Popeyes (Takanini, Auckland, New Zealand)

Popeyes’ much-hyped debut in New Zealand falls short for some, with complaints of dry chicken, heavy batter, and slow service at Takanini. Did Popeyes live up to the hype? Mixed reviews from Kiwi fried chicken lovers at the grand opening in Takanini. Dry chicken and slow service left some disappointed. #PopeyesNZ #FriedChickenDisappointment #TakaniniEats

Popeyes, the famed American fried chicken chain, recently made its highly anticipated debut in New Zealand with the opening of its first store in Takanini, Auckland. The launch sparked immense excitement reminiscent of Krispy Kreme’s arrival, with Kiwi fried chicken enthusiasts lining up for hours, some even camping overnight, to be among the first to taste Popeyes’ offerings.

Founded in Louisiana in 1972, Popeyes boasts over 4300 restaurants worldwide, known for its bold flavours and Southern-style fried chicken. The multimillion-dollar fitout in Takanini marks its inaugural presence in New Zealand, drawing significant attention across the country.

Despite the hype and fanfare, the reviews from early patrons have been mixed at best. Many customers expressed disappointment, describing the food as lacklustre with more batter than chicken, and a noticeable taste of beef tallow. Complaints included dry chicken and sandwiches, slow service, and issues with order accuracy and cleanliness. Luckily, we asked a colleague to do the queuing and ordering during one of our shared lunches since he lives nearby Popeyes, hence we did not experience this first hand apart from trying out some of the menu items.

Here’s a detailed look at the specific items we tried:

Chicken (Various Cuts): The chicken pieces were noticeably dry, making it difficult to enjoy the meat. The batter coating was overwhelming, dominating the taste and texture of the chicken. There was a strong, unpleasant aftertaste of beef tallow, detracting from the overall flavour profile.

Chicken Sandwich: Similar to the individual chicken pieces, the sandwich was underwhelming. The chicken was dry, lacking juiciness and tenderness. The sandwich itself was unremarkable, failing to stand out compared to other fast-food offerings.

While some patrons were willing to give Popeyes another chance in the future, many felt that New Zealand’s original fried chicken spots offered better quality and taste. Suggestions were made to opt for Korean fried chicken shops for a proper spicy chicken fix instead.

If you’re curious about Popeyes’ offerings despite the initial feedback, it might be wise to wait and see if improvements are made over time before joining the queues at their Takanini location.

Popeyes Famous Louisiana Chicken Takanini
Address: 106 Great South Road, Takanini 2112
Phone: 0800 767 393
Website: https://www.popeyes.co.nz/