A new bird has landed! Popeyes opened its first restaurant in Budapest
The famous American fast-food chain Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has opened its very first restaurant in Hungary — and did so with quite a show.
During the grand opening on the rooftop terrace of Budapest’s Westend shopping centre, the first batch of chicken sandwiches arrived by helicopter, while a live jazz band entertained the crowd below. With this spectacular launch, Popeyes has officially entered the Hungarian fast-food market — and many say the “war of chickens” have just begun.
Flying high after a slow start in the 70’s
Founded in Louisiana in 1972, Popeyes is one of the United States’ best-known fast-food chains, inspired by the flavours of the southern Cajun cuisine. The brand’s founder, Alvin C. “Al” Copeland, originally opened his restaurant under the name Chicken on the Run, but it only found success after he rebranded it and introduced a new concept based on the spicy, deep-fried chicken that later made the chain famous.
Today, Popeyes operates more than 4,700 restaurants across 35 countries and belongs to the Restaurant Brands International group — the same company that owns Burger King and Tim Hortons.
The Budapest opening marks another step in the brand’s fast-paced European expansion, following recent debuts in Spain, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Romania, Poland and the Czech Republic. In Hungary, the chain is exclusively developed and operated by Fusion-BP Restaurants Kft., a subsidiary of The Fusion Group Zrt.
But what’s on the menu?
At the new Westend restaurant, visitors can expect the flavours of the American South. The menu centres on the brand’s signature spicy, crispy fried chicken, marinated for 12 hours, hand-breaded, and fried to golden perfection, writes Pénzcentrum.
The star item is the Chicken Sandwich, but the range also includes the Deluxe Sandwich (HUF 2,590, EUR 6.7), BBQ Bacon & Cheese Sandwich (HUF 2,790, EUR 7.2), and Classic Wrap (HUF 1,990, EUR 5.1). Chicken pieces are available in portions of three, five or eight, priced between HUF 1,590 and 2,990, with an optional drink and fries combo for an extra HUF 700 (EUR 1.8).
And how does it taste?
One of Popeyes’ trademarks is the classic American biscuit — a savoury, crumbly bread roll — served alongside their seasoned fries with a choice of sauces. According to early tasters, the chicken sandwich’s flavour is slightly milder than that of rival KFC, but the chicken itself is juicy and crispy, and many say this simplicity could actually be its greatest strength.
With Popeyes’ arrival, Hungary’s fast-food scene has gained a strong new contender that could challenge giants like KFC, McDonald’s and Burger King. Whether the Cajun-style chicken will win over local diners in the long term remains to be seen — but one thing is certain: the chicken war has officially landed in Budapest.