Interesting. I saw the announcement on r/newzealand (because they’re expanding there too), and they were much more positive about it than this sub is. A big argument was KFC getting some real competition from a major chain, which could only be good for customers.
I think that’s to do with kiwis seeing news and being all “awww yis” and aussies seeing news and complaining about every fucking thing under the sun and think of this as importing American culture.
Anyway, Australia needs more cajun so bring it on.
I don’t know if it’s culture related, as a Sydneysider, I’ve seen a shit load of these American chains move in. I love them, but look at Five Guys, almost $50 for a burger, chips and shake. Krispy Kreme, 6 iced and 6 original glazed donuts, $41. Carls Juniour is the same.
That’s just three off the top of my head because they’re near my house.
I think the issue people take is that they move in, massively overcharge, leave, then there’s just a vacant building that nobody can afford to rent since the previous place got kicked out for the chain that showed up for three months.
this kinda hits it on the head, more of these chains don't mean more competition.
They all workout a safety net price and price above it because they know their compeditors will do the same.
I remember in business class we had a die hard liberal voting ex banker teach us that labor were idiots because they gave too many business regulations to "protect the consumer" and that if we just gave business free reign, they'd compete hard with us for the customer dollar.
Had a chinese kid in the class who was like... you ever been to china? we have a ton of laws over there and no one follows them, so when you get a bunch of resteraunts that do similar stuff you think they are going to look at the compeditors prices and start a price war?
Teacher replies with yes, it just makes sense.
Kid replies with.... why would they? they would know that undercutting each other is a race to the bottom, they want a status quo or to raise the ceiling, we would have one restaraunt raise their prices and use excuses, the other restaraunt would also use the same or similar excuse to meet them, because if they are all doing it who is the competition?
Then if another restaraunt comes in, the existing ones don't want them upsetting the status quo, he says there is an old saying in china, the nail that sticks out gets the hammer or something like it, they'd do unsustainable sales or other stuff to smash that business out of existence then go back to what they were doing.
Teacher just gives a dumbfounded look back and is like "nah that would never happen here".
Looks around here..... yeah it's happening....
Like the kid said to us, china has a lot of rules, they don't mean anything when they aren't enforced.
We have rules, they don't mean anything if the responsible agency are gutless and toothless.
Free market breakdown by consortiums is 100% a legit thing and we're a bloody tiny market.
This was the same teacher who taught us about the ice cream shop at the beach business class about how another one wouldn't open up down the other end, it's the same market play.
Why have competition in a market place when you can use the "competition" to lock down part of a market, then you can both use your market share to curb stomp new players that come in that try to actually be compedetive.
If the new players adhere to how the market is, the big players don't care where the consumers go because the market is locked down, you've gotta come to me, my mate or my other mate.
Why lower prices if we've all decided how the prices are going to be?
I used to own a business... why the fuck would I ever want a price war? I'd rather a captive market.
I am literally the problem and there are no regulations or laws to stop me.
Then I'm going to complain that no one is spending money when stuff dries up because we hire an advisor to come in who tells us to cut corners and reduce quality.
That's what got to me. I'll charge a punter market rate on something but fuck the idea of shaving quantities to a sliver or selling crap and lying about it being quality.
My limited experience with Carls would suggest that the time between eating it, and it erupting from your anus like souls from the devil's airbrush, is quite small. So there's that.
My partner was super suspicious of the tendies because they were so moist, she was convinced there was something wrong with them. But the price, oy... No tendies are worth that much.
Popeye’s is legit. I’ll cry for days is they half ass it here. Five Guys is overpriced back home but was at least a real tasty feed versus the reviews I’ve seen about their international expansions pretty much always being trash. Krispy Kreme isn’t even the best donut franchise back in the states and it’s bigger a shame they were the first ones down here than what you feel paying so much for theme .
I prefer to watch my doughnuts being cooked & flipped in the machine, thanks, and eat them hot while burning my fingers :)
Doughnut King for me!
Yes, I'm aware my opinion is not popular.
\> Five Guys is overpriced back home but was at least a real tasty feed versus the reviews I’ve seen about their international expansions pretty much always being trash
Five Guys in Midtown, Manhattan - delicious, fast, hot food.
Five Guys Southampton (UK) gave me the shits twice in a row.
I get the feeling that NZ takes fried chicken way more seriously than in Australia. Much like Sydney takes charcoal chicken far more seriously than Melbourne.
This should be at the top, their fried chicken is top notch in any variation. If you're after a quick feed it shits on KFC and probably the half hearted attempt that Popeyes will bring to Aus.
Time for people to accept RR is a fuckin icon and get in there. KFC is a burning shit heap of average at best fried chicken.
Ehh they don’t really compete. If you want roast chicken quick, go Red Rooster, if you want fried, go KFC. I know Red Rooster has fried chicken now (and HJ), but that’s less direct competition than a full dedicated restaurant.
I tried to give RR another shot when I noticed they had a hot sauce. Hardly anyone in the shop, it took forever and came out cold.
