Why Reddit Thinks You Shouldn't Overlook Captain D's Fried Chicken

Captain D's may have come in last in our ranking of 19 seafood chain restaurants, but that might just be because we didn't know what to order. While seafood may take up the bulk of the main dish items, Redditors think you shouldn't sleep on Captain D's fried chicken.

When asked about the best things to order at Captain D's, one Redditor said "their chicken tenders are my favorite, sorry not sorry," while another Redditor went so far as to call the tenders "better than chicken joints." One Redditor even proclaimed how much Captain D's exceeded their expectations on the chicken tender front, stating, "I was expecting [those] thick, breaded nasty type of fingers but they were actually some of the best fast food fingers I've had." More reviews on social media agree. A TikTok video compared Captain D's chicken tenders to Raising Cane's, a famously craveable chicken chain. Surprisingly enough, Captain D's came out on top, being both cheaper and more flavorful. Providing a close-up of the tenders, the reviewer pointed out just how crispy and well-seasoned the breading was, and the tenderness and juiciness of the meat. Plus, the smoky Chick-N-D's Signature Sauce that accompanied the tenders was described as being the perfect pairing.

Captain D's fried chicken offerings also extend to chicken sandwiches, filled with three hand-breaded chicken tenders on a bun with mayo and pickles. According to Redditors, the Big Chicken Sandwich from Captain D's holds its own against other fast food chain chicken sandwiches, from Chick-fil-A to Wendy's. 

Captain D's may not have fared well in our ranking of seafood chains but it may be swimming towards a comeback. Not only do Redditors love Captain D's fried chicken, but they also had great things to say about the hush puppies and even cracklins, which was described by a Redditor as "the drippings from the batter." Clearly Captain D's has mastered the art of battering and frying. 

If you want to sample all the fried recommendations from Redditors, Captain D's has various fish and chicken combos. That said, one of the main reasons Captain D's ranked so low on our list of fast food seafood restaurants is because they totally flop in the side dish department with bland options like steamed green beans, broccoli, and corn. So if you just want to stick with the fried chicken, order some tenders or get the chicken sandwich without any sides. 

Various Redditors also recommended pairing the tenders with Captain D's famous sweet and sour sauce for a slightly Asian twist, but honey mustard is also popular. If you order the tenders by themselves, you can take them home, smother them in your favorite dipping sauce, and pair them with homemade sides like coleslaw, air fryer french fries, or this veggie-laden easy fried rice recipe.