That’s because you can’t get it very easily. Even after the several months hiatus where the fast-food chain ran out of chicken for the sandwich, and then reintroduced it earlier this month, the sandwich remains an elusive member of the fast-food-hungry world. This is especially so at one of two Popeyes (Kennebunk is the other) in Maine–the South Portland location near the Maine Mall. Incidentally the Kennebunk franchise is not equipped to serve the sandwich.
Photo courtesy of Popeyes
I went to Popeyes earlier this week and let me say this: the store and its outside are a mess, dirty and unkempt. That and the awkward entrance to the store makes it even more treacherous to visit. You can enter through the very narrow road-cut entrance to Bernie and Phyls off Maine Mall Road or the equally difficult entrance off of Gorham Road. Depending on where you traveling from the location’s corner is a difficult one to navigate.
So I arrived on Thursday at 11:15. There was a line of about 10 people waiting to get inside except for the sign on the door that said this:
The sign
A peak through the windows revealed that no one was inside, not behind the counter or anywhere else. Then a maintenance man came out (from somewhere) and told us that the chef hasn’t shown up yet and no one knew where he/she was.
The Maine Mall Road Popeyes
I left and did some errands at the Mall. I returned about 12:30. The doors were open and people were inside, about the same ten, with another ten at tables, waiting to place their orders, presumably for the sandwich. Then we were hit over the head with this announcement: No more sandwiches. Come back in several hours.
Inside waiting to order until we were told: No chicken left
Imagine if McDonald’s ran out of hamburgers or Outback Steakhouse had no steak? What’s with Popeyes? Boneless chicken breasts are a staple of mass food markets. McDonald’s crispy buttermilk chicken sandwich (terrible) is always available. And Wendy’s highly touted crispy chicken sandwich is not even a close contender.
I may try again or wait for the second (the only other one in Maine is in Bangor) franchise store of Chick fil A’s to open in the Rock Row shopping center to open up in Westbrook where the highly anticipated Market Basket supermarket will anchor the site in the spring of 2020.
Until then, I’m going to buy some brioche buns, bread and butter pickles and make up a tangy mayo sauce to serve with my own version of buttermilk brined chicken breast fried to perfection.
My version of Indiana style fried chicken
Popeyes: 291 Maine Mall Road, South Portland, ME 207-835-0835 (no one ever answers the phone)
Rating: Not worthy, unforgivable
Food: Otherwise, pretty good fried chicken, a deal for three pieces and sides for about $5,99
Setting: Too much orange decor, otherwise the usual tables and booths and kind of dirty soda and condiment station at the South Portland store
Price: Very reasonable
Parking: Lots of it, with drive up window (when it’s open, which is variable)
Service: You’re lucky if there’s more than one server behind the counter much less anyone in the kitchen cooking.