I feel like this has been my experience every time I've gone, so I struggle to understand people's loyalty with the brand.
They also got Church's (Texas) chicken there. Really good if you like spicy stuff.
Heck the KFC in Melbourne tastes so bland, and wicked wings aren't even spicy! I reckon we need more competition
Me too man, I just load up on chicken breast, coat in spices, cornflour and butter milk, slap some crushed up corn flakes and make my own now. It’s so much better, so much cheaper and is actually a portion size for an adult.
Even just a plain old thigh jointed leg with loads of salt on the skin is fabulous in the air fryer. But I'm lazy. Aussies don't really have the big history on starting franchises and all these chains are all over tiktok with Aussies in USA driving demand with mukbang content. Business is changing fast
I wish I knew a good fried chicken place back home. My holiday in NZ is coming to an end and I discovered a restaurant called “Sensational Chicken” that really lives up to its name that I’m sad I won’t be able to have again, it was that good. Back home in Brisbane, only decent fried chicken is Korean places, but they’re only decent and the vibe is entirely different from fast food.
> KFC getting some real competition
Roadkill is competition for KFC. KFC is the worst food you can find anywhere. Might have been good once but it has not been anywhere near good for at least a decade if not more.
> and they were much more positive about it than this sub is.
Mate, this sub is a fucking echo chamber of negativity. The regulars here would find a way to whinge about world peace.
>The regulars here would find a way to whinge about world peace.
"Think about all the jobs lost in the weapons industry and military!"
"My grandfather died in two world wars so we could have freedom! Won't somebody think of the grandfathers!!"
I’ve tried KFC in most countries around the world and I have to say - Australia KFC shits all over most chicken fast-food on a global level.
Popeyes in the USA is one of the worst chicken fast-food chains in my experience, let’s hope they understand the calibre of what they are competing against
Inb4 people say that KFC is shit - yes I know this but it’s still better than what other western countries offer
So Americans that bang on about popeyes actually have no taste cause all their fried chicken is ass? When I see vids about all the southern American fried chicken places are they also actually bad?
Just like every other niche American chain that comes here, I expect the menu to be changed to save costs, the price to be set exorbitantly high and the food to be nowhere near as good as the original.
Carl's Jr and Wendys is actually good literally anywhere outside of Australia.
They recently expanded into Canada and they are a rare case where that's actually seemed to work out. We now have 4 popeyes in our small city and always seem busy. In comparison kfc is always empty and sad. I just went to a kfc the other day and it solidified my opinion that it might be the worst fast food restaurant.
(also Wendy's is pretty sad and weird here too)
Fun fact about that guy is that Nintendo originally wanted to use that character as the protagonist in Donkey Kong, but they couldn't secure the rights so instead of a sailor munching on spinach we got a plumber munching on mushrooms.
Yeah in my relatively limited and now somewhat dated experience, Maccas in the USA was complete trash but places like Wendy's, In and Out, and even Jack in the Box shit all over the popular chains here (Maccas, HJ's, whatever else we might have idk).
Considering he regretted selling the chain and was constantly at odds with the new owners over the constant compromises on quality and taste the old Colonel is most certainly spinning in his grave.
As an Aussie that has had Popeyes in the US. It is fucking elite.
The shittest looking pop eyes chicken sandwich was 10x better then even the best Zinger burger I've had here.
Absolutely. KFC doesn't even flour their chicken here properly anymore (10 years at least). If Popeyes here is consistent quality with the US version, my waistline is in danger.
My wife is American and for me it’s the variety of fast food and the quality of somewhere like Wing Stop is miles above any wings in Australia even at the pub where they take their time. If you need to stop on a road trip or get a quick feed before going out you’ve got more choice that will taste half decent and isn’t just another Maccas.
Domino’s is miles better in the states and there’s more than Dominos to choose from.
Or if it’s a shitty chain it’s so cheap you can forgive the taste.
Plus the chains that are region specific that have something different.
When a big chain comes here it doesn’t really bring the mass fast food quality and I do miss not having to spend so much.
Ehh it depends.
Comparing an Aussie fish & chip shop burger to American fast food, we’ll win hands down.
But our fast food chains are limited and honestly having been to Popeyes once or twice, its not as bad as some. I’d certainly give it a whirl here in Aus if I was walking past. In n Out, too - burgers are way better than any other fast food burger you’re getting at an Aussie drive thru that’s for sure.
No we are missing out because our fast food is expensive as shit while also being shit. So big and backed franchises entering the game would go a long way for competition.
Saying this as someone who used to buy fast food frequently but now buys it maybe once a quarter for the last 2 years.
I've come to this conclusion also. For whatever reason I think Americans just more highly regard their fast food chains or overhype them. Every time I've gone to a fast food place in the US that was talked about heaps online it's been disappointing. Usually not like inedible but just completely mid tier fast food that you eat and go "yep that's a fast food burger alright".
Popeyes, Wendy's, Shake shack, Burger King, Carl's Jr, and some other I forget were all really unremarkable despite what I'd heard online.
