May 23, 2025
I’ll never forget the first time I had Krispy Krunchy Chicken. I was at the George Washington Grove picnic area in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park with a group of friends. We were sitting on a blanket, playing Uno, when all of a sudden, I smelled it: a spicy, garlicky aroma swirling around me.
I looked up to find the source. A tardy friend was walking over to us carrying a box of the famous Cajun-spiced fried chicken. Uno stopped immediately as we devoured the wings, drumsticks and plump chicken tenders. We all wiped our hands so as not to get too much grease on the cards, but my mind had left the trivial game — I was only thinking about Krispy Krunchy Chicken and how, in my opinion, it was officially better than KFC or even Popeyes.
Krispy Krunchy Chicken, the Louisiana-style fried chicken chain, is known for operating mostly out of gas stations and convenience stores. The San Francisco location at 17th and South Van Ness Avenue is the most central in the city and operates out of Gas & Shop, a deli, grocery store, liquor store, gas station and fried-chicken haven all wrapped in one. I frequented the Sunset location multiple times in close succession after that fateful park day, but unfortunately, it has since closed.
Thankfully, a new storefront just opened and will become my go-to KKC.
Located next to the 24th Street BART Station in the Mission District, San Francisco’s latest Krispy Krunchy Chicken, at 3325 24th St. opened its doors in recent months and is already a perfect addition to the bustling neighborhood. It’s one of likely only two stand-alone Krispy Krunchy Chicken shops in San Francisco (the other is in Fisherman’s Wharf). I reached out to Krispy Krunchy Chicken to confirm but did not hear back in time for publication.
Ironically, when you walk into the shoebox-sized store, that aroma of Cajun spices doesn’t immediately hit you because your eyes are too busy scanning the grab-and-go station on the left, complete with water bottles, sodas, packaged sandwiches and other snacks. A rack of chips sits in the corner and is loaded with Takis, Lay’s and Ruffles. On the right is an Icee machine, as well as a freezer packed with ice cream bars. One thing there isn’t? Seating. It feels more like a convenience store than a fried chicken eatery.
But, instead of toilet paper and mouthwash, there’s a colorful digital menu above the glass case of fried chicken featuring Krispy Krunchy’s offerings: classic hand-breaded drums and thighs, ultra-crispy white meat tenders, and sides of mac and cheese, mashed potatoes with gravy, red beans and rice, honey biscuits, and jambalaya. KKC even offers honey butter-fried shrimp for those craving a seafood option. On my recent visit, I stood in the store for 30 minutes during peak lunch hour, slowly eating my fried chicken. No one else walked in (maybe they just don’t know it’s open yet), but I was happy to savor each bite alone.
The company was founded in Lafayette, Louisiana, in 1989 by Neal Onebane. It has grown tremendously since then. Today, there are over 3,200 shops around the country — 605 of which opened just last year. Aside from convenience stores and gas stations, the brand can also be found shelling out over a million pounds of chicken per week at truck stops, universities and casinos, according to Business Wire. San Francisco is home to six Krispy Krunchy Chicken locations: spots in Bayview-Hunters Point and SoMa, one near Union Square, this new Mission store, and the aforementioned Fisherman’s Wharf and Gas & Shop locations. I haven’t been to them all, but I know my cravings would be satisfied at any one.
My usual order is either a two-piece Krunch Box with drumstick and thigh or a three-piece tenders box. I always choose a side of mac and cheese or red beans and rice. For me, it’s that little extra spice from the mild Cajun flavoring that sets it apart from KFC and Popeyes. Krispy Krunchy does not list its Cajun spice recipe online, so it is unclear what is in the magic coating, but it stands out among the competition. At other fried chicken fast food restaurants, I often find the food too greasy, too dry or too bland. I’ve never had those problems at KKC — the meat is always juicy, the coating is always crunchy, and the mild spice always hits the spot.
While I am reluctant to open a blanket and play Uno at the 24th Street BART plaza, I will frequent the city’s latest fried chicken haven and make new KKC memories. That Cajun spice is just too good.
