I'd never been to Raising Cane's before, but I'd been hearing for years about how great it is. People were genuinely excited when one finally opened in Redding, so I figured it was time to see what all the hype was about.
Since I didn't know much about the menu beyond the chicken strips, I ordered the four-piece combo, which comes with fries, Texas toast, coleslaw, and Cane's Sauce. The employee taking my order recommended adding a second sauce, and I'm glad they did.
Before I even get to the food, I have to mention the customer service--it was outstanding. In a world where so many fast-food restaurants have become known for rushed or indifferent service, Raising Cane's really stands out. Everyone was friendly, relaxed, and genuinely welcoming. They even asked for my name, which wasn't necessary but added a nice personal touch. The level of service reminded me of In-N-Out and Chick-fil-A, and that's about as high a compliment as I can give a fast-food restaurant.
The atmosphere was another pleasant surprise. The restaurant has a fun, energetic vibe with music playing, people laughing and talking, and walls covered with interesting local photos and articles that I actually found myself stopping to read. I never thought I'd say that about a fast-food restaurant, but it was genuinely an enjoyable place to sit and eat.
Now, onto the food.
The sign says everything is made to order, and judging by how hot everything was when it arrived, I believe it. The food came out surprisingly fast.
I started with the fries. They were hot, nicely salted, and had good flavor. My only complaint is that they're crinkle-cut, which has always been my least favorite style of fry. That's purely personal preference--they always remind me of generic frozen fries. I'm not taking points off for that as it's just my preference. They were flavorful and salted nicely.
The coleslaw was decent. It was fresh and not dry, which is always a plus. I personally would have liked a little more tang, but it was perfectly fine.
The Texas toast was an unexpected highlight. I wasn't expecting such a thick slice of buttery, garlicky bread, or any bread at all. It was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and absolutely delicious. Honestly, it reminded me of the frozen Texas toast you can buy at Safeway, and I don't mean that as an insult because those are surprisingly good when baked properly.
Then came the chicken strips.
The breading was crispy, and the chicken itself was incredibly juicy. Texture-wise, they were pretty good.
Flavor-wise...they were nonexistent.
When I say they had no seasoning, I mean none. No noticeable salt. No pepper. No spice. Nothing. They were honestly the blandest chicken strips I've ever eaten on their own.
Then I dipped one in Cane's Sauce.
Completely different experience.
The sauce is fantastic and transforms the chicken into something genuinely delicious. It almost feels like the chicken was intentionally designed to be a vehicle for the sauce. Personally, I found that disappointing. A great chicken strip should be able to stand on its own, with the sauce enhancing it--not supplying virtually all of the flavor.
I was so surprised by how unseasoned the chicken was that I actually went back a few nights later and ordered another batch just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. It wasn't. Same result: crispy, juicy...and completely flavorless without the sauce.
Overall, I'd give Raising Cane's 3 out of 5 stars.
The customer service is excellent. The atmosphere is fun. The Texas toast is fantastic, and Cane's Sauce absolutely lives up to its reputation. The fries and coleslaw are solid, if unremarkable.
The chicken strips, however, were the biggest surprise--and not in a good way. They're cooked beautifully, but on their own they desperately need seasoning. With the sauce, they're very good. Without it, they're simply not memorable.
I'd definitely come back, but next time I'll be making sure I have plenty of Cane's Sauce.
Biting question: was the entire menu restaurant designed around the sauce? read more