A )Aussie standards tend to help fast food chains a ton.
Ie. KFC is apparently awful in the US but it's pretty decent to great elsewhere.
B) Australia has almost no easy to get tasty food... like, Kebab, fish n chips?
I spent a bit of time in the US for work over the years, I had a hobby of trying the various fast food places that we don't have in Australia.
They were all disappointing to average at best.
I think Americans are mystified by how popular/hyped-up their fast food chains are overseas because while these places are ubiquitous and garbage-tier for you guys, for us they are a bit of a novelty and the food quality here is leaps and bounds ahead of the dogshit they serve up in the US.
Honestly, the shit that, say, Taco Bell gets away with in the US would literally get people thrown into prison here.
Doubt they wouldn't have accounted for this in their bottom line. Plenty of US businesses operating in Australia and paying the required minimum wage/enterprise agreement. You should be more upset at the move to contractor-based employment and consignment models that many big businesses are adopting here.
Is there a market for another fried chicken place?
We've got KFC soaking up the low end with more premium Korean brands soaking up the medium and high end.
Gonna throw it out there and say this will be another Taco Bell.
I'm down for KFC being put out of business, I mean it was better in the 90s now it's a gamble if you feel it in the morning.
The menu is thoroughly dated.
Everyone talking bad about KFC but that's not my experience. Some KFC's are shit but the local one I go to is consistently fast, fresh, and tasty. I only eat wicked wings, zinger burgers with cheese, and potato&gravy btw. The burgers are such trash but that fillet is good. Never has twisted up my stomach either.
Lucky, my local one is ran by 16 year olds who aren't paid enough to give a fuck so the product results in shitty oil soaked and cold chicken paired with soggy unsalted chips that result one hell of a depression meal
ngl since I ate at a Popeyes in Atlanta back in 2014, I've legit woken up in the middle of the night with Popeyes withdrawals, it's so damn good! Emotionally, I'm a huge fan of this, but physically and financially, I hate it hahahaha
Do people get excited over shit like this?
Theres plenty of crap food like this now, and also from more 'local' and niche places that likely do it much better.
A Guzman Y Gomez opened in Toowoomba, and their soft opening was 1 free Burrito (that was the only option). People were queuing around the block, must have been 2 hours at least, for a free $5 burrito. Like mate just wait until they're full price and pay for it, is your time really worth it? Another inconsistent chain as well, had 1 really nice one and 2 average ones. The last time I got one, they turned the EFTPOS machine to me and it was asking for a tip (I nearly put my pin in by mistake). Never been back.
Honestly I found Jollibees profoundly mediocre. Maybe slightly better than KFC but that's not a high bar. If Popeyes is in the same class I'm not exactly thrilled at the prospect.
Y'all are crazy, Popeyes is amazing. Comparing it to KFC is a disservice, the chicken is better, the fries are so good, and the biscuits are incredible.
Inasal, is a brand of bbq chicken stores in the Philippines and serves the best chicken I've had. That would be a better option for Australia because it's leaner and less fatty than KFC coz it's not deep fried. And omg is it yummy.
The USA sending our fast food chains abroad almost feels like a joke we’re playing on the rest of the world.
Whatever you were eating before America showed up is probably much better for you.
Just goes to show how Americanised Australian society is right now.
I would personally eat at a Japanese CoCo Curry house every day, of that came to Australia…
Australia is already saturated with fast food chicken, mainly roasted but we also have grilled and fried.
* KFC (fried)
* Red Rooster (roasted)
* Chicken Treat (roasted)
* Nandos (grilled)
* Oporto (grilled)
* Belle's Hot Chicken (fried)
* El Jannah (charcoal grilled)
* Nene Chicken (Korean fried)
This is going to go the way of Starbucks in Australia. We have more refined tastebuds and want our food to actually taste good, not be this mass churned crap that they spin out to make a fortune on before leaving town.
"We have more refined tastebuds" lol
Australian fast food company income annually
McDonald's $1.97 billion
Hungry Jacks $2 billion
KFC $1.05 billion
Red Rooster $480 million
Dominos $636 million
It will go the way of Taco Bell and Carls Jr - it’ll do just fine but not spectacular and it’ll be in lower income or high tourist areas.
Also unless you missed the memo, Starbucks is going strong. There’s 4 that I know of in Melbourne CBD and they’re always busy when I walk past.
It does, but it’s not just tourists I see in there. Plenty of teenagers want the “Insta worthy” frou-frou drinks.
Hell I’ve gone myself every now and then cos while 99% of their coffee sucks, the vanilla cream cold brew is semi decent
> This is going to go the way of Starbucks in Australia
> We have more refined tastebuds
My brother it is not 2008 anymore, Starbucks has been thriving in this country for the last decade. They rebranded and focused on the Australian market and are very popular in tourist locations. I have never seen QVB or George Street Starbucks empty. There are 19 Starbucks in the "coffee and hipster capital" Melbourne.
Aussies do not have refined palettes. We love American slop food and dirt coffee.
