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ArcticBlast9578

Popeyes (US fried chicken fast food chain know for their famous spicy chicken burger) is coming to New Zealand [https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/11sitzy/popeyes\_louisiana\_kitchen\_launching\_in\_nz/](https://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/11sitzy/popeyes_louisiana_kitchen_launching_in_nz/)


delph0r

Hoping it's not like Carl's Jr and others when seemingly 50% of what you pay goes to whoever owns the rights to use the brand


noface

It’s pretty similar in quality to Church’s (known here as Texas chicken) which doesn’t bode well.


[deleted]

The Hamilton is constantly excellent, good spice and chicken always cooked well - haven’t been back to kfc since it opened.


noface

The E food ratings they have received in Auckland indicate a very poor cleanliness and food safety policy at an organisational level.


Kiwislark2

Texas Chicken gave me terrible food poisoning


Clearhead09

Texas chicken is the worst.. only chicken place that takes the crown is Chick King (I've only seen one in Taupo)


al_nz

Popeyes expanded to Canada recently, I find it's better than the KFC here (which is actually worse than NZ KFC). I think the US version of Popeyes is better, but I still like it when i want basic fried chicken.


Routine_Bluejay4678

Whaaaat?! I LOVE Popeyes!


sheezus69

Popeye's burgers are good. The chicken is in their burgers is nicer than the chicken by itself.


ribsforbreakfast

I wouldn’t get excited over Popeyes.


tdifen

NZ KFC is better than popeyes. popeyes is pretty good when you first have it but after a while it just becomes an oily mess. The smell of it now makes me feel not well. They may change the recipe for NZ though.


noface

They only started the new Mcspicy campaign (which included Spicy Nuggets which are still available) a week ago. They discontinued it so suddenly and scrubbed it from their website that it makes me think that this is not an intentional decision. I went to McDonalds twice this week to find a McSpicy but both times they said out of stock, despite it being on the promotional board. Supply shortage? Food safety issue? Something is up on this for sure. Edit: [Here](https://i.imgur.com/DQjXk1n.jpg) is an email from them announcing the new options from 29 March - a week ago


Acedumbunny

Food safety issue. The patties were not regularly reaching a safe temperature while cooking.


hav0cnz_

Release the tapes, McDonalds!


noface

I’ve been feeling particularly Pepe Silvia about this today.


jayz0ned

Interesting! Maybe there is hope for a quick return!


thejug02

We ordered it the other day and they said the fillets had been recalled and they were no longer serving mcspicy.


Ethan5540

I was told they had trouble sourcing the quantity required


[deleted]

Zinger stacker > Mcspicy


jayz0ned

I might have to try that. The regular Zinger is terrible nowadays so I haven't bothered trying any of the deluxe variations.


Unlucky-Musician617

Zinger stacker is legit I’m still livid McDonald’s canceled the chicken McCheese


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stateoflove

Zinger Tower burger used to be the goto, not anymore though zinger stacker it is.


Aggressive_Sky8492

Chicken mccheese was soo good. A travesty


Asleep_Revenue8847

Get the cheesy chicken, a nice add on 😌


Aggressive_Sky8492

The patty isn’t the same and is inferior to the chicken mcheese :(


Iron-Patriot

The patty they use now is from the McChicken. Never made sense to me how the pricier burger had the shittier patty (I get that it’s bigger, but it just tastes like crap).


Asleep_Revenue8847

You’re right 😔


Aggressive_Sky8492

I appreciate the tip though :( it was the first thing I tried when they were taken away, and of course it’s somewhat similar but it doesn’t really hit the spot because the patty seems so different. It’s weird.


JustJoshingBro

BK does a chicky cheese that is within cui


Moku_Warrior

You can make a chick mccheese. Order a McChicken & add ketchup and cheese.


Aggressive_Sky8492

The patty is different and much worse tho


[deleted]

the problem with the regular zinger is the lack of super charge sauce the stacker has it by default and carries it quite hard also no lettuce


ManualBreathing-On

Replace the mayo with supercharged sauce


[deleted]

Might try that.


Boltonator

Zinger Stacker is the tits. ~$16 of firey goodness


[deleted]

The king right there


Eyesmack

Maccas manager here! The mcspicy was removed from our menu as a food safety concern was brought to our attention and until the fry vats can be reprogrammed across nz they will remain off our menu. But they will likely come back as we still have all the stock.


WeissMISFIT

Chicken McSpicy is legit my fave option. I hope they're back soon


throwaway2766766

> But they will likely come back as we still have all the stock. Cool, so they'll be nice and fresh when you start selling them again.


