Posted on 04/29/2024 10:57:28 AM PDT by Red Badger
Kiwi fried chicken lovers stood in line for hours – including some overnight – as they waited with anticipation for New Zealand's first Popeyes to open its doors this morning. 1News digital reporter River Lin joined the throng to check it out.
A line of people snaked around the building as the American fried chicken joint opened to the fanfare of a brass band in the Auckland suburb of Takanini at 10am.
Popeyes, founded in Louisiana in 1972, has more than 4300 restaurants in nearly 40 markets worldwide.
The multimillion-dollar Takanini fitout is the first store in New Zealand.
One of the first 50 people in line was a woman with a baby in a stroller who'd been waiting for "about three hours".
"It's worth it. It's gonna be the finger lickin' good, mm-hmm," she told 1News.
The woman said she hadn't had Popeyes before and was "excited to try it".
"Been waiting out here three hours so it better be worth it.
"I'm gonna try the burger but we might go big and extravagant today. Go big, go home."
Popeyes MF - New Zealand general manager James Mclauchlan said they were "so stoked with the turnout".
"New Zealand’s been asking for Popeyes and they’ve turned out, camped overnight, lines are down around the corner. The team is doing an amazing job. We’re so stoked to see so many Kiwis excited," he said.
Mclauchlan said the chicken is marinated in a special blend of Cajun spices and seasonings before being hand-breaded, giving it its "juicy, crispy, shatter crunch".
As for what to expect in the future, Mclauchlan said they're "gonna paint the country orange".
“We’re gonna open all over the country as soon as we can. We’re really excited to bring this product to the rest of New Zealand. You’ll see a lot of openings coming soon."
A second store is planned for Taupō in July.
The verdict Popeyes was famously served at Beyoncé' and Jay-Z's wedding, but was it worth the hype?
A group of diners were ecstatic as they tucked into their meal of spicy chicken sandwiches and a bucket of chicken.
"It is amazing. It is so good," a man eating through a bucket of chicken told 1News.
"It’s very good, honestly. I don’t even know what I ordered – I’m just happy I got it."
"It’s so juicy," a woman added.
The group had been waiting outside the store since 7.15am.
"Quite a while but worth the wait – definitely worth the wait."
It was safe to say Kiwis overwhelmingly "Love That Chicken", so it was time for a very scientific taste test.
As a self-confessed "not a burger person", I was pleasantly surprised by the classic chicken sandwich with its soft bun and generous amount of fried chicken, which was crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. The pickles were also a welcome addition, cutting through the grease while remaining light and refreshing. The Cajun fries and gravy were also winners.
The spicy fried chicken was tasty with a crispy coating, but I personally could have done with some extra heat. The mild again had a good coating but was let down by its somewhat dry texture.
The mac n cheese, however, was standard fare which left a lot to be desired flavour-wise. One TVNZ staffer compared it to "aeroplane food", while others said it could have been jazzed up with some bacon, pepper, or hot sauce.
The standout in the TVNZ newsroom was the fried chicken, with taste testers highlighting the coating of the chicken and its subtle spicy kick.
Another 1News digital reporter described the mild chicken as a more elevated version of Country Fried Chicken.
So would I go back to try the rest of the menu? Probably not, but it was worth it for the experience.
We have a local place called Danny's Fried Chicken in Neceville that has spicy fried chicken that is still serves full sized pieces. And great livers and gizzards too!..................
Now they can get fat like everybody else.
I used to deliver the Broilers KFC use ,LOL
Publix deli is my fried chicken fave.
Yeah, hard to find good chicken livers. Not a fan of gizzards though.
If they’re not disappointed, it sucks to be a Kiwi.
Popeyes is good chicken, but I haven’t had any for about 10 years. They closed all the ones near me. I’d have to go to the “wrong side” of Oakland or Richmond to find one, were I that desperate.
Hope they like cardboard.
>Hope they like cardboard.
And sharting profusely
No dirty rice. Poor service at the local Popeyes. No reason to go there any more.
KFC is awful.
Popeye’s is worth traveling for.
-SB
i like the gizzards, hearts are also good- but can’t find them anywhere near us unfortunately- We used to make a meal out of chicken hearts and livers
The chicken sandwich was delicious when it first arrived, but something happened, I guess they cut corners and now it’s blah. I wish they would bring back the po’ boy. I went there 7 days in a row when I was in college for that.
I go to KFC because the local Popeye’s sucks.
I’d prefer the spicier chicken but our Popeye’s chicken is dry and overcooked.
Wait until the DEI and woke protesters get to NZ and start looting the restaurant and destroying everything. American culture is spreading everywhere, so, DEI and woke and anti-whatever is coming too.
I feel like a party-pooper now. ;)
Yep, sure do
was the chicken vaccinated? Did Popeyes import African Americans to work the counter and fryers? If not, then it’s not popeye’s.
I enjoy Popeyes spicy fried chicken—dark meat. I can’t eat KFC . It gives me a headache and nausea. I have no idea what is in it that I am sensitive to.
Kfc herbs and spices
KFC’s secret recipe is a blend of 11 herbs and spices that has been a closely guarded trade secret for many years. While the exact formula is not publicly known, here are some of the ingredients that are believed to be part of the blend:
Salt
Thyme
Basil
Oregano
Celery salt
Black pepper
Dried mustard
Paprika
Garlic salt
Ground ginger
White pepper
It’s worth noting that KFC has never publicly disclosed the exact recipe, and the company has taken extensive measures to protect its secrecy. The recipe is kept in a vault at KFC headquarters, and only a select few people have access to it.
In 2017, a Reddit user claimed to have cracked the code and revealed the 11 herbs and spices, but KFC denied that the recipe was accurate. The company has also stated that the recipe is a trade secret and that it will never be revealed.
Despite the secrecy surrounding the recipe, KFC’s fried chicken remains one of the most popular fast food items in the world, and the company’s success can be attributed in part to the unique flavor and aroma of its chicken, which is achieved through the use of the secret blend of herbs and spices.
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