I was exhausted after getting out of work ridiculously late last night, and SO hungry that I reached the point when my stomach was practically digesting itself. In other words, I was transmogrified into the perfect target for blatant billboard advertisement. I would have bought a rhinestone owl and matching jean-jacket from the Shopping Channel in a nanosecond had they been waved in my face. I had never been to Popeye's before (I'm sure that up to last night I was the last remaining Popeye's FFC virgin left in town), but the promise of Buffalo Shrimp being "EyE-poppin' good" sounded good to me! And so I did the drive-thru thing. Oh my.... The shrimp itself was passable. The coleslaw wasn't bad... the biscuit could have been better, but since I went there close to the end of the night, you could kinda tell that it had likely been sitting there for a while. My favorite part of the meal was the corn - I love corn-on-the-cob, and it was a pretty good size too, and not the measly quarter-cob I expected. Of course, it's fast food, so I really can't compare it with the likes of, I dunno... say a sit-down restaurant that uses real cutlery. Anyway, my low score is due to the tragic events that followed my trip to Popeye's. How can I say this in a nice way... uhm... it %#@$ me up. Seriously. I have always had guts of steel, but for some reason this meal just messed me up. I think maybe it was the deep-fryness of the whole thing. Again, I know it's fast-food and I know I expected it to be unhealthy, but I've had other fast-foods before and they never %#@$ me up like this before! And so, now that I sit here with half-a-bottle of the Pepto-Bismol left to sooth my chatty stomach (sounds like a bubbling witch's cauldron), I've decided never to go back again. Except maybe for the corn. And maybe to actually try the chicken, but I can't make any promises.
(2)
Carrie S.
My fiance and I have a tradition or habit of grabbing food on the way out of Chicago on the way to Milwaukee. Usually, it's a nearby Wendy's but the exit was jam packed on a Friday night. So, getting off at the next exit we happened upon this Popeye's. I really haven't done fast food fried chicken in ages, so it seemed like a good idea at the time. This Popeye's is located in the worst intersection ever while making it the best drive thru location. I forgot how involved fried chicken menus can be and took awhile to order. I got a three piece spicy chicken tender meal with coleslaw and a biscuit while my fiance got a chicken meal. After leaving the worst intersection ever, we dug in while driving. The chicken's alright. Spicy while not too spicy. I may have to try it again some other time. The biscuit was weak. It was buttery, but not fluffy. It was kind of disappointing because I really like biscuits done right. The coleslaw was average too. Overall, it's a standard fried chicken joint. Nothing inspiring, but a good substitute to a wonky burger.
(3)
Dominique W.
This is by far, and I mean by far the WORST food establishment I have EVER been to in my ENTIRE LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First I had to try to park in their feeble parking lot which is a poor excuse for a matchbox. Upon entering the facility there was a foul stench of a mix of urine and curry. They are 2 very distinct scents and together they make a smell that can only be similar to that of an Arkansas pigs asshole. There was a homeless woman. I felt bad for the homeless woman at the front of the line because first the girl behind the counter was having such a hard time taking her order. She looked like a guppy and was about as intelligent as one too. Upon her taking 9.5 minutes to complete the order the homeless girl went to sit down at a booth by herself to have her meal. At this point a woman came storming out of the back, and she insisted that this poor homeless woman with a black eye must eat outside. How incredibly rude! She was a paying customer! After the 15 minute mark of waiting in line I figured I would have better luck with the drive-thru since they seemed to at least be semi-on top of that. So I get in my SUV and get in the drive-thru line and blasting out the door are 2 of the employees. They struck me as being managers because they wore different color shirts from the rest of the employees and I did not see them working up front or cooking. These 2 were definitely the 2 stooges of managers if I've ever seen them. I was just waiting for a few "knuck knucks" and maybe a poke to the eye from these 2. They were yelling loudly in the parking lot while the one guy smoked a cigarette and proceeded to put on a Menard's hardware store apron. I had no clue what was going on at this point but even the drive-thru came to a grinding halt. I would have just left but with traffic on both Elston and Damen at a gridlock I knew I had no chance of going anywhere even if I got out of the lot. So I took my chances and just waited patiently. After 10 minutes they took my order. After they took the order it was processed fairly quickly. I ordered 3 Louisiana Nuggets and a Mashed Potatoes. I don't know what happened but when I got the food one of the orders of nuggets was barely cooked and was somewhat pink and the mashed potatoes emitted that same stench of urine and curry that overcame the inside. Now it was in my car and even after throwing the mashed potatoes out the window in disgust my SUV STILL smelled like it 2 hours later. Out of fear that it wouldn't go away I took my Escalade to get detailed at Simon's Shine Shop. For that experience check the review I posted for them. I will NEVER go to another Popeyes again in my life.
