The battle for the best chicken in the DMV is about to get even more intense with the arrival of Raising Cane’s.

The Louisiana-based chicken finger chain recently opened its first D.C. metro area location in Sterling, VA, on Dec. 13. They also opened their first Maryland restaurant in Towson on Jan. 12 and the chain plans on opening at least 10 more locations in the Baltimore area in the next two years. Raising Cane’s offers customers the signature “One Love” menu, featuring chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, Texas toast, and Cane’s sauce.
At first glance the aesthetic is informal with posters on the wall and disco balls hanging from the ceiling. Although there was a line that extended through the middle of the dining area, the food was served hot and fresh within five minutes of ordering. The menu is simple and consists of five main combo meals, including a kids meal. Customers can also order individual “extras” such as chicken fingers or fries, but the most popular menu item is The Box Combo. For $10.99 The Box Combo comes with four chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, Cane’s sauce, coleslaw and a fountain drink. “The price is a little bit high compared to other fast food places, but I could tell it was worth it because of the high quality food,” senior Luke Danielian said.

The Box Combo comes with a generous serving of fries and the chicken fingers were crispy and well-seasoned with little to no grease. The crinkle-cut fries and coleslaw weren’t anything special, but the toast was tasty. “I think it was worth the 30-minute drive because the food is really different from places like Popeye’s and the overall experience made me want to eat in the restaurant,” junior Zorawar Singh said.

Raising Cane’s is renowned for its unique sauce, a delicious blend of tangy, slightly sweet and savory flavors, that perfectly complements the restaurant’s famous chicken fingers. Although the exact recipe is a secret, fans speculate that the sauce most likely contains ingredients such as ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. “The sauce definitely has the same base as Chick-Fil-A, but has a more complex flavor profile that differentiates itself from other chicken restaurants. You can dip basically any part of the meal in the sauce and it will be 10 times better,” senior Henry Zhang said.

Although the menu is simple, I would rank Raising Cane’s the best chicken fast food restaurant in the area for multiple reasons. Besides the chicken tasting fresh, the crunch from the chicken is the main factor that puts Raising Cane’s above its competitors like Chick Fil-A and Popeye’s. The sauce also brings in a different tangy flavor than the Chick-Fil-A sauce and their freshly brewed sweet tea brings the meal together.

If you are looking for quality chicken, then the 30-minute trip from Rockville to Northern Virginia will not disappoint.