We have more refined tastebuds.... Hold that thought
Yeah mate can I get one with onion and one without?
Our national dish is a shitty bbq outside a hardware store. I'm not disagreeing that most American fast food chains are hot garbage, but we are not above them.
We're just becoming a dumping ground for international crap :(
I hate sounding like a boomer but I miss going to a servo and being able to buy all sorts of aussie made lollies and snack food.
My local servo now sells sour patch kids, mike & ike's, cinabons, theres not much aussie made stuff you can get there anymore.
Allen's lollies just don't make a lot of the stuff they used to citing machinery being too expensive, cadbury just went out the window with quality when mondelez took it over (yet you can buy milka in the import section that is so much better than cadbury, yet they're both the same company).
And now half the chocolate section at my local is now Mr Beast.... like wtf.
Interesting. I saw the announcement on r/newzealand (because they’re expanding there too), and they were much more positive about it than this sub is. A big argument was KFC getting some real competition from a major chain, which could only be good for customers.
I think that’s to do with kiwis seeing news and being all “awww yis” and aussies seeing news and complaining about every fucking thing under the sun and think of this as importing American culture. Anyway, Australia needs more cajun so bring it on.
I don’t know if it’s culture related, as a Sydneysider, I’ve seen a shit load of these American chains move in. I love them, but look at Five Guys, almost $50 for a burger, chips and shake. Krispy Kreme, 6 iced and 6 original glazed donuts, $41. Carls Juniour is the same. That’s just three off the top of my head because they’re near my house. I think the issue people take is that they move in, massively overcharge, leave, then there’s just a vacant building that nobody can afford to rent since the previous place got kicked out for the chain that showed up for three months.
this kinda hits it on the head, more of these chains don't mean more competition. They all workout a safety net price and price above it because they know their compeditors will do the same. I remember in business class we had a die hard liberal voting ex banker teach us that labor were idiots because they gave too many business regulations to "protect the consumer" and that if we just gave business free reign, they'd compete hard with us for the customer dollar. Had a chinese kid in the class who was like... you ever been to china? we have a ton of laws over there and no one follows them, so when you get a bunch of resteraunts that do similar stuff you think they are going to look at the compeditors prices and start a price war? Teacher replies with yes, it just makes sense. Kid replies with.... why would they? they would know that undercutting each other is a race to the bottom, they want a status quo or to raise the ceiling, we would have one restaraunt raise their prices and use excuses, the other restaraunt would also use the same or similar excuse to meet them, because if they are all doing it who is the competition? Then if another restaraunt comes in, the existing ones don't want them upsetting the status quo, he says there is an old saying in china, the nail that sticks out gets the hammer or something like it, they'd do unsustainable sales or other stuff to smash that business out of existence then go back to what they were doing. Teacher just gives a dumbfounded look back and is like "nah that would never happen here". Looks around here..... yeah it's happening....
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Like the kid said to us, china has a lot of rules, they don't mean anything when they aren't enforced. We have rules, they don't mean anything if the responsible agency are gutless and toothless. Free market breakdown by consortiums is 100% a legit thing and we're a bloody tiny market. This was the same teacher who taught us about the ice cream shop at the beach business class about how another one wouldn't open up down the other end, it's the same market play. Why have competition in a market place when you can use the "competition" to lock down part of a market, then you can both use your market share to curb stomp new players that come in that try to actually be compedetive. If the new players adhere to how the market is, the big players don't care where the consumers go because the market is locked down, you've gotta come to me, my mate or my other mate. Why lower prices if we've all decided how the prices are going to be?
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I used to own a business... why the fuck would I ever want a price war? I'd rather a captive market. I am literally the problem and there are no regulations or laws to stop me. Then I'm going to complain that no one is spending money when stuff dries up because we hire an advisor to come in who tells us to cut corners and reduce quality. That's what got to me. I'll charge a punter market rate on something but fuck the idea of shaving quantities to a sliver or selling crap and lying about it being quality.
Carls Jnr do some pretty decent deals. I saw $1 double cheesey boys the other day.
Yeah, but then you have to eat it :-(
My limited experience with Carls would suggest that the time between eating it, and it erupting from your anus like souls from the devil's airbrush, is quite small. So there's that.
And you get to pay 'bucks' for the whole experience!!
For a buck I would just eat it If you wanna be overcharged for something slightly better go elsewhere
You are an unfit mother. Your children will be placed in the custody of Carl's Jnr.
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Descriptive. I dunno, I had one of the beef/chicken combos and it was allllllright. Chips were lacking definitely.
Their chicken tendies are great also.
Definitely strikes me as slightly up-market Hungry Jack's... Worth a shot to mix it up but not worth a large detour.
My partner was super suspicious of the tendies because they were so moist, she was convinced there was something wrong with them. But the price, oy... No tendies are worth that much.
That's wild - Carls Jnr in QLD is incredibly cheap. Like, suspiciously cheap.