(1)
Rahshonda K.
WHO THOUGHT TO PUT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT AT THE WORST POSSIBLE INTERSECTION IN CHICAGO IS BEYOND ME. They get a star because the food is ok!!! Its Popeye's not much to say about them.
(2)
Amanda S.
Writing a review n a fast food joint seems pretty pathetic so.... Is wont go too much into this one. If you haven't been here I would probably look for a Popeyes someplace else. It's hard to get into the parking lot because it's on a corner in a pretty busy area and there is only one way in and one way out. To get in you have to cross two lanes of traffic and you'll be lucky if someone lets you cross, because it's always busy over here. Food is acceptable if fast food is your aim. Place is semi-clean. Nothing special. Just difficult to get to.
(3)
Marisa A.
If I have a bad day at work, I'm stopping by Popeye's on my way home. I always find it funny how whenever I go here, I see such a diverse range of people on the hunt for that Louisiana Fast. For me it's spicy chicken tenders or bone-in pieces, cajun fries, cajun rice, biscuit, buffalo sauce, and blackened ranch sauce. I retire with this delight in front of the TV and don't move for the rest of the night. Pulling in and out of this location is nearly impossible to do legally. You are only allowed to enter from Damen, but it's right at the Fullerton/Elston/Damen clusterfuck so I always enter on Elston and nearly hit cars coming out of the drive thru. You gotta do what you gotta do for some Popeye's. Minus one star because every time I ask for a cup of water, I take a sip and start feeling a sore throat coming on. I don't even want think about why.
(4)
Betty Liza M.
Went through the drive thru had the worst experience ever. We had to go back a second time because they forgot to give us apple pies we ordered. When we got home we realized they had shorted us 2 pieces of chicken and 6 biscuits. When we called them to return our money they did not apologize for their mistake. The manager, Yesenia, just asked me rudely "what do you want me to do about it?" Well clearly returning my money for the missing food would have been a good idea, but she made it seem like she could not do that because she did not know how. To top it all off the apple pies did not have the cinnamon sugar and they were not cooked. Never going back to this Popeyes again. The worst customer service I have ever experienced. They would not return my money and I got no apology.
(1)
Jennifer P.
There are too many hole-in-the-wall chicken joints in Chicago that make Popeyes taste like leftovers you pulled out of a dumpster. The fries are soggy and the chicken pieces are more fried skin than meat. This particular location is situated on a street corner that makes no sense and is hard to get to. I actually got so frustrated I drove in the exit for the drive through anyway. I wasn't going to take a bunch of turns and sit at a bunch of stoplights just to obey parking lot rules. Not worth the extra calories. I won't be back.
(2)
Juan R.
Love this spot! The women that work here are super friendly and always give me such warm service. If you don't know - definitely get a side of sweet heat sauce with your meal...you'll love it! =)
(5)
Michael C.
Had two stellar experiences here. One time my friend and I came here around 11AM on a Saturday Morning. They had an unbelievable special of 10 pieces of chicken for 10.99 mild or spicy. Once I got my meal, I quickly devoured as many pieces as I could, and unknowingly ate six pieces. Luckily my friend has a small stomach so our friendship wasn't endangered. And neither was my wallet! The second time I came here was with my girlfriend late at night after a concert. We were famished and had no food options in the area except for the drive through window here that's open until 1. I looked for the special that I had earlier, but sadly it was gone. Instead we had the chicken strips meal and a dipn chicken meal. The french fries left a little to be desired... maybe they had been sitting out too long, but the chicken was crispy and tasty! Additionally the biscuits were buttery and fresh as well. Nom.
(4)
Pierre M.
I went in today to get fulfill a coupon for 8 pc of chicken OR 8 tenders. I asked a gentleman named Victor (a very avuncular man who looked like he was in charge) if I could have 4 of each (because I've never tried the tenders), and he said yes! No BS! That was such an agreeable exchange that I'm at home writing the review while the the chicken is still hot! Those guys earned my business right there by being friendly and accommodating. That doesn't change the chicken from being overpriced like it usually is (Popeye's has the most uppity pricing of any chicken joint except maybe El Pollo Campero.), but I will definitely go back. I feel odd, really. It's a shame that the quality of customer service affects my judgement of the food so strongly. I guess that's because it's so damned hard to get good service at a restaurant in Chicago these days.
