. Then, I went to take a drink of a delicious Dr. Pepper and it was Coke. The red beans and rice ratio was off. More rice than beans makes for a very dry dish. The good thing was that the strips were fresh and delicious. Hope they get back on their game soon.

10-3-22: picked up Popeyes today via their drive thru. Placed my order, they repeated it as I ordered. Once my order was in, they repeated the entire order back to me. Got to the window, they repeated the order again. Now the big reveal... they actually got the entire order perfect and the strips were actually spicy!!! Maybe they've turned a corner? If they can be this good the next time, I may even bump up their rating again! Nice work, team!

6-22-22: went to Popeyes for lunch. Ordered a 3 piece SPICY strip, side of red beans and rice and a Dr. Pepper. Everything was perfect and the food tasted great! Hopefully, this is a good sign and that they have their act together... finally. I did bump them up 1 star for being on point!

Updated 12-28-21: Good newsI actually got spicy strips today. I was to the point where I thought I just grew immune to the spice, but today they actually gave me spicy strips instead of regular strips. After 6 times in a row of them giving me regular strips when i ordered spicy strips, they finally pulled through. My faith in Popeyes is slightly restored. I LOVE spicy strips! Bad newsI ordered a 3 piece spicy strip with Mac n Cheese as the side. I then said, "Give me another order of exactly the same thing." Nope. Got 1 Mac n Cheese and 1 Mashed Potatoes and gravy. They almost got everything completely right for the very first time. At least they're consistent.

Updated 6-28-21: Popeyes strikes again. A coworker and I came here today. We both ordered the 3 piece SPICY strip meal. We both received regular strips. This is now 6 times in a row that my order was wrong. #Insane

Updated 5-23-21: I believe this is now my 5th time in a row that they either forgot something or gave me the wrong thing.. Today, I ordered spicy strips and they gave me regular strips. I will be keeping track, as this is becoming a joke!

Spicy Chicken Sandwich is hands down the best Spicy Chicken sandwich, out of the big 3. Now I'm wondering why I waited so long to try it. It's a large tender chicken breast that is deep fried to perfection!!! I think it had too much sauce. Next time I'm going to try no sauce or a small amount of sauce. Lucky me, they just opened this Popeyes right by my house. Now I get to enjoy delicious spicy chicken...

It was great -- got a three piece dinner with extra biscuits. We just moved here from Birmingham Alabama and let me tell you, the food situation in the Midwest is DIRE. No offense to all you wonderful, friendly, fastidious blonde folks up here, but this Popeyes has become a lifeline for us - the best approximation we've yet found of southern cuisine (haven't been to Ellnora's yet). And to those leaving negative reviews, I will just say, my experience with the staff was wonderful, BUT, when you get food in the South - say, right along the Mississippi River where this fine brand was born - the food is SUPPOSED to be uncomfortably greasy, the service is SUPPOSED to be slow (why are you in such a hurry?), and yes, the staff is SUPPOSED to give you something other than what you ordered (you really think you know best?) Saw a fly buzzing around in the dining area? GOOD. That merely signifies what a truly distinctive and aromatic flavor there is on the air. Sixteen year old staff not responsive enough for you? GOOD. I hope they never grow to harbor the misconception that your Popeyes experience is an urgent matter. Feeling lethargic and insatiably thirsty after eating? That's totally normal, just...