Our Family Used To Love Raising Cane’s, But These 8 Fried Chicken Places Are Better

Parents know the drill: soccer practice runs late, everyone’s starving, and the golden glow of a drive-thru sign feels like salvation. Raising Cane’s was our go-to for all seasons, but even a fan can admit there’s room to level up — especially when you’re feeding growing kids and starting to pay more attention to ingredient quality. After revisiting our favorite chicken chains with my own crew, we are convinced Raising Cane's isn't the crown holder it used to be.

To be clear, Cane’s sauce and made-to-order tenders keep it in the top tier. However, variety matters when you have picky eaters and a spouse who tracks sodium. Some competitors now brine their poultry in buttermilk for tenderness, pressure-fry in heart-healthier oils, or offer spice levels that let tweens graduate from ketchup to cayenne at their own pace. Others serve grilled or air-fried options alongside the classics, making it easier to mix a lighter plate for Mom while the kids still get their crunchy fix. Price also comes into play when you have multiple mouths to feed — family bundles, kids' meal freebies on weeknights, and loyalty app rewards can make a surprising difference in the monthly food budget.

If you're looking for some fried chicken places that offer more options, tastier chicken, or better deals than Raising Cane's, look no further than these 8 fried chicken places our family loves.

This post was updated in September 2025 to include updated information about some of our favorite fried chicken places and additional editorial enhancements.

Raising Cane's was the brainchild of Todd Graves. While the official restaurant opened in 1996, he dreamed it up far before that time. He had the idea for a restaurant that served only chicken fingers while taking a college class, and was told it would never work. But Todd eventually saw his dream come to life despite the negative feedback.

While there's no debate that Raising Cane's has amazingly delicious fried chicken, there are some restaurants that our family loves even more. Take a look at these eight chicken places that have superior fried chicken.

Chick-fil-A was opened by S. Truett Cathy in 1967. However, he had plenty of experience operating a small business and restaurant years before that. His first restaurant was opened in 1946 with his brother Ben.

Chick-fil-A has a secret recipe that has customers coming back for more time and time again. But more importantly, they have a huge range of sauces and flavors that appeal to all different taste buds and palates. Between buffalo sauce, barbecue, and the signature Chick-fil-A sauce, they have you covered. Many people claim that the flavor is contributed to by marinating the chicken in pickle juice. Regardless, the chicken is tasty each time!

Popeyes Chicken officially opened in 1972, but it wasn't named Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at first. The original name was Chicken on the Run. However, the restaurant wasn't quite as successful as they had hoped. So, the owner, Alvin C. Copeland Sr., rebranded and changed the chicken recipe in an attempt to attract more customers. The rebranding was successful, and Popeyes has grown to become one of the most popular chicken restaurants in America.

Popeyes Chicken has quite a kick to it. If you enjoy chicken with the perfect amount of spice, then Popeyes is the one to try. The brand has its roots in Cajun seasoning and peppery flavors that make the chicken stand out, good enough to skip the calorie-dense sauces and condiments that most fried chicken calls for.

When people think about fast food and fried chicken, one of the first restaurants that comes to mind is Kentucky Fried Chicken. Most people know the famous Colonel Harland Sanders. He opened his first KFC in 1952 after spending years perfecting his fried chicken recipe.

Kentucky Fried Chicken is the best-known fried chicken restaurant around. While the chicken is crunchy and tasty, the meals provide a whole different range of options for picky eaters. There are potatoes, biscuits, sandwiches, tenders, you name it. KFC may not pack the most flavorful seasoning, but the ubiquity and menu range make it a winner for families. Plus, KFC recently brought back the famous potato wedges after discontinuing them in 2020.

Wingstop first opened in 1994 to serve customers with superior wings. The first Wingstop opened in Texas and quickly grew to over 2,000 restaurants in the franchise.

Wingstop goes beyond fried chicken, and the flavors of the sauce are extensive. Customers can choose a variety of spices and rubs that bring a unique taste to each meal. The brand also offers sandwiches in 14 flavors, veggie sticks, corn, and dry rub — hard to find among other fried chicken joints, and a much better option for anyone trying to cut calories.

Bb.q Chicken began in Seoul, South Korea, in 1995. The goal was to create Korean fried chicken that was both delicious and top-quality. There are now over 3,500 locations all around the world, which is a testament to how tasty and delicious bb.q Chicken has grown to be.

Bb.q Chicken restaurant gives customers a unique taste of double-fried Korean wings (both bone-in and boneless). The asian fusion brand brings flavor profiles that are hard to find at other locations, like soy-garlic and gangnam-style. The Yuzu Cobb salad is a good option for lighter meals, with only 280 calories.

Jack in the Box is a burger joint, but they also sell excellent fried chicken. This restaurant opened in 1951 and quickly became the place to grab delicious cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, and tacos.

Jack in the Box offers more than just fried chicken, and that makes them a winner. They offer the widest menu here, with burgers, tacos, wraps, wings, and crispy strips. While it's not the healthiest option, it's one of the most affordable. Party bundles at Jack in the Box are often priced affordably, though prices and availability may vary by location.

Zac McLeroy and Tony Townley are the founders of Zaxby's. The first restaurant was opened in Georgia in 1990. Zaxby's was the passion project of two college friends who put in the hard work and dedication to create something incredible.

Zaxby's focuses on high-quality chicken. Their food is fresh, flavorful, and crispy. Not to mention, customers rave about how the chicken at Zaxby's is consistently great. The chicken restaurant also offers a variety of sauces you can have your chicken tossed in, with options such as ranch, honey mustard, teriyaki, and the signature Zax sauce.

Hand-breaded chicken is a favorite of both adults and children. If you are craving chicken tenders, then Slim Chickens is the perfect place to go for lunch. This restaurant was started in 2003 by Tom Gordon and Greg Smart. Over the last 20 years, Slim Chickens has grown to over 200 locations worldwide.

Fresh is the priority at Slim Chickens. This means that the chicken sold here has a higher-quality flavor than chicken that has been frozen. Slim Chickens also offers tasty options that aren't available at other chains, like the Chicken & Waffles or the Tender Mac Bowls.

Sometimes, nothing hits the spot quite like fried chicken. While Raising Cane's is a delicious option for lunch or dinner, there are so many other excellent choices. If you enjoy chicken with a little bit of kick, give Popeyes chicken a try. On the flip side, if you enjoy your fried chicken with a tasty burger, a joint like Jack in the Box is right up your alley. No matter where you like to buy your fried chicken, there's one thing for sure: our family would choose any of these eight places over Raising Cane's.