A couple observations from recent trips to two fast food chains:
First, The Missus and I hit the downtown Taco Bueno a week ago. It was underwhelming, which is pretty much how Jeff Korbelik describes it as well. Although the meal was forgettable, the bill was not. Actually, the price we paid at the store wasn't so bad. But then next day when I checked our bank account online, I was pretty shocked to see that we had been charged $72.38. Huh? I let it sit for a couple days to see if it was some sort of weird debit card glitch. Apparently it was. The $72.38 was credited back to the account without me having to do a thing. In the end, the meal was free. Odd.
Last night I ate at Popeye's for the first time. I had just wrapped up a soccer match and my dad and I were looking for a place that was open at 9:45pm. We found Popeye's at 70th and Pioneers. The two girls behind the counter were very friendly, despite the fact that the store was supposed to close in just a few minutes. They fed us well, gave us more food than we paid for, and smiled the whole time. It wasn't your typical almost-closing-time fast food dining experience. As for the food, I'd eat there again. It was no four-star grub, but it wasn't half bad for fast food fried chicken. I really should write a letter to the store's manager. Thanks to those two girls, that location is assured a return trip from me. Surely that deserves a little recognition.
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About 10 years ago I had the exact same experience with the Popeye’s on 48th and Vine. Me and my friend Rob went through the drive thru and ordered a couple pieces of chicken and some biscuits close to closing time. They handed us a ton of extra chicken and biscuits for no extra charge.
It was one of the greatest nights of my life.
I too have fallen victim to the more chix than I ordered more than once. One was late at night, and the other was cuz they only had two pieces of spicy so they threw in a bunch of extra regular.
Spicy is da bomb. The red beans or dirty rice rule as well.
Gives me the hearts burns, but is totally worth it.
Their chix strips are a bit strange though. Oh and popcorn shrimp. Dam good place.
While I enjoy the food for the price, in my experience, I feel there is good reason that “Popeyes” so closely resembles “Poopeys.”
A good friend of mine loves Popeyes, and he tells this fun story of how he and his wife were sitting at Popeyes having dinner, stressing over what they were going to do for food at his graduation reception. He was enjoying his delicious fried chicken, and said to his wife “If only we had some kind of divine intervention…” and then he looked up and saw the huge “POPEYES CATERS!” banner. I was happy to chow down on chicken legs while congratulating him several weeks later.
I might be romanticizing the story a bit, but it was something close to that.
they catered the Sandy’s holiday parties a few years when I worked there. Well kinda. They took our order and we picked up a bunch of stuff. I think they got a price break though because of the volume of the order.
Our family ate there once, over 15 years ago, and never returned. It was the worst chicken we’d EVER had and still ranks that way.
I tried it once several years ago for lunch out on West O. Thought the chicken was scrawny and more greasy than I like (and I like grease). Haven’t been back, but have been considering it.
I love Popeye’s Chicken. I was so happy when they built the one in north Lincoln. We eat there often. Plus cold left overs are great for lunch the next day.
Kind of makes the story about how I got in trouble at work for eating a couple of fries seem kinda petty doesn’t it?
Yeah I thought so.
Hello and good morning!! I’m the Senior Vice President of Operations for Taco Bueno and I would like to apologize for not meeting your expectations at our new restaurant. I would really like to know how we could have done better. My email address is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). If it is convinient for you, would you drop me a note? Thanks a lot!
I really like Taco Bueno. I’ve been going there a lot since it opened- mostly because I get in the mood for mexican a lot, and it sates my craving for cheap (I am a grad student after all.)
I know everyone raves about D’Leons, but I’ve just never liked it too much. (which sucks, cuz they’re right down the street.)
Popeyes always makes me feel greasy for days. I do love it though- it’s a rare guilty treat.
Anyway, I wrote to tell you to write that letter to the manager!!! please! People NEVER do that, and it is a huge deal. Usually, if people write to the manager, it’s only bad things.
I happened to be in the area and just had to try TB out. I got a chix chilada, chix hardshell taco, and some cheese nachos. I loves my Mex foods, and like all kinds. From La Mexicana
Tried to do King Taco for lunch about 1:30 this afternoon - doors locked, no lights, but no sign saying they were closing up shop, either. Anybody know what’s up?
I think Mr. T is the man to check into that for us, MattF. He is our resident King Taco fanboy. Calling Mr. T…
I swung by King Taco yesterday afternoon for the Saturday hard shell taco special and found it closed too. Not sure if that was a one day-off thing or if it means they threw in the towel. I’m going to guess it was possibly a Day of the Dead related closure, which means it should be open again on Monday.
I stopped by Taco Bueno this afternoon before going to the Darjeeling Limited and I thought it was pretty good. The chiladas were just like they should be as described in the recent Tex-Mex article in the NYT. The chips were great too. Light, crispy, fresh and almost greaseless.
Agreed on the chips. Usually when you go to a place and you can tell they make their own and most often they are to thick and over done.
I knew what to expect and was not disappointed. I will defiantly get an extra cheese next time though.
My only issue with the chicken was it seemed a bit dry and flavorless. I am used to mex places soaking the shredded chicken in a spicy sauce / grease which infuses tons of flavor and moisture. The chicken from TB was just diced white meat.
Beef at some places scares me, Like the Taco Inn stuff which is so ground it is hardly recognizable.
MattF -
I swung by King Taco again tonight on the way to and from the gym, and it is still closed. This is a bad sign. Either they are taking some extended time off or have thrown in the towel.
If it has closed, this only leaves El Chaparro as the neighborhood Mexican place (excluding downtown/haymarket). I love El Chaparro, but everytime I walk in there (unless its late at night) there are like 200 customers and only 8 tables.
Hadn’t seen this anywhere else ... went by what was Whiskey Creek at South Pointe yesterday. Surprised to see that the was signage gone; parking lot was empty. Shut down, I guess. I would have pegged Skeeter Barnes’ for closing before Whiskey Creek, but that was just my preference, and whenever we go to Skeeter B’s, business appears to be pretty slow.
Yeah, WC apparently went the way of the Dodo within the last week or two. I never cared much for it—I’m a Skeeter Barnes guy—but I too would have bet on Skeeter’s closing before WC. Location alone should have dramatically favored Whiskey Creek.
The realty sign went up in front of King Taco yesterday, I believe. Sign says “Available.”
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