Popeyes draws long lines for the opening of its first London location

Popeyes brings its Louisiana flavor to the United Kingdom. The Louisiana-born fried-chicken chain finally opens its first-ever London location.

The new restaurant opened inside the food court at the Westfield Stradford shopping mall in East London on Nov. 20.

Apparently, even the Brits can’t stay away from the Popeyes allure that attracts those long lines for the popular fried chicken here in Louisiana.

The New York Times reports that the big opening saw hundreds of London customers waiting in line for hours for their first taste of Popeyes. There was also a bit of culture shock, as British diners are not accustomed to the Popeyes biscuit, the article said. In British English, “biscuit” refers to what Americans know as a “cookie.”

One Twitter user captured a video showing the long winding lines waiting to get that chicken. And apparently, they have the Megan Thee Stallion hottie sauce.

Popeyes posted a video showing the new location via the PopeyesUK Twitter account.

It seems the Brits also couldn’t resist the popular chicken sandwich. Several Twitter users posted pictures of the item.

Along with the restaurant chain’s United Kingdom opening, Popeyes announced the launch of its first plant-based entree: the new Creole Red Bean Sandwich.

The new Creole Red Bean Sandwich features a crispy, breaded 100% plant-based patty made with Popeyes’ iconic red beans and bold Cajun spices with onions, garlic, peppers, then battered and breaded using a vegan version of Popeyes’ signature buttermilk coating system.

“The new menu item is Popeyes’ answer to a growing demand for plant-based products amongst its customers,” Popeyes said in a release. “After the UK launch, Popeyes’ intent is to offer the new plant-based item as the gold standard offering for its franchisees worldwide, with India launching next.”

According to Business Insider, the United Kingdom opening marks the fast-food chain’s fourth European market, after launching in Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey.

Popeyes started as the brainchild of founding restaurateur Al Copeland in 1972 in Arabi. Nearly 50 years later, Popeyes’ crunchy-battered chicken still hasn’t lost its flavor.

The fast-food giant still lands in major headlines — most recently, when Popeyes announced a hot sauce collaboration with rapper Megan Thee Stallion and when the chain launched its viral chicken sandwich in 2018.

See also: Take a virtual tour of historic Popeyes and Al Copeland collections at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum

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