As the self-proclaimed pickiest eater on this planet, when I heard about a new fast-food joint coming to the Trexlertown shopping center specializing in chicken tenders, I had to try it.
Raising Cane eventually arrived in the Lehigh Valley on Aug. 6, 2024, offering chicken tenders. The Allentown residents have gone crazy for this chicken, with lines wrapping around the building and spilling into the streets. However, when I had gone not so long ago there were almost no lines.
When I arrived at Raising Canes, the drive-through line was small, which caught me off guard because when it first opened over the summer, cars were waiting in a line out of the parking lot in the street. I ordered the box combo, which included four chicken tenders, fries, Texas toast, and coleslaw. I only got water as a drink. It came out fairly fast, piping hot, and at only $12.29.
I couldn’t wait to eat it, so I didn’t even go home. I pulled into the Movie Tavern parking lot and took a look inside the box. The presentation was as good as it gets for a fast-food place. Three separate spaces: one for the coleslaw, one for the sauce, and the chicken tenders, fries, and Texas toast were all in one space.
First, I tried the Texas toast. The toast had a thick cut and a nice weight to it. It was somewhat soggy for toast but very salty and buttery which was very good.
Second, I tried the fries, saving the supposed best for last. The fries were a thin crinkle-cut style fry with the perfect amount of salt. They were hot and paired great with the rest of the meal.
The third and final thing I tried was the chicken tenders. Frankly, I was disappointed. The tenders had a very bland flavor. It’s sad to say there was nothing special about these chicken tenders. I’m not really a sauce person but I thought I’d give it a try. The sauce made it taste worse. Most others would say that the craze is in the sauce, but it was just awful and the chicken was boring with almost no flavor.
So, if you’re thinking about going to Raising Canes, don’t get your hopes up. While the lines were wrapping around the parking lot in the summer due to its popularity, the fact that it’s overrated settled in, the lines died down, and the parking lot was almost barren. So, while very popular, it is also very overrated.
