In 2025 there is absolutely no shortage of fast food joints to choose from in the US.
Along with the historic heavyweights in McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Sonic, KFC, Burger King, and Jack in the Box, US diners have got Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, Wing Stop, Taco Bell, Dunkin’, Arby’s, and Chipotle to consider, and that’s without factoring-in regional brands like In-N-Out.
With all that in mind, it’s tough to believe a brand once hailed as being ‘better than KFC’ could struggle to holds its ground in the US market, but it was the sad fate of a brand that was subsumed into Popeyes through the 1990s.
That brand was Pioneer Chicken, operated by The Pioneer Chicken Take Out Corporation. It was founded in Los Angeles in 1961, and through the 70s it opened locations in Hawaii.
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Founder H. R. Kaufman sold the brand in 1987, at which point it had 270 locations and 220 franchisees. In 1988, Kaufman and his business associate Terrence P. Goggin filed for bankruptcy, with the brand having struggled to hold pace against KFC.
The brand was then taken over by AFC Enterprises, which owns Popeyes, in 1993. From there, the vast majority of its locations were converted into Popeyes, with just two remaining in Los Angeles and Bell Gardens in California.
Despite the intervening decades, Pioneer Chicken still holds a special plan in fans’ hearts.
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“I loved Pioneer,” said one Reddit user. “It was better than KFC. More flavorful, crispier. Bummer they mostly went out of business. I used to go to one of the last ones on Echo Park Blvd at Sunset circa late-90s."
Another shared: “Love the nostalgia of yet another California franchise that rapidly rose and fell in the early 90s. In the Bay Area, my local one filled the space that had been previously held by a paint store, an auto parts store, a Church’s Fried Chicken, then back to a paint store again.”
“Still the absolute best fried chicken chain,” proclaimed another fan.
Some noted that there are indeed two more locations in action.
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“Two remaining locations I believe,” said one. “One in Boyle Heights and one in Bell Gardens if I’m not mistaken.”
“Yessir, one in BG,” replied another user. “Lived here all my life and I have yet to try it.”
To them, someone cracked: “Haha, don’t get your hopes up. It’s pretty good, but it won’t change your life.”
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“Did not want to say it first but Pioneer Chicken is one of the better fried chicken spots in LA lol,” claimed a final thought.
Mostly gone, but certainly not forgotten.
Topics: Fast Food, US Food, Social Media
Rachael Davis