I was scrolling through this thread and thinking about how I never eat at any of these places, or even care to. But - Viva Chicken, yes! We live in Philly but my S and DIL are in Winston-Salem, which does have a VC. Great place to eat with the baby (now toddler) and definitely better quality and more interesting than any of the typical fast food places. They have a salad I really like, and we also get a few sides to share.
My all time favorite is Roy Rodgers fried chicken. Itâs mostly in VA, MD, and PA. One of my jobs in high school was working at a Hot Shoppe where we made the most delicious Pappy Parker Fried Chicken. I thought it was gone forever when Marriott closed Hot Shoppes, before I discovered Roy Rogers, which had once also been part of Marriott. Their fried chicken is great when itâs freshly made, but not if overcooked or been out for while.
My second favorite is Popeyeâs spicy fried chicken, when I can get it.
I found it quite ironic that thereâs a Popeyeâs right outside of Johns Hopkins (hospital). Iâll also admit that we ate there several times before going to appointments. It was comfort food, so the ease of stress would have countered any other health detriments for me.
1 Like
Hmm, I order online and itâs a 2 minute drive, I donât think Iâve ever waited close to an hour. Maybe I should order and see (my husband is away on business and only 2 kids are home, I donât mind not cooking).
With the number of people who like El Pollo Loco, Iâll definitely have to look for one.
Otherwise, thereâs a terrific Peruvian style chicken place outside of Rochester, NY called Just Chicken that we often go to when visiting S. I think itâs just a mom and pop place though, but I bet theyâre similar. Itâs very good.
1 Like
For bone-in chicken, Pizza Ranch chicken. Just delicious.
Iâm not sure that Iâve been to El Pollo Loco, but my guess is their food is similar to a Regio Chicken or an El Pollo Rico judging by the website. You could look for one of those.
1 Like
Yeah, there arenât any near us - I just checked. It would have to be on a western trip and having just gone out west the last two years I donât think itâs in the plans for this year. Too many places to go - and a wedding for S this year.
Well if youâre talking Peruvian chickenâŠdoes this count as âfast foodâ? I believe all the locations Iâve been in you order at a counter and then itâs brought to your table. Fast casual? Itâs very, very, very good!
Chicken Express tenders with chocolate chip cookies every Sunday after church.
CFA waffle chips, HM sauce and cookies.
We probably go to Chick Fil A and Bojangles the most often. Younger S LOVED Bojangles. I probably prefer the Chick Fil A sandwich/waffle fries, but Iâm not in love with them anymore.
We like Chick Fil A for their sandwiches, but since I can now buy the Chick Fil A sauce at the grocery store I make chicken sandwiches at home for us on fresh brioche buns.
2 Likes
Our local hospital used to have a McDonaldâs in the lobby! Probably to drum up business for the cardiac wing⊠
3 Likes
I had Zaxbyâs a few weeks ago and thought their signature sandwich was tasty.
I donât eat at Chik Fil A.
1 Like
I used to love Popeyeâs but havenât had any fast food chicken in years. Iâd try it again if one ever opens nearby.
It seems that most folks around here prefer Publix fried chicken to any of the fast food places. I shouldnât eat any fried food, but willingly pay the price to eat fried chicken from Publix two or three times a year.
1 Like
Thereâs a Burger King very near Johns Hopkins (hospital) too, but that one never tempted me.
We just got back from Popeyes and it was delicious. The power of suggestion (started with yesterdayâs lunch, not this thread).
I like hearing names of other places to keep in mind when weâre elsewhere.
I think itâs gone but the Cleveland Clinic had a McDonaldâs next to their cafeteria. The longest lines were always the McDonaldâs. It was the only place you could get a caffeinated sugared soda (pop in Ohio 
) and was a great favorite of the staff. They needed their caffeine!
1 Like
Back when I ate meat I used to go to Chik-Fil-A for their waffle fries, but that was before their anti-gay stance. I think they may have tried to walk that back, but I struck them off my list of places to go after that.
I like Bojangles fries better anyway.
Is Alpaca fast food? Itâs another Peruvian chicken place Iâve read people raving about.
3 Likes
If I were to avoid supporting everyone (or every place) whose views I disagreed with I might as well stay home.
Plus I know folks (kids from school) who work at our local Chick Fil A. If they donât care, I certainly donât. If Chick Fil A were to not hire (or serve) a certain class/group/race/gender/etc, then I would care, but thatâs not my experience.
We have stayed away from some places that behaved awfully during the pandemic, but again, itâs local places that I know. We switched churches too.
2 Likes
Gotta draw the line somewhere and that was a really easy line for me to draw when the president of the company came out against gay marriage. No more waffle fries from there for me. Iâm sure my meager purchases make a less than zero difference to their bottom line, but it makes a difference to me not to spend my money there.
We just got a new Shake Shack. They support LGBTQ folks and celebrate Pride. I might go check them out sometime. Other fast food places that support LGBTQ causes and celebrate Pride Month are McDonalds, Burger King, Chipotle, Dunkinâ, Starbucks, Pizza Hut. Plenty of other fries for me to buy.
9 Likes