(5)
Brian S.
I work down the street from this location. Its pretty well kept up, and the service isn't bad at all. Love that Chicken from Popeye's on Fullerton!
(4)
Maria D.
Love the food and service! Best popeyes I have been to so far, making this my favorite location to take out or eat in. They always have great customer service and like I've told my boyfriend they're faster than McDonald's and the food is always what we expect. The location isn't the best, but it's worth the struggle.
(5)
Carlos P.
Popeye's chicken is absolutely drugs for me! Two piece spicy (breast & wing), small red beans and rice should do it!
(5)
Marc J.
This is another one of my strange reviews of a fast food place when I didn't eat their food or get a drink (see my previous review of Burger King in Evanston). However, I was here to buy 40lbs of ice after a 16 mile run, so I could enjoy my leisurely ice bath. I was greeted by Zeus, who was super-nice...especially given that his shift will mean he's missing the Superbowl! Anyway, I was mostly impressed with how nice Zeus was and how cheap 40lbs of ice were (less than 5 bucks). I can't give Popeyes 5 stars though, because the parking situation there is a total zoo.
(4)
G R.
What's to say? I'm not much of a fast food person, however I can leave that aside and rate a place based upon being able to do what they do well. One star for being open at 11:00 p.m., the other for decent tasting coleslaw and thank you much for the biscuit because that's all I managed to get myself to eat. Yes, I did go there for chicken and I understand it's late, however don't they have some sort of policy to dump things after awhile? Some type of quality control? Standards perhaps? Nope! One bite, this was the driest piece of chicken I've ever had, this comparison includes the whole chicken that I let burn to a crisp when I got a phone call from someone I didn't speak to in years, so I was distracted. It's 1.15 a.m., and yes I'm still hungry, there is the remains of a three piece dinner on the counter, the husband nor even the dog wants it. Yes, rejected by my dog... and he eats just about anything, a Q-Tip fell on the floor earlier today, he snatched that and yes, ate it. Makes me wonder how many calories in a Q-Tip, as I said I'm still hungry.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : No
Giovanna B.
I was exhausted after getting out of work ridiculously late last night, and SO hungry that I reached the point when my stomach was practically digesting itself. In other words, I was transmogrified into the perfect target for blatant billboard advertisement. I would have bought a rhinestone owl and matching jean-jacket from the Shopping Channel in a nanosecond had they been waved in my face. I had never been to Popeye's before (I'm sure that up to last night I was the last remaining Popeye's FFC virgin left in town), but the promise of Buffalo Shrimp being "EyE-poppin' good" sounded good to me! And so I did the drive-thru thing. Oh my.... The shrimp itself was passable. The coleslaw wasn't bad... the biscuit could have been better, but since I went there close to the end of the night, you could kinda tell that it had likely been sitting there for a while. My favorite part of the meal was the corn - I love corn-on-the-cob, and it was a pretty good size too, and not the measly quarter-cob I expected. Of course, it's fast food, so I really can't compare it with the likes of, I dunno... say a sit-down restaurant that uses real cutlery. Anyway, my low score is due to the tragic events that followed my trip to Popeye's. How can I say this in a nice way... uhm... it %#@$ me up. Seriously. I have always had guts of steel, but for some reason this meal just messed me up. I think maybe it was the deep-fryness of the whole thing. Again, I know it's fast-food and I know I expected it to be unhealthy, but I've had other fast-foods before and they never %#@$ me up like this before! And so, now that I sit here with half-a-bottle of the Pepto-Bismol left to sooth my chatty stomach (sounds like a bubbling witch's cauldron), I've decided never to go back again. Except maybe for the corn. And maybe to actually try the chicken, but I can't make any promises.
(2)Carrie S.
My fiance and I have a tradition or habit of grabbing food on the way out of Chicago on the way to Milwaukee. Usually, it's a nearby Wendy's but the exit was jam packed on a Friday night. So, getting off at the next exit we happened upon this Popeye's. I really haven't done fast food fried chicken in ages, so it seemed like a good idea at the time. This Popeye's is located in the worst intersection ever while making it the best drive thru location. I forgot how involved fried chicken menus can be and took awhile to order. I got a three piece spicy chicken tender meal with coleslaw and a biscuit while my fiance got a chicken meal. After leaving the worst intersection ever, we dug in while driving. The chicken's alright. Spicy while not too spicy. I may have to try it again some other time. The biscuit was weak. It was buttery, but not fluffy. It was kind of disappointing because I really like biscuits done right. The coleslaw was average too. Overall, it's a standard fried chicken joint. Nothing inspiring, but a good substitute to a wonky burger.