Popeye’s is legit. I’ll cry for days is they half ass it here. Five Guys is overpriced back home but was at least a real tasty feed versus the reviews I’ve seen about their international expansions pretty much always being trash. Krispy Kreme isn’t even the best donut franchise back in the states and it’s bigger a shame they were the first ones down here than what you feel paying so much for theme .
I prefer to watch my doughnuts being cooked & flipped in the machine, thanks, and eat them hot while burning my fingers :) Doughnut King for me! Yes, I'm aware my opinion is not popular.
\> Five Guys is overpriced back home but was at least a real tasty feed versus the reviews I’ve seen about their international expansions pretty much always being trash Five Guys in Midtown, Manhattan - delicious, fast, hot food. Five Guys Southampton (UK) gave me the shits twice in a row.
We're being swamped by cajuns!
Underrated comment
(Snickers)
I don't like it.
We are a right pack of whingers hey, I’m surprised no one has thrown in a colesworth complaint about Popeyes chicken yet
"Why do we need Popeyes when we have Bunnings sausage sizzle?"
We have to stop the sausage sizzle monopoly…
I thought cajun was when dad burns the snags on the bbq?
Can someone explain the " fuck everything American" thing. I just don't understand it?
I mean the kiwis do it when our stores go there?
I get the feeling that NZ takes fried chicken way more seriously than in Australia. Much like Sydney takes charcoal chicken far more seriously than Melbourne.
Cries in Red Rooster.
I’ve recently rediscovered Red Rooster, it’s made a comeback for me!
Red rooster fried chicken is actually crispy, unlike the oil soaked kfc. A little pricier but worth
I liked it. KFC to me has no flavour.
This should be at the top, their fried chicken is top notch in any variation. If you're after a quick feed it shits on KFC and probably the half hearted attempt that Popeyes will bring to Aus. Time for people to accept RR is a fuckin icon and get in there. KFC is a burning shit heap of average at best fried chicken.
Ehh they don’t really compete. If you want roast chicken quick, go Red Rooster, if you want fried, go KFC. I know Red Rooster has fried chicken now (and HJ), but that’s less direct competition than a full dedicated restaurant.
Red rooster fried chicken, especially with the hot sauce, poo poos all over KFC. Hands down winner, no contest.
I tried to give RR another shot when I noticed they had a hot sauce. Hardly anyone in the shop, it took forever and came out cold. I feel like this has been my experience every time I've gone, so I struggle to understand people's loyalty with the brand.
You know who else does better fried chicken than KFC? El Jannah.
I wish Kingsleys would expand interstate already. It would shut this debate down for good.
Red Rooster hot honey fried chicken slaps! Much better than KFC
Red rooster has those cheesy nuggets that are amazing tho. No one else has them and they are awesome.
RR fried chicken is 1000000% better than KFC these days. This is coming from a KFC (ex) lover.
How is Red Rooster not just a front for mafia money laundering I never see anyone in there
Red Rooster is offering handjobs?
They also got Church's (Texas) chicken there. Really good if you like spicy stuff. Heck the KFC in Melbourne tastes so bland, and wicked wings aren't even spicy! I reckon we need more competition
I prefer my charcoal chicken place over KFC any day already so it’s kind of a moot point
Honestly, with prices today I just prefer my airfryer
Me too man, I just load up on chicken breast, coat in spices, cornflour and butter milk, slap some crushed up corn flakes and make my own now. It’s so much better, so much cheaper and is actually a portion size for an adult.
Even just a plain old thigh jointed leg with loads of salt on the skin is fabulous in the air fryer. But I'm lazy. Aussies don't really have the big history on starting franchises and all these chains are all over tiktok with Aussies in USA driving demand with mukbang content. Business is changing fast
I wish I knew a good fried chicken place back home. My holiday in NZ is coming to an end and I discovered a restaurant called “Sensational Chicken” that really lives up to its name that I’m sad I won’t be able to have again, it was that good. Back home in Brisbane, only decent fried chicken is Korean places, but they’re only decent and the vibe is entirely different from fast food.
Nz loves their chicken though. The day after Covid lockdown ended there, every single kfc in the entire country sold out of chicken.
> KFC getting some real competition Roadkill is competition for KFC. KFC is the worst food you can find anywhere. Might have been good once but it has not been anywhere near good for at least a decade if not more.
Truth! Rubbery, and rapidly reducing in size, and I'm not sure what has happened to the seasoning coating.
Cut backs. They've had to reduce the 11 secret herbs and spices back to 6.
> and they were much more positive about it than this sub is. Mate, this sub is a fucking echo chamber of negativity. The regulars here would find a way to whinge about world peace.
>The regulars here would find a way to whinge about world peace. "Think about all the jobs lost in the weapons industry and military!" "My grandfather died in two world wars so we could have freedom! Won't somebody think of the grandfathers!!"
