Mon, 2009-06-22 11:43 — admin

We’ve all been brought up with Kentucky Fried Chicken. Now, here’s a Cajun recipe from Louisiana, USA. Popeyes is the new fast food joint on the block. By the taste of things, it’s going to give the other fried chicken chains a run for their money.

With the number of new fast food chains setting foot lately, it was easy to miss the arrival of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen to our shores. “Who?”,you might ask. Well, Popeyes is actually the second largest fried chicken chain in the world, with more than 1,950 outlets globally. Contrary to popular belief, Popeyes is not named after the well-known spinach-loving sailor, but after Popeye Doyle from the movie ‘The French Connection’.
One of their most famed patrons is none other than Beyonce Knowles, who treated guests to her wedding with the famous fried chicken and was even offered a VIP card.  
Having just opened their doors in January this year, the fast food joint has been gaining quite a following, especially among Taman Tun Dr. Ismail residents. It’s brought in by Grand Companions Sdn. Bhd, the same folks behind the local Domino’s franchise.
Popeyes is renowned for their authentic New Orleans Cajun-style chicken which sets it apart from rivals, and also their Louisiana-inspired menu consisting of rice and seafood. My colleagues and I recently decided to give the local outlet a try. The three-storey outlet was pleasant inside and out, with a constant theme of orange and white. There is also a café-like balcony seating on the upper floor, in which one gets a nice view of TTDI town.
We would be crazy not to have tried the famed Cajun-style fried chicken, so we ordered the 2-Piece Chicken set (RM9.90), which came with coleslaw, mashed potatoes, a biscuit and a drink. Firstly, the chicken sure smelled really good! It was crispy and juicy with a wonderful hint of spices. The coleslaw was swell as well, with  nice and chunky vegetables. The mash was a delight too, with yummy sauce and little bits of chicken meat in it. The renowned Popeyes biscuits were really good, with a slight buttery taste, coming across as something between a biscuit and a scone. 
We also tried the Fish & Shrimp set (RM14.95), which consisted of a piece of fish, five shrimps, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, a biscuit and a drink. The fish was prepared in a similar way as the chicken and was nice and flakey. It’s amazing how they managed to make it crispy on the outside and all juicy on the inside. The shrimps were fresh, giving a slight crunch in every bite. The Shrimp Sandwich (RM8.60) is also worth a try, consisting of the same fresh shrimps with tomatoes and lettuce, sandwiched in a tasty bun, perfect for those on the go.   
A pleasant surprise was their ‘Daily Delicious Deals’, where there is a different offer for each day of the week (weekdays) until June 30. Since it was Friday, we tried the Land & Sea set (RM13.28), which was the deal of the day. The set comprised a combination of a piece of chicken, a piece of fish, four shrimps and a drink. The chicken this time was their ‘spicy’ one, but nothing an average Malaysian can’t handle: A good deal I must say, but you’ll have to order the sides separately, as I feel these are must-haves! We also ordered a helping of regular Cajun Fries (RM1.45), which was crispy with hints of spices. Sure beats the usual french fries.  
Popeyes also offers a number of desserts on their menu for those who love a sweet end to their meals. We tried the Strawberry Cheesecake (RM3.95), which was soft and sweet, although some of us found it a little too small.  
Overall, we had a great time and all my colleagues stated they would love to go again. They only wished that there were more outlets. However, there’s news that outlets will soon be opening in MidValley and Sunway Pyramid. While still relatively new to the country, I believe if they maintain their standards and service, Popeyes Louisiana Chicken will surely give many fried chicken chains here a run for their money! 

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
No.20, Jalan Yun Mohd. Fuad 1,
Taman Tun Dr. Ismail,
60000 Kuala Lumpur. 
Popeyes also offers order
& pickup service:
Hotline: 03-77101198