Before a recent road trip through North and South Carolina, I think I saw all of two Bojangles’ in my life. While I knew the chain has been expanding rapidly in the South over the last few years, nothing could have prepared me to literally see the signs advertising “Bo Time” off of seemingly every exit from Lynchburg to Columbia.
“Bo Time,” apparently means Chicken Biscuit time, because the chain proudly displays its slogan of “Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits” beneath its logo. I may not normally be much of a biscuit eater, but even I’ll be the first to tell you that a hot buttered Chick-fil-A biscuit on a cold day makes the perfect breakfast. So I figured that if Bojangles’ was famous for their chicken biscuits, they’d probably be just as good, if not better than Chick-fil-A’s signature breakfast item.
While the Chicken Filet Biscuit at Bojangles’ is larger in diameter than Chick-fil-A’s rendition, the breast filet itself is not as thick, and nowhere near as juicy. The breading is crisper, and more reminiscent of what you’d find on a McChicken sandwich. Actually, the breading strikes me as positively cheap, and much more expected of a value menu chicken sandwich item. Despite the “Cajun” moniker, there’s no sign of external spices, and on first bite I’m getting neither heat nor much flavor. That’s not to say the chicken’s bad – the breading and its crisp texture are enjoyable in a cheap fast food way, but the breast, while still retaining a moderate amount of moisture, doesn’t strike me as anything special in the flavor department. There’s some black pepper heat that lingers on the back end and picks up unexpected intensity, but it strikes me as undersalted and kind of bland on its own, with no salivating quality about it.
The biscuit itself has an enjoyable and subtle buttermilk tang, and a wonderfully fluffy interior. Unlike some of the Chick-fil-A biscuits I’ve had in the past, Bojangles’ biscuits hold their shape incredibly well, refusing to crumble even when cut in half with a plastic knife. I really enjoyed the subtle flavor of the biscuit on its own, but taken with the filet, it comes across as bland and uninspiring. I’m usually accustomed to at least a hint of either added butter richness or a welcomed undertone of honey, but in this case, neither can be found. Once more, I find myself missing the nutty, sweet notes of Chick-fil-A’s Chicken Biscuit, and even the over-the-top buttered biscuit. It’s as if I need some kind of additional condiment for the Bojangles’ Chicken Biscuit, yet with a slightly spicy back note and a subtly flavored biscuit, I’m dumbfounded as what to reach for. Jelly? Nah, too sweet and single noted. Honey? Perhaps, but that wasn’t one of the options I was offered. Ketchup? Nah, it ain’t a potato.
I’ve got to say I’m fairly disappointed. It’s one thing to order an average menu item, but to order something which is comparatively average when it’s suppose to be, well… “famous” – now that’s a bummer. At $2.89 it’s not a horrible price to pay, but the 520 calories don’t seem very filling. Luckily, on the highway through the south, there are plenty of Chick-fil-A’s and Zaxby’s off the exits.