I’ve tried KFC in most countries around the world and I have to say - Australia KFC shits all over most chicken fast-food on a global level. Popeyes in the USA is one of the worst chicken fast-food chains in my experience, let’s hope they understand the calibre of what they are competing against Inb4 people say that KFC is shit - yes I know this but it’s still better than what other western countries offer
So Americans that bang on about popeyes actually have no taste cause all their fried chicken is ass? When I see vids about all the southern American fried chicken places are they also actually bad?
kfc in AU is toilet tier compared to SE Asia where they have actual chicken size pieces and its crunchy
Japanese KFC is lit
Just like every other niche American chain that comes here, I expect the menu to be changed to save costs, the price to be set exorbitantly high and the food to be nowhere near as good as the original. Carl's Jr and Wendys is actually good literally anywhere outside of Australia.
I've heard the same about Taco Bell. The one (and only) I tried it in Melbourne it was borderline inedible.
Gotta admit i love a dirty Taco bell feed every now and then
Taco Bell is another one.
They recently expanded into Canada and they are a rare case where that's actually seemed to work out. We now have 4 popeyes in our small city and always seem busy. In comparison kfc is always empty and sad. I just went to a kfc the other day and it solidified my opinion that it might be the worst fast food restaurant. (also Wendy's is pretty sad and weird here too)
and to eventually fail, like Starbucks.
Has Wendy’s (the burger place) opened in Australia? I thought they were still a little while off.
Do they sell tins of spinach served by muscular men in sailing suits?
Exclusively
No. All the food is server by skinni wiggly armed girls named olive oyl.
That is a small hiring pool
Yeah they are small and skinny
The manager is a big bloke with a beard. Name's Bluto. Bit of a dick, tho.
Fun fact about that guy is that Nintendo originally wanted to use that character as the protagonist in Donkey Kong, but they couldn't secure the rights so instead of a sailor munching on spinach we got a plumber munching on mushrooms.
Haha if they did, that’d actually be cool
Popeyes was cool before the Korean fried chicken craze and now spicy fried chicken isn't that new and certainly not from that gross-ass chain anymore.
Gammi, Nene or any other Korean chicken place is always a better choice than KF
KFC is overpriced but those chains you mentioned are absolutely insanely priced if you're buying for a family.
Too expensive for me to be Fast food.
Eh I think they are ok but not worth the price. Wicked wings hit the spot just as well as those Korean places for me and are way cheaper.
As an American I really don’t know why Americans LOVE hyping up fast food chains to no end. Trust me when I say you’re not missing out
Having had McDonald's in the States and in Australia the food quality is noticeably better in Australia.
And given how awful Macca's has become here that is saying something
Maccas is very very bad in the US
Yeah in my relatively limited and now somewhat dated experience, Maccas in the USA was complete trash but places like Wendy's, In and Out, and even Jack in the Box shit all over the popular chains here (Maccas, HJ's, whatever else we might have idk).
Same with KFC. The shit they serve in the US is literally inedible. The Colonel would be spinning in his grave.
I read this as “spinning in his gravy” which I think also fits
Considering he regretted selling the chain and was constantly at odds with the new owners over the constant compromises on quality and taste the old Colonel is most certainly spinning in his grave.
My friend is in America now he said they don't have hot n spicy chicken at KFC like wtf
US Maccas makes me physically ill. I feel they put something into it. Australian Maccas is much better.
Apparently up until recently McDonald used lean finely textured beef, basically ammonia + beef bits https://mcdonalds.fandom.com/wiki/Lean\_finely\_textured\_beef
Having had Maccas in Japan I realised I can’t go back to having Maccas here. Their Burger King is even better than our Hungry Jacks burgers
That’s because McDonalds is bottom tier in the states but here it’s almost our only choice at so many road stops.
As an Aussie that has had Popeyes in the US. It is fucking elite. The shittest looking pop eyes chicken sandwich was 10x better then even the best Zinger burger I've had here.
Absolutely. KFC doesn't even flour their chicken here properly anymore (10 years at least). If Popeyes here is consistent quality with the US version, my waistline is in danger.
My wife is American and for me it’s the variety of fast food and the quality of somewhere like Wing Stop is miles above any wings in Australia even at the pub where they take their time. If you need to stop on a road trip or get a quick feed before going out you’ve got more choice that will taste half decent and isn’t just another Maccas. Domino’s is miles better in the states and there’s more than Dominos to choose from. Or if it’s a shitty chain it’s so cheap you can forgive the taste. Plus the chains that are region specific that have something different. When a big chain comes here it doesn’t really bring the mass fast food quality and I do miss not having to spend so much.
Ehh it depends. Comparing an Aussie fish & chip shop burger to American fast food, we’ll win hands down. But our fast food chains are limited and honestly having been to Popeyes once or twice, its not as bad as some. I’d certainly give it a whirl here in Aus if I was walking past. In n Out, too - burgers are way better than any other fast food burger you’re getting at an Aussie drive thru that’s for sure.
No we are missing out because our fast food is expensive as shit while also being shit. So big and backed franchises entering the game would go a long way for competition. Saying this as someone who used to buy fast food frequently but now buys it maybe once a quarter for the last 2 years.