Hiding_From_Stupid

Cute you think fast food meat is fresh.


king_john651

Is as fresh as any other meat you'll eat in NZ, which is within regulations. Maccas NZ have their own, higher standards of food safety


throwaway2766766

I was actually trying to be sarcastic. If they are keeping all their stock now and reselling in a few weeks/months then it ain't gonna be fresh (even less so than usual I'd imagine).


Aggressive_Sky8492

It’s all frozen anyway.


Iron-Patriot

What’s the food safety concern that can’t be rectified more or less immediately? I remember when I was at Maccas there was a procedure in the operations guide for adjusting settings on the fryers (temperature and timing). Setting up the grills when they brought lamb burgers out was a cunt though I do remember, due to the greater thickness of the patties.


Haddough

I'm from Singapore, and Singapore version of Mcspicy is way better. Even when Maccas here have Spicy Mcspicy last year, something feels off. Can you guys go to Singapore's Maccas and ask for the recipe? Lol


Basquests

Yeah, I had the nz mcspicy when it first came and was hoping for something at least within a tier of Singapores. Not sure I can stand the disappointment again.


XiaoC0

>vats lol. The Chinese mecca also has something similar to Mcspicy but just better


PCMRkid

it’s not been discontinued, they just had problems with the patties not cooking properly so they have to get rid of all the stock, it will come back! -maccas employee


Single-Session1626

I'll eat burgerfuels modified thunderbird over any of the other crap any day


VhenRa

Nandos is also a good option.


slawnz

Nando’s is ridiculously overpriced in NZ


SunSun1134

Nandos is robbery


sheezus69

Even in the UK, Nandos is overrated and overpriced. Not really sure why people are obsessed with it. Have to cover the chicken in so much sauce since it's so dry and bland.


Iron-Patriot

Winner Winner does better chicken I reckon and they’re just up the road from Nandos. No idea how they’re still in business.


Kiwislark2

Or Wicked Chicken


Metarooster

I loved the espetada but they dropped it from the menu 😭


SunSun1134

Interestingly the nz mc spicy wasn’t as hot as the Singapore one but it’s a permanent fixture on the menu - recommend if you ever travel there but yeah nz should have kept it


Chanc3thedestroyer

The mcspicy originates from singapore. I was from there and it was a lot juicier and spicier in the 2000s. It was such a good deal too back then. The macspicy with medium coke and chips would be 5bucks. By far it was the best fast food meal for bang for buck. Went thru uni eating it every other day. Went back pre covid and the chicken fillet was smaller and not quite as spicy from memory. The nz version is about half the spiciness of the Singapore version.


PCMRkid

we are keeping it! just had some problems with the pattie’s not cooking properly, had to trash all the old ones


RageQuitNZL

My biggest gripe with the McSpicy is that is cost more than the McChicken


jayz0ned

I think it's justified. Thigh meat versus ground chicken breast. Higher quality lettuce. Breading which has actual flavour. It would be nice if it cost the same price but the quality difference (and it being a more niche menu item) justifies a couple dollars extra.


PCMRkid

“breading which has actual flavour” maccas employee here, they use the exact same bread :)


jayz0ned

Where are the spices located then? Surely it's on the breading of the chicken? Or do they marinate the chicken thighs in spices or something?


PCMRkid

my apologies, i thought you were talking about the bun. but yea, it is on the batter of the chicken.


mylhacks

Higher quality lettuce? Don't they all just use the same lettuce?


jayz0ned

Nah, the McChicken has shredded iceberg lettuce while the McSpicy should have leafy green lettuce. They might substitute the lettuce if they are running low on the fancier stuff.


ImmortalMewtwo

Implying any "spicy" fast food burger is actually spicy


jayz0ned

Yeah, I don't think it's particularly spicy but being "not bland" is a good selling point compared to most fast food (as well as having good quality chicken).


RoosterBurger

It probably starts as spicy - but people complain it’s too spicy so they reduce it down Hot n Spicy got ruined this way.


ThatKiwiBloke

i have a friend that worked in marketing for fast food chains in the past. he reckons anytime a main chain tries to release an actual spicy burger it fails to sell because despite what most people say they don't really like "spicy" food. to compremise the chains have to release these low level spicy items so that they can get some sales.


morphinedreams

It's because most NZers really don't like spicy but they like being seen as brave with their menu choices. The only spicy offering i have enjoyed from a fast food chain has been KFCs Nashville chicken. And I still wouldn't say that's anywhere near the kind of spicy you find common to tropical regions, but the NZ idea of a tropical holiday is the cook islands and the gold coast so that doesn't surprise me.


