If Chick-fil-A, In-N-Out Burger, and T.G.I. Friday's had a baby, its name would be Raising Cane's.
The chicken fingers chain, based in Louisiana, opened its first Arizona location on Tuesday, at 2715 West Peoria Avenue (1-17 & Peoria Ave.) With a concept called, "One Love" (Bob Marley?), the menu at Raising Cane's (named after the founder's dog), like In-N-Out's, is limited to say the least: chicken fingers, a chicken finger sandwich, crinkle fries, coleslaw, and Texas toast.When I popped in, the Raising Cane's team seemed as excited as their curious customers. In a cheery room bathed in bright red with wood tables, metal chairs, movie and music regalia on the walls, and rockin' good tunes playing overhead, hard workin' families and folks from the neighborhood awaited their made-to-order chicken finger combo meals while sipping on wonderfully sweet tea and fresh-squeezed lemonade.
The chicken fingers are solid. Nice and meaty, juicy, not greasy, and with a crispy, tasty breading. A team member told me the chicken isn't frozen, it's made to order, and it certainly tastes that way.
I was also told the signature Cane's Sauce, a tangy, peppery sauce used for dippin' or placed on the sandwich, is made daily and is a secret recipe only the managers know how to prepare. A little Cane's Sauce goes a long way, which isn't a bad thing considering the chicken is flavorful enough to not need a lot of it.
The sandwich bun is good 'n' soft, the coleslaw comparable to KFC, the crinkle fries well-prepared (not too dry or limp), and the Texas toast additional yumminess if you haven't already had your fill of carbohydrates.
For a strictly chicken fingers fast food experience, Raising Cane's satisfies. And with a second location planned in October at 44th Street and Thomas Road, chicken chompers should be clucking (sorry) with excitement.