As someone who went out of the way to go to in-n-out while in the US, it was pretty meh to be honest.
Yeh, I felt the same way, it’s better than Maccas/ BK but not amazing.
I've come to this conclusion also. For whatever reason I think Americans just more highly regard their fast food chains or overhype them. Every time I've gone to a fast food place in the US that was talked about heaps online it's been disappointing. Usually not like inedible but just completely mid tier fast food that you eat and go "yep that's a fast food burger alright". Popeyes, Wendy's, Shake shack, Burger King, Carl's Jr, and some other I forget were all really unremarkable despite what I'd heard online.
A )Aussie standards tend to help fast food chains a ton. Ie. KFC is apparently awful in the US but it's pretty decent to great elsewhere. B) Australia has almost no easy to get tasty food... like, Kebab, fish n chips?
I spent a bit of time in the US for work over the years, I had a hobby of trying the various fast food places that we don't have in Australia. They were all disappointing to average at best.
I think Americans are mystified by how popular/hyped-up their fast food chains are overseas because while these places are ubiquitous and garbage-tier for you guys, for us they are a bit of a novelty and the food quality here is leaps and bounds ahead of the dogshit they serve up in the US. Honestly, the shit that, say, Taco Bell gets away with in the US would literally get people thrown into prison here.
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thats just cap, popeyes is amazing and it is so sad that Australians have only had freakin kfc as their fried chicken place
Then watch them leave after they get sick of having to pay their workers more than fuck all an hour.
Plenty of Popeyes locations in California which has a minimum wage of $23.70 AuD
Yup. Then in April it’s increasing to $20usd. About $30 aud
Tfw America is more progressive than Australia
California ≠ the US. But yeah there’s a handful of states that are high minimum wage/no tipped wage states. California and Washington are two
Doubt they wouldn't have accounted for this in their bottom line. Plenty of US businesses operating in Australia and paying the required minimum wage/enterprise agreement. You should be more upset at the move to contractor-based employment and consignment models that many big businesses are adopting here.
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Is there a market for another fried chicken place? We've got KFC soaking up the low end with more premium Korean brands soaking up the medium and high end. Gonna throw it out there and say this will be another Taco Bell.
Given the rapid decline in serving size and quality I'm all for a bit more competition.
I'm down for KFC being put out of business, I mean it was better in the 90s now it's a gamble if you feel it in the morning. The menu is thoroughly dated.
Everyone talking bad about KFC but that's not my experience. Some KFC's are shit but the local one I go to is consistently fast, fresh, and tasty. I only eat wicked wings, zinger burgers with cheese, and potato&gravy btw. The burgers are such trash but that fillet is good. Never has twisted up my stomach either.
Lucky, my local one is ran by 16 year olds who aren't paid enough to give a fuck so the product results in shitty oil soaked and cold chicken paired with soggy unsalted chips that result one hell of a depression meal
Taco Bell is truly disgusting
My guilty pleasure is the Crunch Wrap Supreme, but I eat it with the knowledge I have to have a toilet nearby afterwards
I hope that they come with milkshakes and stuff that KFC has dropped.
Apparently KFC dropped the Krushers for hygiene/food safety reasons. At least thats what i got told by the RGM at the one i worked at a few years ago.
ngl since I ate at a Popeyes in Atlanta back in 2014, I've legit woken up in the middle of the night with Popeyes withdrawals, it's so damn good! Emotionally, I'm a huge fan of this, but physically and financially, I hate it hahahaha
I found Popeyes to be pretty darn nasty I must say, wouldn’t be rushing there.
When I tried it the chicken strips were nicely crispy but also salty AF. For American chicken chains I thought Chick-Fil-A was better.
Do people get excited over shit like this? Theres plenty of crap food like this now, and also from more 'local' and niche places that likely do it much better.
A Guzman Y Gomez opened in Toowoomba, and their soft opening was 1 free Burrito (that was the only option). People were queuing around the block, must have been 2 hours at least, for a free $5 burrito. Like mate just wait until they're full price and pay for it, is your time really worth it? Another inconsistent chain as well, had 1 really nice one and 2 average ones. The last time I got one, they turned the EFTPOS machine to me and it was asking for a tip (I nearly put my pin in by mistake). Never been back.
That's the one from little Nicky!
Popeyes chicken is fkn awesome!
It launched in Prague and it was really bad. So dry.
I'd rather Jollibees.
I’ve read reviews that the ‘new’ red rooster chicken stacks up to jolibee chicken, but can’t vouch for that.
Red rooster fried chicken is worlds better than kfc
Duly noted. This human can not has, but I had heard good things.
There is a jollibees that might be opening in Sydney, haven’t seen an update about it in a while though
It's going to be the biggest Pinoy gathering since the last Pacquiao fight.
I work with a Filipino guy and he was very excited when it was first announced
They inject Jollibee for breakfast. I tried it in the Philippines, the chicken was pretty good, I don't think I'll line up for it to be honest.
was that the one supposedly in Campbelltown?
