We’re all familiar with the never-ending debate on which fast-food chain has the best-fried chicken of them all. There are ChickenJoy loyalists, Chicken McDo fanatics, and Kentucky Fried Chicken lovers, each willing to defend their choice of this sinful, greasy goodness.
But there’s a completely new territory that’s increasingly gaining popularity among busy students and employees looking for a more affordable and faster than fast-food fried chicken: Convenience Stores.
Yes, you read it right. Convenience stores are the next big thing for fried chicken.
The Ultimate Battle of Convenience Store Fried Chicken: The Criteria
We gathered up samples from four of the most popular convenience store chains in the metro and put into the most meticulous scientific test (pun intended). Here are our main considerations in ranking the best convenience store fried chicken:
The Flavor
Of course, it all boils down to taste. A good fried chicken has to be savory and a tad salty. It must be juicy, yet not too soggy. We also took the time to taste several samples from different branches to see if we can get some consistency in taste.
The Crispiness Factor
Admit it, this is what we’re all after. The joy of having a bite of that crispy breading-coated, cholesterol-infused guilty pleasure. So we gave extra emphasis on the level crispiness a combini fried chicken gives.
The Gravy
Because, what’s a fried chicken without its salty partner? The way a gravy complements the chicken plays a huge role in the overall experience. So we made sure we ain’t sleeping on that.
#4 Family Mart’s Chicken Rice Meal
Family Mart’s chicken rice meal looks and feels like your home-cooked chicken (way to go with the ‘family’ branding). A tad darker than most of the contenders in this list, this chicken meal features a just-right amount of breading to give a good amount of crunch and meat with every bite.
Coming down to the taste and texture though, I find the chicken a dry to my liking. I compensated by adding more gravy to every spoonful. The meat tastes balanced, not too salty and not too bland. And it blends well with the gravy, too. I just wish they have a spicy option for people who like their food extra hot.
Family mart’s gravy is probably the best among the contenders in this list. It has the just-right amount of saltiness in it and complements the chicken very well — adds flavor, yet not overpowering the chicken’s taste.
#3 Lawson’s Fried Chicken
Lawson, despite being a new kid on the block, gives a serious contender to our fried chicken race with an interesting twist. And if you belong to the extra-extra rice club, then Lawson is the place for you as they serve their chicken (or any other rice meal) with unlimited rice.
In terms of taste, their fried chicken is seasoned a bit towards the salty side. For this reason, I personally don’t recommend upgrading to the garlic rice option as it will only make the dish saltier. The meat is juicy enough to be easily swallowed, and the thin gravy subtly adds a little more saltiness to it.
And if you’re chili-head like me, the kind guys at Lawson would love to add a generous amount of spicy powder to your dish!
#2 7-Eleven’s Crisp Bites Chicken
Yes, the largest convenience store chain in town has finally jumped into the fried chicken death match after years of lagging behind its top competitor. Crisp Bites is 7-Eleven’s take to the crispy fried chicken, and it looks promising. However, unlike all the contenders, 7-Eleven opted to deliver their chicken to their stores instead of frying it in-house. As a result, we’re often met by empty racks in the wee hours. So good luck finding a 7-Eleven chicken in the middle of your graveyard shift.
Taste-wise, freshly delivered fried chickens taste incredibly good. The nicely breaded skin packs a lot of flavors that will make you set it aside and save for the last bites. And hey, the meat is juicy too. But when it comes to the gravy though, I find it a bit bland and lacking flavor. I often find myself adding more just to get a more pronounced taste.
Overall, Crisp Bites gives an interesting contender for the best convenience store fried chicken in the town. If only they choose to fry it in-store, they’ll give our top choice a run for their money.
#1 Ministop’s Uncle John’s Fried Chicken
This may not come as a surprise, but Uncle John — the combini fried chicken we all grew up with, still sits at the top. Ministop’s fried chicken is so good, it can even stack up against the titans of the fast-food chicken category.
What makes Uncle John’s Fried Chicken a standout? Flavor and Crispiness. The chicken itself is cooked just right, giving it the right amount of juice and a nice light golden brown color. Pour that rich gravy and you’ll get a taste of salty savory goodness in every bite. And for a hotter experience, you can opt for a spicy powder and you’re set for a spicy chicken meal.
Tip: Instead of sprinkling it all to the chicken, distribute the spicy powder evenly to the rice and gravy. It’ll make your ears steam. Guaranteed.
Fried Chicken for The Win
There you have it, our ultimate matchup of the best convenience store fried chickens in town. What do you think? Does Ministop really deserve the crown? Let us know in the comments!
Oks manoks!