(3)Dominique W.
This is by far, and I mean by far the WORST food establishment I have EVER been to in my ENTIRE LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First I had to try to park in their feeble parking lot which is a poor excuse for a matchbox. Upon entering the facility there was a foul stench of a mix of urine and curry. They are 2 very distinct scents and together they make a smell that can only be similar to that of an Arkansas pigs asshole. There was a homeless woman. I felt bad for the homeless woman at the front of the line because first the girl behind the counter was having such a hard time taking her order. She looked like a guppy and was about as intelligent as one too. Upon her taking 9.5 minutes to complete the order the homeless girl went to sit down at a booth by herself to have her meal. At this point a woman came storming out of the back, and she insisted that this poor homeless woman with a black eye must eat outside. How incredibly rude! She was a paying customer! After the 15 minute mark of waiting in line I figured I would have better luck with the drive-thru since they seemed to at least be semi-on top of that. So I get in my SUV and get in the drive-thru line and blasting out the door are 2 of the employees. They struck me as being managers because they wore different color shirts from the rest of the employees and I did not see them working up front or cooking. These 2 were definitely the 2 stooges of managers if I've ever seen them. I was just waiting for a few "knuck knucks" and maybe a poke to the eye from these 2. They were yelling loudly in the parking lot while the one guy smoked a cigarette and proceeded to put on a Menard's hardware store apron. I had no clue what was going on at this point but even the drive-thru came to a grinding halt. I would have just left but with traffic on both Elston and Damen at a gridlock I knew I had no chance of going anywhere even if I got out of the lot. So I took my chances and just waited patiently. After 10 minutes they took my order. After they took the order it was processed fairly quickly. I ordered 3 Louisiana Nuggets and a Mashed Potatoes. I don't know what happened but when I got the food one of the orders of nuggets was barely cooked and was somewhat pink and the mashed potatoes emitted that same stench of urine and curry that overcame the inside. Now it was in my car and even after throwing the mashed potatoes out the window in disgust my SUV STILL smelled like it 2 hours later. Out of fear that it wouldn't go away I took my Escalade to get detailed at Simon's Shine Shop. For that experience check the review I posted for them. I will NEVER go to another Popeyes again in my life.
(1)Rahshonda K.
WHO THOUGHT TO PUT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT AT THE WORST POSSIBLE INTERSECTION IN CHICAGO IS BEYOND ME. They get a star because the food is ok!!! Its Popeye's not much to say about them.
(2)Amanda S.
Writing a review n a fast food joint seems pretty pathetic so.... Is wont go too much into this one. If you haven't been here I would probably look for a Popeyes someplace else. It's hard to get into the parking lot because it's on a corner in a pretty busy area and there is only one way in and one way out. To get in you have to cross two lanes of traffic and you'll be lucky if someone lets you cross, because it's always busy over here. Food is acceptable if fast food is your aim. Place is semi-clean. Nothing special. Just difficult to get to.
(3)Marisa A.
If I have a bad day at work, I'm stopping by Popeye's on my way home. I always find it funny how whenever I go here, I see such a diverse range of people on the hunt for that Louisiana Fast. For me it's spicy chicken tenders or bone-in pieces, cajun fries, cajun rice, biscuit, buffalo sauce, and blackened ranch sauce. I retire with this delight in front of the TV and don't move for the rest of the night. Pulling in and out of this location is nearly impossible to do legally. You are only allowed to enter from Damen, but it's right at the Fullerton/Elston/Damen clusterfuck so I always enter on Elston and nearly hit cars coming out of the drive thru. You gotta do what you gotta do for some Popeye's. Minus one star because every time I ask for a cup of water, I take a sip and start feeling a sore throat coming on. I don't even want think about why.
(4)Betty Liza M.
Went through the drive thru had the worst experience ever. We had to go back a second time because they forgot to give us apple pies we ordered. When we got home we realized they had shorted us 2 pieces of chicken and 6 biscuits. When we called them to return our money they did not apologize for their mistake. The manager, Yesenia, just asked me rudely "what do you want me to do about it?" Well clearly returning my money for the missing food would have been a good idea, but she made it seem like she could not do that because she did not know how. To top it all off the apple pies did not have the cinnamon sugar and they were not cooked. Never going back to this Popeyes again. The worst customer service I have ever experienced. They would not return my money and I got no apology.