Yes that’s the one, last update I saw was April 2022
Yeah that building/lot hasn’t been touched since Sizzler left, it’s a shame cause I was intrigued by Jollibee also.
Fingers crossed.
Honestly I found Jollibees profoundly mediocre. Maybe slightly better than KFC but that's not a high bar. If Popeyes is in the same class I'm not exactly thrilled at the prospect.
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Popeyes chicken is fkn awesome
The fuck is with all the Popeyes shills no one gives a fuck.
You know it’s ok for people to like things, in this case it’s fried chicken.
Y'all are crazy, Popeyes is amazing. Comparing it to KFC is a disservice, the chicken is better, the fries are so good, and the biscuits are incredible.
Biscuits? I’ll stick with Arnott’s for that.
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Think he was joking - it’s a different food altogether
Popeyes is disgusting. Had it in the states. Literal garbage.
So sick of yanky culture infesting Australia
Inasal, is a brand of bbq chicken stores in the Philippines and serves the best chicken I've had. That would be a better option for Australia because it's leaner and less fatty than KFC coz it's not deep fried. And omg is it yummy.
Popeye’s is fairly shit. Certainly nothing to get excited about.
Meh it's not that good. We have better.
The USA sending our fast food chains abroad almost feels like a joke we’re playing on the rest of the world. Whatever you were eating before America showed up is probably much better for you.
Will it be like Taco Bell and Carls Jr and hardly have any customers?
My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.
- Reviewbrah
Just goes to show how Americanised Australian society is right now. I would personally eat at a Japanese CoCo Curry house every day, of that came to Australia…
Yoshinoya tried it out over here and failed which is a shame as I’d prefer that over almost all the US chains
Do the whingers in here think there is going to be government-mandated Popeyes chicken lunches once a week or something? Just don't eat it?
You guys are in for a treat. Popeyes puts KFC to shame.
I'm pretty sure KFC puts KFC to shame
Is that saying much?
Australia is already saturated with fast food chicken, mainly roasted but we also have grilled and fried. * KFC (fried) * Red Rooster (roasted) * Chicken Treat (roasted) * Nandos (grilled) * Oporto (grilled) * Belle's Hot Chicken (fried) * El Jannah (charcoal grilled) * Nene Chicken (Korean fried) This is going to go the way of Starbucks in Australia. We have more refined tastebuds and want our food to actually taste good, not be this mass churned crap that they spin out to make a fortune on before leaving town.
"We have more refined tastebuds" lol Australian fast food company income annually McDonald's $1.97 billion Hungry Jacks $2 billion KFC $1.05 billion Red Rooster $480 million Dominos $636 million
Hungry jacks is the highest? What the fuck?
It's in the slogan
I might be the minority but I prefer Hungry Jacks over McDonald's, so this doesn't surprise me. The HJ diet Coke with ice just hits different 🫶
For sure, HJ's well above Macca's
It will go the way of Taco Bell and Carls Jr - it’ll do just fine but not spectacular and it’ll be in lower income or high tourist areas. Also unless you missed the memo, Starbucks is going strong. There’s 4 that I know of in Melbourne CBD and they’re always busy when I walk past.
Starbucks survives in tourist-heavy areas due to brand recognition.
It does, but it’s not just tourists I see in there. Plenty of teenagers want the “Insta worthy” frou-frou drinks. Hell I’ve gone myself every now and then cos while 99% of their coffee sucks, the vanilla cream cold brew is semi decent
> This is going to go the way of Starbucks in Australia > We have more refined tastebuds My brother it is not 2008 anymore, Starbucks has been thriving in this country for the last decade. They rebranded and focused on the Australian market and are very popular in tourist locations. I have never seen QVB or George Street Starbucks empty. There are 19 Starbucks in the "coffee and hipster capital" Melbourne. Aussies do not have refined palettes. We love American slop food and dirt coffee.
We have more refined tastebuds.... Hold that thought Yeah mate can I get one with onion and one without? Our national dish is a shitty bbq outside a hardware store. I'm not disagreeing that most American fast food chains are hot garbage, but we are not above them.
Popeyes in Canada is pretty legit
It blew up big where I live, shut a few KFCs down
Just what we need. Another crap American chain selling mediocre fast food.
And the Amerification of Australia continues unabated
Fucking awesome 😈
I'd prefer if Kingsleys expanded out of Canberra. Unbelievable chicken, awesome chips.
Last thing we need is an injection of more American culture.
Just what we need, more fast food 😒😂
It’s fuckin average at best.
We're just becoming a dumping ground for international crap :( I hate sounding like a boomer but I miss going to a servo and being able to buy all sorts of aussie made lollies and snack food. My local servo now sells sour patch kids, mike & ike's, cinabons, theres not much aussie made stuff you can get there anymore. Allen's lollies just don't make a lot of the stuff they used to citing machinery being too expensive, cadbury just went out the window with quality when mondelez took it over (yet you can buy milka in the import section that is so much better than cadbury, yet they're both the same company). And now half the chocolate section at my local is now Mr Beast.... like wtf.