Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen — Restaurant in Ozark

Okay, so I waited to post this review until I could think about my experience at this particular Popeye’s without wanting to either cry or pull my hair out. I actually had a zero-star experience, but since that’s not an option, read and be warned - DO NOT GO HERE.

I am a nurse. I’d had an especially appalling day with no lunch break, so when I got off work at nearly 8:00 pm, I was STARVING. I decided to go Popeye’s in Ozark on my way home, even though I had been there once before and had a less-than-stellar experience. I believe in second chances, right?

So I ordered my five piece tenders with gravy as the dipping sauce and no drink and was surprised by the total of $11.50, but I didn’t even care that much about the high price because I was just that hungry.

After a substantial wait, I park in my little parking space to open my food and eat before my drive home, and upon opening my bowl of gravy, discover that there is barely enough gravy in it to cover the bottom of the bowl. Like it looks like someone accidentally spilled some gravy in an empty bowl while moving the ladle over to the ACTUAL bowl of gravy, and then gave me that bowl.

So I close the lid, back my car out, and go back through the drive through where I nicely ask the teenage girl at the order box for “a little more gravy so I would have enough for all of my tenders”.

She very cheerfully agreed and told me to pull around to the window.

WELL.

At the window, I was met by a different employee. We’ll call her Guardian of the Gravy.

Guardian threw open the window and took it upon herself to inform me that the amount of gravy in my bowl was enough for what I had paid (which was $2.50 FOR GRAVY). I was in a little bit of disbelief and opened my bowl of gravy to show to her, because I was like, “Surely they just messed up and think they gave me more than what they actually did.”

Nope.

Guardian adamantly refused to give me any more gravy for my tenders, so at that point, I went full hangry Karen and asked for the manager.

The manager comes to the window after a few minutes and glances in my bowl, reiterates what Guardian of the Gravy had told me a few moments before, and then has the audacity to tell me that if I wanted more gravy, I could pay another $2.50 and get an additional “fOuR mOrE sCoOpS”, which was what was apparently in my bowl. (Like whose scoops are they using, Barbie’s scoops?)

I looked her dead in the eye and said, “You expect me to pay $5.00 for a BOWL OF GRAVY?”

“Yeah, or you can just have other sauce, which will cost thirty cents per packet.”

At that point, I was so fed up and done with them that I just rolled up my window and drove away.

Now I am no crybaby.

But after I drove away, I pulled into a gas station, proceeded to sob, and then ate my tenders, three of which I had to eat dry because I DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH GRAVY to dip them in. 😭

And that’s how Popeye’s in Ozark ruined my day.

Save yourself...

Popeye’s Chicken is a popular chain that claims to serve authentic Louisiana-style fried chicken and seafood. It has over 3,000 locations in the US and around the world. One of them is in Ozark, Missouri, a small town near Branson, the entertainment capital of the Midwest. I stopped in after work one night hoping to find some good food while making a short pit stop.

I was wrong.

Popeye’s Chicken in Ozark, Missouri, is a disaster. It’s a place where everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. It’s a place where you can expect long lines, slow service, uncaring staff, wrong orders, cold food, and where there appears to be no manager. It’s a place where you can expect to be disappointed, frustrated, and drive away angry.

The drive-through line was a nightmare. It took me half an hour to get to the ordering kiosk, where a bored high school student took my order which was a two-piece chicken dinner including a thigh and a leg. The student cashier let me know that they didn’t have any thighs or legs available, and it would be fifteen to twenty minutes to cook them. I looked at my watch… it was 7pm.

I wished I could say this was my first bad experience with Popeye’s in Ozarks but that’s simply not the case. My wife and I both work in Branson and live in Nixa. Ozark is a great place to make a quick stop for supper on our way home to Nixa. So, we’ve tried several times, all with about the same amount of luck and lack luster interest from the employees.

Popeye’s Chicken in Ozark, Missouri, is not worth your time or money. It’s not worth your appetite or your mood. It’s not worth writing about or reading about.

It’s a shame.

Because Popeye’s Chicken can be good. It can be crispy, juicy, tender, and delicious. It can be served with warm and fluffy biscuits, creamy and cheesy sides, and a piping hot bowl of red beans and rice. It can be enjoyed with friendly and efficient staff, in a clean and cozy environment, and reasonable and affordable prices.

But not in Ozark, Missouri.

So do yourself a favor and avoid Popeye’s Chicken in Ozark, Missouri. Go somewhere else for your fried chicken fix. In fact, go anywhere else.

Don’t make the same mistake that I made, and spend your evening frustrated and asking yourself why, WHY did I try...

Hi, this is Robert and regular that never coming back. I have worked and ate at popeyes years. Even your manager had no idea who they where speaking to the story about this service I received was acceptable and could been fixed with clarity and better leadership than your 1 st assistance manager standing in for your absent General Manager. I am a manager at another store on leave cause I have to come Springfield for a standing medical appointment. I call this location every time after my treatment because it's about the only thing I can keep down when it's hot and fresh. I usually can't eat right after so I call in my orders and place them online giving staff a heads up. 'HI,it's Robert can you please drop 5 spicy breast and 3 wings all cooked fresh. I don't mind waiting for it. I SEND THE ORDER STRAIGHT THROUGH There has never been a time like today immediately hung up on. Call back put it in I'm to busy to deal with this today. Nevertheless I put my order in call again try to verify my order and response yeah whatever.....Background 'is that that Robert again ' Tension before I ever enter the store. LONG story short given wrong chicken and attempted to had me out a old breast because stated by him 'You take what I give or I am calling the cops.' I have never been refused service for a order I put online and called a head time for and no issues with paying additional charges requested by him. THE SERVICE 0 THE FOOD Quality 0 Cleanliness of store 6 Uniforms 3 Hygiene 0 (Did not wash hands in-between food preparation. Handling Raw food products and packaging customer food) I will not give or suggest this restaurant to anyone in the future. Take it for what it worth I rather be nauseated than eat from this...