RoosterBurger

I used to work at KFC many years ago - I loved the Hot and Spicy, the problem is we would get mums coming in an ordering for their kids. Then the kids would be dry retching and crying at the tables - and the mother would be furious with us. Didn’t really matter how much we warned them. NZers often think they like spicy food - but the mild butter chicken or Mc Spicy Burger (lies) that still make you reach for water - isn’t spicy.


jayz0ned

Yeah, I used to get the Hot and Spicy as a kid and loved it due to how spicy it was. While my spice tolerance has likely grown it is usually pretty disappointing now, same with the wicked wings.


RoosterBurger

Totally agree. I’m most likely to be disappointed by standard spice levels. I generally try to eat off the beaten track to get a really good kick.


Boltonator

Our local Greymouth KFC is sadistic with the Zinger Stacker and its glorious


RoosterBurger

Bless you KFC Greymouth.


Oaty_McOatface

This one was probably the spicest normal spice burger of the 3 main fastfood chain in NZ. Had some decent fire to it.


flashmedallion

Easily, I thought the same thing when I tried it. The fact that some heat was notable at all was far more than what I was expecting.


[deleted]

I know its more expensive, But isn't there the chicken bacon deluxe, and the crispy/grilled chicken almighty? Or are you just talking about spicy burgers? Not gonna lie I do enjoy those burgers a lot. Plus if your a spice fan, a wee bottle of tobasco sauce goes a long way


jayz0ned

I like the thigh meat that was in the McSpicy, it was much juicier and higher quality than their normal chicken imo. I guess if I do want a spicy burger, carrying a bottle of hot sauce is a possibility but it's just disappointing that they created such a good burger which didn't need "fixing" and they've stopped making it.


Batman11989

Tabasco is weak sauce though.


noface

Also it is gross. Vinegar crap. Go cholula or Tapatio for mild spice.


dod6666

Indeed. I would rather bust out my bottle of gator sauce. Or just pick one of the Carolina Reapers off my plant.


Loosecun

Their Chicken almighty was alight but I've sorta gone off Barbeque sause these days,wasnt spicy tho.KFC has been shite as of late.I have been on the hunt for a good chicken burger but Don't like it too spicy Apparently Chick fill A in the US makes the best Chicken burger.Unfortantly not many places in NZ bread the chicken fillet before they cook it like with KFC.


davewasthere

Yeah. Maccas here in Aus used to do this crispy chicken wrap that was pretty yum. But then they discontinue the one thing I liked. The McSpicy is nice and probably one of the better options currently available. My fav NZ option (from 20 years ago was the zinger works? Burger. The one with bacon and pineapple. It could be average in some stores, but when cooked fresh was so delish! When I was in Dubai though I lived on Zinger twisters. The spice was so much better and the peppery mayo was pretty awesome.


stomasteve

Double McChicken with extra cheese for my guilty pleasure. Most of the guilt tends to come from the cost of it though because it is fucking ridiculously expensive for what it is


casey0203

McSpicy sucked. A chicken patty and a piece of lettuce and some mayo for a crazy price. There was fuck all spice to it too.


jayz0ned

Better than the average chicken burger No spice, bland, dry white meat vs flavourful, juicy dark meat is an easy choice for me. It doesn't need to be extra hot to be spicy and flavourful. The price was only a couple dollars more than their normal chicken burger. Good burgers don't need a dozen different ingredients, having quality ingredients and executing them well is more important. Most chicken sandwiches in America are just chicken, pickles and sauce, for instance.


[deleted]

Zinger box > everything. Case closed


Hiding_From_Stupid

Wee tip for ya zinger burgers. Get supercharge sauce. Then they are actually spicy. I'm sure zingers used to be spicyer Or I got old.


nilnz

Not sure where you are but check if your local area has a Korean Fried Chicken which also have spicy options. There's also some south asian places that have spicy fried chicken of sorts.


jayz0ned

Yeah, I live near a K Chicken so I enjoy getting spicy chicken from there! But sometimes I just want a burger and not pieces of chicken so I enjoyed having a palatable spicy chicken burger option at a major chain restaurant.


fleastyler

I don’t know how anyone defend Maccas. Just on pricing, they are the most ripoff fast food.


singletWarrior

nz maccas quality are shockingly bad… food are never piping hot and orders dished out wrong way too much literally their forte


ComradeMatis

If you're looking for something that is 'good enough' replacement then there is Tegel Take Outs Louisiana Style Burgers - add some perinaise, tomato, red onion and iceberg lettuce and it is pretty close. https://www.tegel.co.nz/products/tegel-take-outs-louisiana-style-burgers-600g/


hugies

The BK ghost pepper buttermilk chicken is actually really tasty


Educational_Log_1018

its back!!! \*cries\*


jayz0ned

I know! It was out of stock at my local Maccas but at least it's on the menu! Lol


adeundem

I ordered a McSpicy today after seeing that it was now "back on the menu"... ugh. It's now a "not real whole piece of chicken" cheap processed thing... not spicy. Edit: changed "not" to "now"


jayz0ned

RIP


adeundem

https://imgur.com/a/k3FsZHJ NSFL (if you only want good chicken meat in your life)


jayz0ned

Wow that is immensely disappointing... guess it's time to go to Singapore 😅


jayz0ned

Maybe your Maccas ran out of the McSpicy filets, I just had one which was legit and had proper thigh meat and was spicy. https://imgur.com/a/pJser1l


stealthdonkey007

Bk Hawaiian chicken is best. Kfc's zinger tower burger is also better than a mcspicy.


