All of the Popeyes sides, ranked from worst to best

This dish is a classic in Creole cooking, so it’s no surprise to find it on the Popeyes menu. Is the best rendition of the Mardi Gras favorite? Definitely not (sometimes the rice is overcooked). But it’s a nice counterpoint to fried chicken with its smokey flavor.

The Cajun fries nod to Popeyes’s New Orleans connection. When they’re hot and crispy, the fries are great, but if they’ve been sitting around for too long, we’d recommend passing and getting your carbs in with the other sides.

You’re not exactly getting your fill of vegetables at Popeyes. While it may seem like coleslaw and fried chicken are a great pairing, we’d recommend passing on this side order. It’s almost too creamy and even worse, too bland.

Scoop that mac! Made with real butter and cream, as any good mac & cheese should be, Popeye's version is both sumptuously creamy and—thanks to a baked cheese topping—with just a bit of toothiness that elevates it. With a new recipe in 2021 that brings it more in line with home-cooked mac, the only problem is: it's never enough.

Desserts aren’t top of mind when you think of a fried chicken destination like Popeyes. But like many fans, we’d agree it’s even better than the McDonald’s version. The fried pocket treat is just sweet enough with cinnamon sugar on the outside, and when it’s warm and crisp on the outside, the inside bursts with a generous apple filling.

Mashed potatoes are a great foil for fried chicken. You experience comfort food at its best, combining poultry with a bed of soft potatoes. But what makes this side so good is the richness of the gravy because otherwise, the potatoes on their own are bland.

The buttermilk biscuits haven’t left the menu since debuting in 1983. They’re soft and delicate, yet flaky and crumbly. Whether you eat them plain or create your own chicken sando, you can’t go wrong. If anything, you can’t go to Popeyes and not get biscuits with your fried chicken.