Bojangles: Best Chicken in Town
Phil Tonseth ‘23
Editor-in-Chief
Bojangles. It would be easy enough to say that it’s God’s gift to mankind, but the EIC of Law Weekly said this article had to be 400 words at least, so buckle up. Whether it’s their Cajun filet biscuit with eggs and cheese for breakfast, their chicken supreme box with Cajun fries for lunch, the tailgate box for dinner, or bo-berry biscuits for dessert, you won’t be disappointed. Shoot, even if you want to be ‘healthy,’ their green beans and mac-n-cheese also slap.
Bojangles isn’t as popular as Chick-fil-A because they don’t take generally unpopular political stances,[1] nor as Popeyes because they don’t advertise with years-old TikToks. Bojangles grows their fan base through tried and true taste tests. Located either both Abbey Road and Seminole Trail, there are two locations within Cville to explore their sumptuous flavors.[2] Law students are generally early risers.[3] Bojangles isn’t the only chicken place, but you won’t see old people show up to Raising Canes or Chick-fil-A at 5 a.m. to have a biscuit and coffee, only to sit there for a few hours and chat over the local news of the day. I get it, Shenandoah Joe may have some dope coffee. But do they have biscuits? Probably not, but I cannot confirm as I don’t drink coffee. Conversely, Shenandoah Joe doesn’t have some of the best sweet tea you’ll find south of the Mason-Dixon line. Bojangles does. The combo of Bojangles’ sweet tea and biscuits for breakfast? It might as well be renamed heaven.
If you haven’t followed my articles so far this year,[4] I play a fair share of golf. Unfortunately, a lot of people look down on consuming alcohol before 10 a.m. I mean, it’s generally illegal and frowned upon to sell liquor before 10 a.m.. Ergo, rolling up to an early morning tee time with a sweet tea is a great intermediary.[5] Say you like a black coffee instead. Your Bojangles equivalent would be just an ordinary biscuit. However, and I cannot recommend this enough, get a gravy biscuit.[6]
To be completely frank, I haven’t addressed how good Chick-fil-A and Raising Canes are. To be honest, I don’t need to.[7] Bojangles doesn’t have any negatives. Bojangles just slaps. There isn’t a bad meal. There’s a ready supply of quality chicken, dope Cajun fries, and biscuits that would make your grandma self-conscious. Trust me, take a trip there and you’ll enjoy it. Then, come talk to me after and we’ll enjoy some sweet tea over a round of golf.
Raising Canes: the Only Choice
Jack Brown ‘23
Staff Editor
Go take a drive down Barracks Road right now and you are guaranteed to see a line of cars stretching dangerously out of the Cane’s parking lot, while Popeyes and KFC lay empty right next door. The good people of Charlottesville have made a decisive choice.
Founded in 1996, following a business plan that earned its founder Todd Graves a C minus, the chain has quickly exploded because of the undeniable quality of its chicken and the simplicity of the menu. In a world where we need to make hundreds of choices every day, it is refreshing to be limited to five primary combos, all of which are hearty meals that can brighten any day.
Canes’ juicy tenders, creamy coleslaw and mouth-watering Texas toast would be incredible options on their own, making Raising Canes a top-tier chicken choice in a saturated market, but the sauce takes the experience beyond anything you could conceive of a priori.[8]
I could stay here for years, writing as prolifically and passionately as Samuel Alito did when Bostock v. Clayton County made it so you couldn’t fire someone on account of their sexual orientation, and never be able to fully explain the perfection that is Raising Canes’ signature sauce. No other sauce, not the Chick-fil-A sauce that it was inspired by, nor whatever you get at Bojangles, even comes close to this meal-perfecting addition.
What can be said about the other chicken options in this week’s Tweedle? Between Chick-fil-A's unavailability on the Lord’s day, and the distinct lack of value in any Bojangles’s meal,[9] determining this contest’s winner is a self-evident truth. Trust the tastebuds of the Charlottesville townies and choose Raising Canes next time you are hankering for some chicken.
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pjt5hm@virginia.edu
jwb4bb@virginia.edu
[1] Sorry FedSoc, we all come to your meetings for the substance, not the sandwiches.
[2] And yes, Bo knows.
[3] See 1Ls, not anyone with a choice.
[4] See https://www.lawweekly.org/col/2021/8/17/bde-rises-to-the-top; and https://www.lawweekly.org/col/2021/8/31/complete-and-accurate-ranking-of-local-golf-courses.
[5] Plus, sweet tea and a few airplane bottles mix great together.
[6] TBH, their jelly on a biscuit is also delicious.
[7] Yes, Bojangles’ chicken is crunchy, but at least their chicken has flavor. Sorry not sorry, Canes.
[8] This is a fancy way of saying “before experience”, I will always take any opportunity to flex my philosophy degree
[9] Seriously their tenders are like 5% chicken 95% unsatisfying crunch.