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ItsLiterallyPK t1_j2170jc wrote

Lucky buns! I know roaming roasters is pretty good and popular but IMHO it's a generic chicken sandwich. Lucky buns has some of the juiciest fried chicken I've had in a sandwich and they have some interesting items on their menu too.

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GreatStateOfSadness t1_j21msmn wrote

> I know roaming roasters is pretty good and popular but IMHO it's a generic chicken sandwich

It's wild how much chicken sandwiches have evolved in the last three years. Pre-pandemic, Roaming Rooster was the chicken sandwich in the DMV.

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SquishWindow t1_j21olp6 wrote

No, Lucky Buns & Hot Lola's were always better

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GreatStateOfSadness t1_j21pofo wrote

I'm not commenting on the overall quality; Hot Lola's was (and is) better but didn't get the same social media clout. People didn't line up for it the same way they did for RR until relatively recently.

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SquishWindow t1_j21pyu8 wrote

Yeah. One viral tweet when people couldn't get Popeyes sent RR to the moon

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GreatStateOfSadness t1_j21r1jq wrote

Yep. I'll be honest, I tried Hot Lola's when it first opened in Ballston and couldn't handle even the Shy Guy (which I think was called Shy Hot when they opened) but could do fine with the RR Extra Hot. Roaming Rooster ended up being my gateway into hot chicken.

Now I can't leave Hot Lola's since the Flippin' Hot is the only heat I can actually feel.

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SquishWindow t1_j21k2f8 wrote

Lucky Buns is great but I feel like Lucky Buns has turned down their heat recently. The last couple of times I've gone the Hot Tiger Bun has barely made me break a sweat; it used to have me panting hard.

IMO Hot Lola's is the clear king based on my most recent experiences.

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brock_h t1_j21layx wrote

I'm ready for some hate but I don't understand lucky buns at all. It's extremely pricey and serves mediocre food with no attention to any kind of presentation. Plastic cups, plates, beer straight out of the 24-pack for premium prices. The vibe is dive bar but with $20 hamburgers and $10 beers. The service when I went there was not good either, it was like I was supposed to be thankful that they were serving me. I went in totally wanting to like it with no preconceived notions. It seems like a restaurant that thinks it's a social club (or maybe it is)? I guess I'm not the target audience...

To the question, Roaming Rooster is definitely another option but really Popeyes is going to get you most of the way there and also cost less than $5... Kind of a sad state of affairs.

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bridges-build-burn t1_j22cj1p wrote

I live pretty close to Lucky Buns and I have seen more rats around the kitchen door and trash area than anywhere else in what is already a generally very ratty neighborhood.

Even if there wasn’t a rat jamboree out back, I wouldn’t eat there just based on the prices and the pissed off vibes

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heels_n_skirt t1_j21xaln wrote

LB in Adams Morgan is much better than Union Market. Hot Lola and Hangry Joes are good. All three serve with huge chicken meat.

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sloowhand t1_j23ggv3 wrote

Lucky Buns and Roaming Rooster are two completely different categories, imo. RR is the best fast food chicken sandwich you’re ever going to have. LB is not fast food and the price is way higher. This is an apples to oranges comparison.

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FormerCollegeDJ t1_j24bd5m wrote

???

I haven't gone to either place for a while, but I remember Roaming Rooster's sandwich was about $10 while Lucky Buns' Hot Tiger Bun was about $13 or $14; there's a cost difference but they are in the same general category and Roaming Rooster is definitely NOT a fast food restaurant. RR is definitely closer in price to Lucky Buns and Hot Lola's than it is to Popeyes (was $4, now $4.50).

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brock_h t1_j2773n4 wrote

Not sure when the last time it was you went but prices are $16+ at lucky buns and keep in mind it's table service so you're expected to be tipping (whereas RR you can just take out). It's way pricier.

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FormerCollegeDJ t1_j279i1g wrote

I typically have done pickup at Lucky Buns. (My girlfriend lives about 3 blocks away.) I’d guess the last time I went there was probably late 2021 or early 2022.

Regardless of the cost difference, Roaming Rooster is NOT a fast food place. It is a fast casual restaurant.

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jsnowman97 OP t1_j22lwid wrote

Just tried Lucky Buns today, it was really good, I would put it on par with Honeymoon. I forgot to mention in the post that I’ve also tried Hangry Joes and personally I liked that one more. Focus of the sandwich was all chicken and its great chicken

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