A Louisiana Expert Reveals The Only Meal You Should Actually Eat At Popeye's
You may think eating at a Popeye's in Louisiana is as blasphemous as say, eating at Taco Bell when you're south of the border, but it turns out New Orleans is pretty proud of their hometown fast-food chain.
A long-time New Orleans food writer, Lorin Gaudin, told Food & Wine not only does Popeye's taste best in New Orleans, it's a frequent topic of conversation and a staple of another NOLA tradition: Mardi Gras.
"The smell of Popeye's on the cool, crisp air is...it's so Mardi Gras. I've been here for forty years now, and that smell will always take me right back there," she told Food & Wine.
Whether you're eating it in Louisiana or not, Gaudin let people in on some secret ordering tricks. One: Always order spicy. Mild chicken is weak. Two, skip the fries, you can get those anywhere. If you see fried gizzards, though, you have to try them (yep, that would be chicken innards). They're only available on a few menus, but they are a Southern staple.
When it comes to sides, you should order the green beans - stewed with smoky turkey bacon, who knew? - and the Cajun rice. Red beans and rice is another popular side Gaudin approves of, though she's surprised people like it so much, given that it's made with liquid smoke.
While fries are a no-go, onion rings are a must, she says. They're made with Louisiana yellow onions and dipped in batter. Finally, if you want to eat like a local, don't skip the biscuit. Words to live by.
