By Fast food and video games occasionally merge in various ways. Usually, this involves new toys or Pokemon Cards in children’s meals, but Popeyes has chosen to commemorate the upcoming debut of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 in cinemas with a new meal option.
This meal, titled the Freddy Fazbear Deluxe Box, includes two new menu offerings and an innovative way to enjoy a classic favorite, priced at $13. We tested the meal thanks to a sample provided by Popeyes, and to be honest, we might return for more.
The Freddy Fazbear Deluxe Box comprises the following:
- Three* chicken fingers featuring a unique garlic parmesan coating
- An order of Cheesy Bites, hand-battered fried cheese curds that are also garlic-encrusted, along with a cup of marinara sauce for dipping
- A Cupcake Cup, a strawberry-flavored dessert topped with pink icing
- A soft drink of your choosing
*The meal is marketed as containing three chicken fingers, but the box we received only included two. I’m unsure what occurred there, yet one missing finger did not spoil the entire meal.
There’s also a Freddy Fazbear Box for $8, which includes the chicken fingers and Cheesy Bites but omits the Cupcake Cup. The Cheesy Bites (with marinara cup) and the Cupcake Cup can be bought separately for $4 each as well.
The Cheesy Bites, Cupcake Cup, and garlic parmesan coating for the chicken fingers are all exclusive to the Freddy Fazbear Box, and honestly, it’s an inventive approach to inject the “pizza parlor” vibe into a fried chicken box. Hats off to whoever conceived of it.
It’s most straightforward to analyze this meal by each individual component, so that’s our plan. One note right off the bat: The beverage included with the meal was Sweet Tea, which was disappointing, since I do not particularly enjoy iced tea of any type. I do acknowledge, however, that I am an outlier in that respect.
Cheesy Bites
I’ll review the items in the order I consumed them, starting with the Cheesy Bites. Fried cheese curds are difficult to mess up, and fortunately, Popeyes managed to avoid that trap.
The cheese was warm and gooey, and the garlic parmesan breading used for frying provided a flavor reminiscent of mini mozzarella sticks. The marinara dipping cup was an excellent addition as well, although I didn’t dip as much as I anticipated.
Chicken fingers
This isn’t my first experience with Popeyes chicken, yet similarly to the Cheesy Bites, the garlic parmesan seasoning on the exterior added a delightful and distinct layer of flavor. The chicken fingers were a satisfying size, which was pleasing.
I will mention, though it’s not the typical usage, dipping the chicken fingers into the marinara sauce is highly recommended. “Chicken fingers parmesan” sounds like a fantastic concept for a future collaboration; reserve some of the sauce for the chicken and you’ll see my point.
Cupcake Cup
The Cupcake Cup’s vibrant pink icing injects a burst of color into the entire meal, and the strawberry icing both smells and tastes amazing. The cake inside was dense and rich, providing an excellent way to conclude the meal.
One word of caution, however: This is one heavy dessert, the type of cake that settles firmly in your stomach and feels like a block of concrete. I’d recommend waiting until dinner before ordering this meal; otherwise, your productivity may decline simply because you won’t be able to move.
Overall, it’s a fair deal for the price. Everything on the menu tastes delightful, the pizzeria theme is evident in the special garlic parmesan rub and vibrant pink cake, and those Cheesy Bites feel like a permanent addition to the Popeyes menu. No fright here; the Freddy Fazbear Deluxe Box presents a solid meal at a fair price.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 hits theaters on December 5. The Freddy Fazbear Box and Deluxe Box are currently available at participating Popeyes locations.
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