With Popeyes as its most recent addition, Oswego is currently the home of three fried chicken oriented fast food restaurants, with the others being KFC and Tully’s Tenders. More specifically, each establishment stands out for its offering of chicken tenders as a prominent menu item, each with its own spin on the dish.

Despite their close proximity, each restaurant has its own distinct variety of delicious, mouth-watering tenders and coinciding sauces which warrant respect and consumption for their own respective reasons. However, a major debate lies in the matter of how these businesses rank up against each other, as well as which chicken-based eatery holds supremacy over the others.

3.) Tully’s Tenders

I pride myself in being a huge Tully’s fan. From my hometown location to those throughout the central New York area, it has always been a delight to enjoy the chain’s delectable chicken tenders whenever possible. After all, the business refers to its products as “The Best on Earth” for a reason. 

Naturally, when the news broke that a fast food version of the restaurant was coming to Oswego, I brimmed with joy over the idea of accessing its delicious tenders at a close by location at a drive thru pace. While its food helps to somewhat fill the void left by a lack of a sit down Tully’s, Tully’s Tenders unfortunately does not entirely make the cut in terms of quality. Flash fried and overbreaded, these tenders greatly imitate Tully’s beloved menu items, yet fail to entirely replicate what makes them great. However, the restaurant’s offering of side sauces, like Asian and Buffalo, helps eliminate the issue of soggy tenders which plagues the sit down Tully’s flavored offerings.

2.) KFC

Considering restaurants like Popeyes or Chick-fil-a are less apparent in the area, the more widespread KFC is the niche chicken eatery people go to out of convenience to fulfill their fried chicken needs. As such, overfamiliarity with its products and tastes somewhat hurt its ranking on account of a desire for new flavors and menu items. Despite the oversaturation of its locations, Colonel Sanders’ offerings still prove to be delicious and dependable, especially in moments where one’s hunger is severe. In terms of its tenders, not much is offered beyond its classic version, thus leaving little to be desired for those looking for variety. However, their spicy Nashville Hot iteration provides enough of a zip to warrant ordering on a frequent basis, that is, if the restaurant does not skimp out on the sauce.

1.) Popeyes

Recency bias aside, there is little debate when naming Popeyes as the best of Oswego’s fast food chicken restaurants. With their spicy, cajun-style batter, its tenders are so bursting with flavor that they may be happily eaten without any condiments to enhance them. When paired with Popeyes cajun fries and popcorn shrimp, food-lovers are bound for a heavenly meal which is sure to leave bellies happy and filled. Transcending past the taste and preparation of common chicken tenders, the southern-themed eatery offers consumers a much-needed change in pace when it comes to their fast food, and more aptly, fried chicken options.

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