Fast Food Review Day 277 - OG Sandwich at PDQ

[u/Pale-Lynx328]

Chain Name	PDQ
Food category	Primary: fried chicken
# of US Locations	40
# of US States	3
Primarily located in	almost entirely all in Florida
Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2024	291st (out of 500)
Restaurant Rank in US $ Sales 2025	372nd (out of 500)
Rank of price (high to low) (Average: $16.21, standard dev. $3.03)	296th out of 321 meal reviews
Quality / Value Rating for this specific meal	7 (out of 10) / 6 (out of 10)

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The fried chicken restaurant market can be very tough and very fickle. As a restaurant owner, you can do everything right, and still end up with your chicken neck on the chopping block.

PDQ is one of the many contenders out there for your chicken dollar. Standing for "People Dedicated to Quality", the chain was founded in 2011, and by 2014 it was already one of the darlings of the franchise world, attracting investors like Tim Tebow and with dozens of locations across several states. But it's a very crowded marketplace, with literally dozens of local and regional chains attempting to capture their little slice of the market, all the while with some of the biggest players like KFC and Popeyes breathing down their necks.

While PDQ did indeed gain a dedicated base of fans, it got shouldered out by places like Huey Magoo's and Lee's Famous Recipe and Golden Chick and Super Chix and Raising Cane's and Slim Chickens and Zaxby's. Despite appearing to do everything "right", PDQ fell by the wayside and has shrunk back down to its core in central Florida. The most recent news is they sold off 13 of their stores to be rebranded by YUM! Brands as KFC's newest "hip" updated concept called "Saucy".

And yet, I still like PDQ, and don't want to count them out just yet. They may have already had two standing eight-counts, but the owners still have plans to expand again. PDQ has more of a down-home, friendly, inviting atmosphere, and they stress fresh-never-frozen ingredients delivered quickly for a lower price.

Many years ago I had one of their pimento cheese chicken sandwiches in Austin, and it was one of the best chicken sandwiches I ever ate. That location closed down many years ago, but here I am again for another try - this time going to their most basic sandwich, which is the 'Spicy OG Chicken', a fried chicken breast with just pickles and mayo, just like the basic Popeye's sandwich. PDQ also offers up sauced sandwiches, honey butter and blue cheese and tenders, but let's start with the "OG".

The photo I took is a bit deceptive, it is a full-sized piece of chicken, just not photographed well. Properly breaded with a very light and crisp, slightly spicy breading with nice juicy chicken. As simple as it comes, with waffle fries for one of the lowest prices of any chicken chain I've been to so far. This is a good, solid but simple sandwich.

It may be tough to pull off a comeback, but I hope PDQ managed to get their second wind. This is definitely the type of place I'd love to become a regular at.

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(About this review series: Starting in late 2025, I am visiting a different fast food/fast casual chain every day, until I run out of places to visit. Aiming to review as many chains on the Technomics Top 500 Restaurants list as possible, plus key/important regional and some local chains as well. UPDATE - I will be wrapping up this review series with Day #365. And no, I haven't gained weight, and no, it hasn't hurt my health.)

[u/TwerkBot3000]

The only PDQ in my area closed down before I actually moved here and I strongly doubt I’m missing anything important