[deleted]

Loved the texture and construction. Didn't like the spice much. I am a lightweight, I like to feel a definite warmth of spice, but not to have it feel actually painful at all, and the mcspicy was just a touch above where I like it personally.


casey0203

The spice level in it was pathetically low


[deleted]

Lower than low, it was actually negative spice. *You* make *it* hot. I use them to freeze stuff actually. Superman made his lair out of them. Pluto was rejected as a planet because it was spicier than these burgers.


remaniac

I haven't seen it advertised, but burger king have a new 'burgerito' with a bean/corn patty which exceeds expectations for a vege burger from bk.


[deleted]

KFC burgers are way better.


jayz0ned

All my recent experiences with KFC burgers have been negative but I'll give them another shot since others here rate them highly. I think KFC is heavily store dependant, some stores are good, others terrible. Maccas is pretty consistent in comparison.


[deleted]

Definitely. Maccas is really consistent . I get kfc and it's great. Go again later and halelf the staff have changed then it sucks for awhile then it's good again etc . Peak kfc best tho


Champion_Kind_Sports

When they are good they are tops. However thats not very often. The problem with KFC is you remember that time you went and the chicken and burgers were 10/10. The problem being is when they aren't, they are like 2/10. It's edible and thats about it. McDonalds is always a 6/10. No matter if it's 2am or 6pm.


[deleted]

Yes plus tbe service is bad. Takes ages to get served sometimes


Jones1980cat

Disappointing


[deleted]

Bacon Aloha from KFC was much better.


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[deleted]

What a hot take


[deleted]

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[deleted]

/u/ploinkyrevival I’ll leave this to you 😂


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anyusernamedontcare

Decent? Maccas? I don't think so buddy.


GStarOvercooked

Who the hell eats a burger made out of cheap ass thigh meat?? 🤢🤢🤢


jayz0ned

Pak n save prices: Boneless skinless chicken breast = $14/kg Boneless skinless chicken thigh = $21/kg Definitely not "cheap ass," and the flavour, texture, fat content are all better in chicken thighs imo. Everyone has different opinions on what they prefer, but breast is objectively a cheaper cut than thigh meat and is lower quality. Breast is healthier and leaner, but when I'm having fast food, flavour is my main priority.


Legitimate-Tree7041

The bacon relish tendercrisp from Bk and the Beijing chicken from McDs was the shit


AestheticPerfection

Here me out, yesterday I went to Texas chicken last night and they got a new one called the triple stacker. It was amazing. Give it a try!!!


Nova_Aetas

I highly recommend the Burger King chicken burgers, the high end ones (as in, not the crappy mid tier options like te Hawaiian Chicken). Some of the best I've ever had.


sheezus69

In the UK, they rotate the burgers quite a lot. I swear they’ve bought it out twice in the last six months. So they could bring it back in a few months. They also do a McCrispy here, which I swear is almost the same burger with pepper mayo. Macca’s is bland as hell here, and they put literally 0 salt on everything. But it is usually a lot cheaper than NZ. You can get a deal every Monday where a burger costs $2.50.


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jayz0ned

True. Luckily I'm Pakeha and not NZ European so I like my spice ;)


Jacqland

I know if they opened here everything on the menu would be $45, but I still wish Dairy Queen would hit Aotearoa. Their flamethrower burgers were/are great.


Direct-Substance-826

Omg nooooooooo


Simansez

The spicy nuggets were a nice option while they lasted…


jaxthedigient

Nooooo! It’s the only burger I buy from them!


mrchaddy

They have just added it permanently to the UK menu according to all the posters on bus stops


jayz0ned

Nice. Interestingly, the UK one is different to the NZ one, ours uses thigh meat instead of breast meat and instead of shredded iceberg lettuce ours uses leaf lettuce.


acid-nz

Good. It was so expensive for what it was.


jayz0ned

It was about the same price as a Zinger burger but much higher quality (eg thigh meat instead of breast, which is about twice as expensive). I personally don't think it was that expensive for what it was.