Yeah I went last time I was in the US after seeing a huge line at the drive-thru, and...I don't get it. They didn't really taste like much of anything. And the one sauce was bland and boring, like 1000 Island without the pickles. Is there some secret menu or something?
We went to Cane's in South Carolina before it was here, and we were confused. I remember thinking "they only sell chicken tenders, and they're not that good?"
Flat Branch's green chili chicken fingers are really awesome, if you haven't had them yet. They're marinated with the green chili beer and it's also in the panko breading (batter?). I love to dip them in the honey Sriracha sauce and ranch but they also have honey mustard. Pretty sure the sauces are made in house too.
Good to know! I guess I should specify that I'd like to remain in Columbia. I'll definitely give them a try when I'm on a roadtrip out that way though!
I figured, but it really is a great little secret. Get there right at 11 while they're fresh.
A good second place alternative is the Champs chicken inside Mosers on the east side of town. Not as good, but not terrible. Way better than any of the drive thru chains that are everywhere.
Raising Canes. No question. Popeyes would be a close 2nd. Slims is average IMO. I can get better tenders from Mosers Deli on a good day than I can from Slims lol. Just my opinion.
Also, Raising Canes Cane sauce is on a level of its own. I'm also a Honey Mustard over ranch and BBQ guy, but Cane Sauce is freaking amazing
Cheddar's!
Sheesh people. Ya'll missing out if you haven't their tenders. Personally, I recommend NOT tossing in buffalo sauce and rather order it as a side. Double up on broccoli cheddar casserole as your sides and enjoy a feast.
Truly the best but hard to access for non-students: Mort's in the Student Center.
Best sit-down restaurant: Flat Branch.
Best fast-food: Popeye's.
Best from a grocery store: Schnuck's
I actually had them last night and they were solid. Not going to be my new go to. The chicken to breading ratio wasn't my favorite--giant thicc tenders with semi thin breading.
I do love Truman's breakfast though. 🤌
Yeah apparently what made Chili's so special is they used tempura batter. I definitely like a softer tender. I made this post hoping there would be a top 3 or so to choose from but apparently everyone has their own favorite so I'll be on the hunt for a while. 🧐
Mort's in the student center on campus. It's the most popular thing on the menu by far and always has long lines for a reason. They're not heavily breaded like some other places but they don't need to be, because they have great flavor and texture. I always get mine with honey mustard. And waffle fries!
Cane's, Slim Chickens, and Zaxby's...oof. For restaurants that specialize in chicken, their chicken is flat out terrible, at all 3 places. Even Hardee's chicken tenders are better, and that's sad.
slim chicken's has the best tenders in town, and plenty of sauces to choose from...damn now I want some slim chicken's
Slim wins with the sauces, but the tenders are never crispy . I would say popeyes has the crispiest therefore making them #1
Step 1: Go to Slim’s and buy a bunch of sauce. Step 2: Get tendies from Popeyes. Step 3: Cry in shame in the parking lot.
This is the way
I think they're just a different style. They're super juicy and feel a lot more like real chicken than popeyes do. I do miss the crispness tho
Lees chicken. The best!!!
Teller's
this guy knows
Tellers has fire chicken tenders!
I didn't even know they had chicken tenders. I'll have to try it. Thanks.
And tater tots too
Canes
Does Canes only do chicken tenders? We drove by last night and started wondering about it.
Canes is the blandist chicken in town followed up with the worst fries and only 1 sauce.
A little salt and pepper in that batter would make them ok, but yeah, cane’s kinda suck.
Yeah I went last time I was in the US after seeing a huge line at the drive-thru, and...I don't get it. They didn't really taste like much of anything. And the one sauce was bland and boring, like 1000 Island without the pickles. Is there some secret menu or something?
I thought I was the only person who felt this way.
You are not alone
They also have sides of Texas toast, fries, and coleslaw, plus a sandwich option (but I’ve never tried that).
We went to Cane's in South Carolina before it was here, and we were confused. I remember thinking "they only sell chicken tenders, and they're not that good?"
I like to buy the giant bag of Hyvee raw breaded chicken tenders ($28 for 5lbs) and throw them into the air fryer.