(1)Jennifer P.
There are too many hole-in-the-wall chicken joints in Chicago that make Popeyes taste like leftovers you pulled out of a dumpster. The fries are soggy and the chicken pieces are more fried skin than meat. This particular location is situated on a street corner that makes no sense and is hard to get to. I actually got so frustrated I drove in the exit for the drive through anyway. I wasn't going to take a bunch of turns and sit at a bunch of stoplights just to obey parking lot rules. Not worth the extra calories. I won't be back.
(2)Juan R.
Love this spot! The women that work here are super friendly and always give me such warm service. If you don't know - definitely get a side of sweet heat sauce with your meal...you'll love it! =)
(5)Michael C.
Had two stellar experiences here. One time my friend and I came here around 11AM on a Saturday Morning. They had an unbelievable special of 10 pieces of chicken for 10.99 mild or spicy. Once I got my meal, I quickly devoured as many pieces as I could, and unknowingly ate six pieces. Luckily my friend has a small stomach so our friendship wasn't endangered. And neither was my wallet! The second time I came here was with my girlfriend late at night after a concert. We were famished and had no food options in the area except for the drive through window here that's open until 1. I looked for the special that I had earlier, but sadly it was gone. Instead we had the chicken strips meal and a dipn chicken meal. The french fries left a little to be desired... maybe they had been sitting out too long, but the chicken was crispy and tasty! Additionally the biscuits were buttery and fresh as well. Nom.
(4)Pierre M.
I went in today to get fulfill a coupon for 8 pc of chicken OR 8 tenders. I asked a gentleman named Victor (a very avuncular man who looked like he was in charge) if I could have 4 of each (because I've never tried the tenders), and he said yes! No BS! That was such an agreeable exchange that I'm at home writing the review while the the chicken is still hot! Those guys earned my business right there by being friendly and accommodating. That doesn't change the chicken from being overpriced like it usually is (Popeye's has the most uppity pricing of any chicken joint except maybe El Pollo Campero.), but I will definitely go back. I feel odd, really. It's a shame that the quality of customer service affects my judgement of the food so strongly. I guess that's because it's so damned hard to get good service at a restaurant in Chicago these days.
(5)Brian S.
I work down the street from this location. Its pretty well kept up, and the service isn't bad at all. Love that Chicken from Popeye's on Fullerton!
(4)Maria D.
Love the food and service! Best popeyes I have been to so far, making this my favorite location to take out or eat in. They always have great customer service and like I've told my boyfriend they're faster than McDonald's and the food is always what we expect. The location isn't the best, but it's worth the struggle.
(5)Carlos P.
Popeye's chicken is absolutely drugs for me! Two piece spicy (breast & wing), small red beans and rice should do it!
(5)Marc J.
This is another one of my strange reviews of a fast food place when I didn't eat their food or get a drink (see my previous review of Burger King in Evanston). However, I was here to buy 40lbs of ice after a 16 mile run, so I could enjoy my leisurely ice bath. I was greeted by Zeus, who was super-nice...especially given that his shift will mean he's missing the Superbowl! Anyway, I was mostly impressed with how nice Zeus was and how cheap 40lbs of ice were (less than 5 bucks). I can't give Popeyes 5 stars though, because the parking situation there is a total zoo.
(4)G R.
What's to say? I'm not much of a fast food person, however I can leave that aside and rate a place based upon being able to do what they do well. One star for being open at 11:00 p.m., the other for decent tasting coleslaw and thank you much for the biscuit because that's all I managed to get myself to eat. Yes, I did go there for chicken and I understand it's late, however don't they have some sort of policy to dump things after awhile? Some type of quality control? Standards perhaps? Nope! One bite, this was the driest piece of chicken I've ever had, this comparison includes the whole chicken that I let burn to a crisp when I got a phone call from someone I didn't speak to in years, so I was distracted. It's 1.15 a.m., and yes I'm still hungry, there is the remains of a three piece dinner on the counter, the husband nor even the dog wants it. Yes, rejected by my dog... and he eats just about anything, a Q-Tip fell on the floor earlier today, he snatched that and yes, ate it. Makes me wonder how many calories in a Q-Tip, as I said I'm still hungry.
(2)