Popeyes Sri Lanka.

Popeyes, the American multinational fast food chain of fried chicken is finally here! With the help of Softlogic, they've launched their first branch in Sri Lanka, right at the basement of Mount Lavinia Softlogic Glomark supermarket.
 
We decided to pop in for a First Look. 

Ambience & Service

We actually had to wait quite a while till the coast is clear, so we can take this picture.

Popeyes opened their doors less than a week ago, and yet, it's already swamped with customers. There's a long queue leading up to the counter, and almost all the booths are full. Thankfully, we managed to grab two seats as soon as we entered, but we noticed that a couple of bigger groups had to wait around a bit to sit down.

It's a tight space, featuring a black, orange and white colour theme, along with a mix of cushy seats and wooden furniture in the seating arrangement. Here they can accommodate at least 30 customers at a time.

It's self-service here. You order your food from the counter, keep an eye on the screen until it pops up that your order is ready, grab it from the collection point, and eat. They don't take long to serve the food. Ours arrived within 3 – 5 minutes.

What We Had

Pretty much everything here revolves around fried chicken. They've got a few burgers, wings, popcorn chicken, and even rice with chicken. Aside from that, we also spotted a few seafood dishes. However, we also realised that it's missing some of the signature dishes – like Popeyes Biscuits.
The Regular Classic Chicken Sandwich Combo (Rs. 900) arrived with a Classic Chicken Burger, French Fries and a soft drink. 
 
It's a simple burger – just a fillet of fried chicken, mayo and some zucchini. Light, crispy, and golden-fried, the Classic Chicken was quite juicy. 
 
The bun is the ultimate winner here. It's soft, airy, moist and tastes, looks and smells extremely buttery.
Sprinkled with Cajun-style seasoning, the fries were crispy and salty.
The Spicy Signature Chicken (Rs. 580 for 2pc) had a browner texture from the outside in comparison to the Classic, simply because of the blend of spices that had been included in the batter. It's the same light, crispy batter, carrying a spicy undertone.
 
From what we gathered, they have to keep it mild, as adding more spices to the batter would make it even darker in colour.
The Peri Peri Wings (Rs. 340 for 4pc) was comparatively spicy and had a brighter shade.
This is the Classic Rice With Grilled Chicken (Rs. 450). The rice was aromatic and well-seasoned, the onion sambol was peppery, while the chicken had a firm and juicy texture. However, the highlight here was the gravy, which had this nice, mutton curry-like flavour. 
 
On the drinks side, Popeyes serves soft drinks, coffee, iced milo and mojito.
With a mild limey-kick seeping through, this Virgin Mojito (Rs. 220) was refreshing, fizzy and had the fresh hit of mint.
The Iced Milo (Rs. 260) wasn't exactly milo-y, and leant towards the milky side. 

Conclusion

As of now, Popeyes has its moments. We'll be back in another few weeks for the full review, so stay tuned!

*Photographs courtesy of: @raveen.re
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

Highlights.

Latest.

KAMU.

Across Borders: A Culinary Bridge Between India and Sri Lanka Through Peshawri’s Timeless Flavors

By Vimasha Vishvadari Peshawri, a renowned restaurant chain, originated from the iconic Bukhara restaurant in

Highlights Kamu

Tenkū – a hidden Gem of the Japanese Cuisine

By Vimasha Weerawansha Ambience  The Kingsbury Rooftop offers a breathtaking panorama of the cityscape and

Highlights Kamu

Discovering Kamikura: A Journey into Authentic Japanese Cuisine

dBy Sharon Nonis Welcome to Kamikura, where the essence of Japanese cuisine meets the heart

Kamu

Full’R Burgers is Flipping into Maharagama

by Vimasha Vishvadari If you're on the lookout for the ideal burger spot in the

Kamu

Yi Jing Unveiled: Sri Lanka’s Top Chinese Dining at ITC Ratnadipa Blends Tradition with Modern Flair

By Poornima Bandara Yi Jing Unveiled: Sri Lanka’s Premier Chinese Dining Experience at ITC Ratnadipa

Highlights Kamu

Seafood Watti Rice: A Flavorful Feast from Fathi’s Spice Attic

Watti Rice is a delightful Sri Lankan dish that combines various meats, such as seafood

Highlights Kamu

Trending.

Celebrate the Season with The Kingsbury’s Festive High Tea Buffet at Churros

Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with a Festive High Tea Buffet at

Trending

A Limited-Edition Christmas Masterpiece: Hazelnut & Passion Yule Log Train by Shangri-La Colombo

This festive season, Shangri-La Colombo unveils an exclusive culinary treasure - the Hazelnut & Passion

Trending

Colombo’s Most Anticipated Holiday Sing-Along Is Back in Town!

This December, the festive spirit is set to hit a high note as Christmas Crescendo,

Trending

Cook, Dine, and Celebrate the Season with Tabletop Teppanyaki at Tenkū

This Christmas, Tenkū offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience that puts you in control of the

Trending

A Taste of the Atlantic at The Kingsbury’s Ocean

This festive season, Ocean, The Kingsbury’s celebrated seafood restaurant, invites you to embrace a world

Trending

Mount Lavinia Hotel Hosts Traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony, Welcomes the Christmas Season with Festivities and Special Offerings

Mount Lavinia Hotel welcomed the festive season in grand style with its traditional Annual Tree

Trending

Yamu Guide.

Tea, Treats, and Tidings: The Christmas Menu of t-Lounge by Dilmah

By Vimasha Weerawansha t-Lounge by Dilmah is a sophisticated tea experience that blends tradition with

Highlights Yamu Guide

Festive Feasts: Top Christmas Buffets of 2024

By Fathima Rukaiya Looking for the perfect spot to indulge in a festive Christmas buffet?

Highlights Yamu Guide

9 Unisex Gift Ideas for Your Friends

Written by Fathima Rukaiya, Finding the perfect gift for your friends can be a delightful

Highlights Trending Yamu Guide

9 Must-Read Self-Help Books for Personal Growth

By Jordain De Mel In recent years, people have turned to self-help books to serve

Highlights Yamu Guide

Top Restaurants with the best Cashback offers from Mintpay

With Mintpay, have a gastronomic journey and earn cashback rewards as you go! Every taste

Highlights Yamu Guide