Our Family Used To Love Raising Canes, 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, it was a top pick. 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 Canes isn't crown holder it used to be.

To be clear, Cane’s sauce and made-to-order tenders keep it in the top tier. But variety matters when you have picky eaters and a spouse tracking 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 with 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.

Let's look at 8 places

Raising Canes 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 any negative feedback.

While there's no debate that Raising Canes has amazingly delicious fried chicken, there are restaurants out there that have superior fried chicken. Or at the very least, fried chicken that is just as good as Raising Canes. Take a look at these nine 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. Mustard, signature Chick-fil-a sauce, spicy, bbq, they have you covered. Many people claim that the flavor is contributed to 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 hoped at first. 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 it's 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 friend 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 friend 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.

Wingstop first opened in 1994 to serve customers 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 offers sandwiches in 14 flavors, veggie sticks, corn, and dry rub - hard to find among other chain friend 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 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 friend Korean wings (both bone-in and boneless). The asian fusion brand brings other flavor profiles in 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 carries more than just fried chicken and that makes them a winner. They offer the widest menu here, with burgers, tacos, warps, wings, and crispy strips. While it's not the healthiest option, it's one of the most affordable. Party bundles include enough food for a family for only $22.99.

Zaxby's was started by Zac McLeroy and Tony Townley. 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.

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. Throughout the last 20 years, Slim Chickens has grown to over 200 locations throughout the United States and world.

Fresh is the priority at Slim Chicken. This means that the chicken sold here has a higher quality flavor than chicken that has been frozen.

Sometimes, nothing hits the spot quite like fried chicken. While Raising Canes 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 – these eight places have superior chicken to Raising Canes.