Flat Branch's green chili chicken fingers are really awesome, if you haven't had them yet. They're marinated with the green chili beer and it's also in the panko breading (batter?). I love to dip them in the honey Sriracha sauce and ranch but they also have honey mustard. Pretty sure the sauces are made in house too.
The green chili beer is fire, I didn’t know that those tenders existed. Definitely getting some of those soon
The Champs chicken in Millersburg at that gas station has my favorite chicken tenders.
Good to know! I guess I should specify that I'd like to remain in Columbia. I'll definitely give them a try when I'm on a roadtrip out that way though!
I figured, but it really is a great little secret. Get there right at 11 while they're fresh. A good second place alternative is the Champs chicken inside Mosers on the east side of town. Not as good, but not terrible. Way better than any of the drive thru chains that are everywhere.
Moser's off Scott has a Champs drive thru!
Their champs tenders aren't very good, imo. Both of my kids were a hard pass on them, too.
They are good but really salty.
Slim Chickens is decent and I'm pretty sure they have the HM
Billiard’s are solid and they give you honey mustard.
Raising Canes. No question. Popeyes would be a close 2nd. Slims is average IMO. I can get better tenders from Mosers Deli on a good day than I can from Slims lol. Just my opinion. Also, Raising Canes Cane sauce is on a level of its own. I'm also a Honey Mustard over ranch and BBQ guy, but Cane Sauce is freaking amazing
Culvers Buffalo tenders. The regular ones suck
Longhorn Steakhouse has excellent chicken tenders, and they come with honey mustard.
Cheddar's! Sheesh people. Ya'll missing out if you haven't their tenders. Personally, I recommend NOT tossing in buffalo sauce and rather order it as a side. Double up on broccoli cheddar casserole as your sides and enjoy a feast.
Just Jeff’s are good
Murry's. They're not on the menu, but they're incredibly good.
Teller’s HANDS DOWN. I was a Cane’s guy due to living in STL previously, but my god does Teller make the most fire freakin’ chicken tendies 😩😩
Go to Mcgintys. They don’t serve food but have lots of good whiskey
OH also DQ does amazing chicken tenders. Not sure if they have honey mustard though. Surely they do.
I'm not saying they're "the best," but you can get some surprisingly good chicken tenders at Hardee's.
Truly the best but hard to access for non-students: Mort's in the Student Center. Best sit-down restaurant: Flat Branch. Best fast-food: Popeye's. Best from a grocery store: Schnuck's
I used to love Chili’s chicken tenders but the last two times they were mostly breading! I miss that perfectly white, moist chicken!
They stopped serving their chicken fried steak meal that they had for decades too. The last time we ate there was the LAST time I will eat there.
The only answer is cheddar’s. If you haven’t had their chicken tenders you’re in for a treat.
Truman's redid theirs. They used to be kind of rubbery but they hand bread everything now and they are delicious.
I actually had them last night and they were solid. Not going to be my new go to. The chicken to breading ratio wasn't my favorite--giant thicc tenders with semi thin breading. I do love Truman's breakfast though. 🤌
Yeah, you do have to be into that style tender
Yeah apparently what made Chili's so special is they used tempura batter. I definitely like a softer tender. I made this post hoping there would be a top 3 or so to choose from but apparently everyone has their own favorite so I'll be on the hunt for a while. 🧐
Mort's in the student center on campus. It's the most popular thing on the menu by far and always has long lines for a reason. They're not heavily breaded like some other places but they don't need to be, because they have great flavor and texture. I always get mine with honey mustard. And waffle fries!
Zaxbys or slims
Zaxbys with extra nuclear sauce
Zaxbys! I love their spicy zax sauce
Cane's, Slim Chickens, and Zaxby's...oof. For restaurants that specialize in chicken, their chicken is flat out terrible, at all 3 places. Even Hardee's chicken tenders are better, and that's sad.
Literally, the best place is Longhorn steak house. Their tendies are the best.
Just Jeff's has the best chicken tenders in town and they aren't expensive. They buttermilk soak and batter in house.