Find out the ’11 Little-Known Facts About Popeyes’ Despite having roots in the South, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has become a household name for fried chicken.
Like any chain restaurant, there are certain insider tips and tricks that are worth knowing, if only to keep your expectations in check or save a little money.
Check Out The 11 Little-Known Facts About Popeyes
1. Beyoncé eats free for life
The fact that Beyoncé reportedly has access to an unending supply of Popeyes may be the best benefit ever. The singer told Oprah in 2003, “Everywhere I went, people would buy me Popeyes, like the fans, and Popeyes heard, so they offered me a lifetime membership.”
The singer acknowledged at the time that she is too ashamed to use the card.
2. They once served chicken wings tossed in Champagne and 24-carat gold
Yes, Popeyes is always a bit extra, and according to Eater, they went above and beyond for the grand opening of their 3,000th location. They breaded their boneless chicken wings in champagne in 2018 at only four locations, then dusted them with 24-carat gold flakes for just $5.
3. You can menu-hack gravy fries
Popeyes offers gravy on top of their mashed potatoes, unlike the majority of fast food restaurants. Simply choose the size of fries you desire and politely request a side of gravy. You now have disco fries by adding sauce (or dip, as you please) to your hot Cajun fries.
4. Not every location has the full menu
Many rest sites in the US have Popeyes bright orange signs, but if you see one late at night, don’t get your hopes up for a chicken sandwich.
We’re not sure why, but as users have remarked on Reddit and TripAdvisor, most rest area Popeyes has a condensed menu, and for some states, like Maine, those are the only locations.
5. The restaurant had to buy its own recipe back
According to Thrillist, Popeyes made national headlines a few years ago for shelling out an astounding $43 million to get the ingredients for their special fried chicken recipe. Despite giving up ownership of the business in 1992, Copeland continued to charge the chain an annual royalty fee of $3.1 million to use the recipes. Popeyes obtained the recipes, but they still owe the Copeland estate money for the seasonings.
6. There’s an actual reason the name has no apostrophe
Although the restaurant’s name appears to be possessive, there isn’t an apostrophe anywhere in it. When he first opened, Copeland jokingly claimed that he was “too poor” to purchase one, and later, even after the restaurant’s enormous success, he maintained the logo.
7. The chain isn’t named for the spinach-loving sailor
Popeyes may have been named after the cartoon character, but inventor Al Copeland was a fan of the classic movie The French Connection, in which Gene Hackman played the role of Popeye Doyle. According to reports, Copeland simply loved the character’s look!
8. You can make fried chicken at home
According to Amy Alarcon, head of culinary innovation for Popeyes, “one of the trademarks of Popeyes chicken is the quantity of flavor we obtain from marination, whether it’s a sandwich fillet, a piece of fried chicken, or a tender.”
Simply prepare the chicken according to her instructions for roasting, and then fry it in extremely hot oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable shortening or peanut oil.
9. In fact, Popeyes wants you to make its newest chicken sandwich
The list of spices that Popeyes uses to prepare their Blacked Chicken Sandwich was made public when the sandwich was introduced in November.
You can find dozens, if not hundreds, of copycat recipes online for nearly any popular fast-food sandwich. However, Popeyes is certain that its method will be superior to yours and that only its restaurants can offer the real thing.
10. The last Popeyes buffet closed in 2021
It seems that many Popeyes locations used to be all-you-can-eat buffets. Sadly, they have been phased out over the years. Anthony Bourdain became the last one standing in Lafayette, Louisiana famous for dining there nonstop for three days and appreciating the $8.99 price tag.
11. This secret spice blend will upgrade your grilled chicken
If you avoid fried meals, do you still miss the flavor? Request the chain’s Cajun Sparkle spice, which is kept behind the counter and is used on tots and some fried chicken, according to Mashable.
The chain’s grilled menu items are really elevated by Cajun Sparkle, a savory and spicy seasoning blend that contains garlic powder, onion powder, and red and black pepper. It also tastes excellent on anything fried!
