“Chicken chicken, what combo are we pickin’?”
This playful catchphrase invites customers to explore a menu so simple that it only consists of four items—chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast and coleslaw. With a menu so simple, how has Raising Cane’s thrived throughout the 28 years they have been open? Cane’s sauce is known throughout the Midwest, but is it really that good? Let’s find out if Raising Cane’s is worth the hype.
The Raising Cane’s location I selected was the one located in Johnston, Iowa. Upon arrival, I was met with the big red words on top of the walls: “ONE LOVE.” This made me wonder what it means. According to Raising Cane’s website, “ONE LOVE” is their motto to “always serve the most craveable chicken finger meals.” According to their website, serving delicious food is Raising Cane’s one love.
The interior of the restaurant had bright and bold colors on the walls and a mural. It had quirky decor, such as disco balls hanging from the ceiling. While waiting in line I watched as people enjoyed their meals with family and friends. Then, I ordered the 3-Finger Combo, which includes three chicken fingers, fries, toast, a 22 oz drink and their signature Cane’s sauce in a 2 oz container. My total was $9.62 after taxes and I waited around seven minutes to get my meal.
When I did get my styrofoam container, I dug into the fries because fries are only good when they are hot. The fries were hot, and my first bite made a nice crispy sound while the inside was soft. That got me excited because, most of the time, my fries were never hot—they were not freshly fried like the ones at Raising Cane’s. I found out later that they are made to order, so you always get a hot bite when you get your meal. I tried the Texas toast, and it had a little bit of a thin crisp layer on one side while being nice and soft on the inside. Then, it was time to try the chicken finger. The thin layer of breading on the outside added a nice crispy crunch. It was hot and a little juicy, which I enjoyed because I like to eat my chicken plain, and it is hard to eat dry chicken. I dipped it into the Cane’s sauce, and let’s just say I do not understand why people like it. The sauce tasted like salad dressing mixed with some other sauces such as ketchup, mayo, etc.
To get different opinions on Raising Cane’s, I interviewed past customers Maddie Cunningham and Josiah Rudison.
“My initial thoughts were that it was bussin. I thought it was really good,” Cunningham said. “I really like them. I think they are crispy, crunchy, juicy on the inside. They are always hot.”
Cunningham talked about some arguments she has heard against Raising Canes.
“I have heard people say that they don’t really like Cane’s because they think Cane’s is basic. There’s no seasoning on them,” Cunningham said. “First of all, I never noticed, but I don’t eat the tenders by themselves. I always eat it with the Cane’s sauce.”
I also talked to Rudison, who had other opinions about Raising Cane’s.
“It is unseasoned, bland, doesn’t taste good enough for me. The only thing that’s good there is their toast,” Rudison said. “It is like a phenomenon they are still in business. A sauce cannot be that good.”
Rudison disliked that the chicken was bland for the most part, but he did admit that the chicken tenders were crispy and crunchy. Unlike other customers, Rudison considers Cane’s sauce to be overrated.
Overall, my final thoughts are that Raising Cane’s is a fast-food chain you can depend on when you want a hot bite of chicken, fries or toast. The Cane’s sauce can be a hit or miss for some people. If you do want seasoned chicken, then Raising Cane’s may not be for you. Raising Cane’s supports charitable efforts through their Plush Puppy Program, having donated over $2 million to various community rescues, dog parks, shelters and more. So, “Chicken chicken, what combo are we pickin’?”
