10 Rules To Know Before Your First Visit To Raising Cane's

It's safe to say there is no shortage of fast food chicken chains to choose from. Loyalty is largely dependent on what chain is prevalent in your area. But Raising Cane's has the lock on the chicken fingers market, according to its cult following of "Caniacs." The fast casual chain is the brainchild of Louisiana native Todd Graves, who thought up the idea while in school at Louisiana State University in the mid-'90s. The restaurant, named after Graves' canine companion, a yellow Labrador Retriever (Raising Cane), launched in 1996. Since then, Raising Cane's has grown from a Louisiana staple to reaching chicken lovers at nearly 1,000 locations in the U.S.

Once the chain made its way to my neck of the woods, I couldn't wait to try out the coveted chicken fingers. However, knowing some tips and tricks to optimize your Raising Cane's experience can make your dining adventure all the more enjoyable. Fortunately, we've rounded up some of the rules that Caniacs say you should follow to have the most memorable (and delicious) first time at Raising Cane's.

If you are used to a fast food chain with a large menu, you may be taken aback by Raising Cane's limited menu (admittedly, myself included). If you don't already know it, Raising Cane's specializes in only chicken fingers, with the exception of a chicken finger sandwich. This means you won't find wraps, salads, or grilled chicken here. In fact, there are only a handful of items on the menu. But don't let that deter you, as the small menu means the chain focuses on doing a small number of menu items right — and plans to continue doing so, per a Mashed exclusive interview with its founder. "I just believe in doing one thing and doing it better than anybody else, or at least striving to, and focusing on that and being good at what you're good at," he said. "And it's worked out for 25 years. But look, it got the worst grade in business planning class."

Beyond the quality over quantity benefits of a small menu, there can be added bonuses in the actual dining experience. Diners have commented that the limited menu helps with efficiency in employees completing made-to-order meals quickly and consistently with limited confusion. Decision-fatigue also lessens when there are fewer options to choose from, meaning faster counter ordering and drive-thru experiences on the customer end. And every minute counts when you are starving for your fried chicken fix!

Whenever you are trying out a new restaurant, you may find yourself wanting to try a little bit of everything. Since the Raising Cane's menu is so limited, the good news is that it is actually pretty easy to try out everything on your first visit. There are even combination boxes designed to give you that full experience in one meal, ranging from larger portions to smaller kids meals.

The Box Combo is a popular pick that includes four chicken fingers, crinkle cut fries, Texas toast, coleslaw, Cane's sauce, and a drink. If you're extra hungry, the Caniac Combo can be the perfect fit, though it is on the pricier side. This combo box includes six chicken fingers instead of four, and an extra sauce with fries, Texas toast, coleslaw, and a drink. A smaller (and cheaper) meal option that is popular with many who aren't coleslaw fans is the Three Finger Combo, which comes with three chicken fingers, Texas toast, and fries. The only thing you are missing with these combo boxes is the bun for the chicken sandwich (though there is a chicken sandwich combo, too), but you get the idea.

You may be accustomed to ranch or ketchup for your chicken fingers. But Raising Cane's fans demand that you forgo the usual dipping sauce for the Cane's Sauce. What exactly is in Cane's Sauce is unclear, though copycat recipes try to replicate it. The chain describes the sauce as having a special blend of spices in its top-secret recipe, which is made fresh every day. The secret sauce recipe is kept under lock and key, with only store management knowing the exact recipe. In fact, store general managers themselves reportedly make the sauce fresh each morning so there are no leaks. The recipe is even passed down verbally — never written — and management team members even have said they are sworn to secrecy.

So why is this sauce such a well-kept secret? Some diners say the sauce makes the whole Cane's experience, as the chicken isn't overly seasoned so the zesty sauce amplifies the flavor. If you try the sauce and love it, the only place you'll be able to get it is in-store, as bottled versions to take home are not sold. Apparently, some Cane's locations will sell larger quantities of the sauce, but exact pricing and size has not been confirmed by the company themselves. Diners have reported being sold a 32 ounce large cup of sauce for $5.99. Whatever size you desire, don't make the rookie mistake and forget the Cane's Sauce.

Though it may not always be an option to dig into your meal immediately, try to make it a priority on your first visit to Raising Cane's. Eating your meal right away means you get to take advantage of the optimum freshness, therefore increasing the likelihood of a positive first impression on the crispy chicken fingers. We can all agree that soggy chicken and fries are certainly less enjoyable dining experiences.

You may be wondering why the rush? Raising Cane's prides itself on not using heat lamps, meaning every meal is cooked to order. So the chicken and the fries aren't sitting around waiting to be ordered, they are taken from the fryer directly to your plate. You'll have the crispiest chicken fingers if you enjoy them right when your order is up instead of waiting until the drive home. One diner called eating Raising Cane's right in the dining room right away the best tip they could provide. So try to dine-in (or eat in the car, we won't judge) for your first Cane's experience.

You have likely taken a look at the Raising Cane's menu by now and have noticed there aren't a plethora of side options available with meals. Crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, and creamy coleslaw are the ones listed on the menu (other than a side of sauce and a drink). But take advantage of what your favorite side dishes are on the menu by customizing your meal. Don't be afraid to sub out sides for what you love — even the CEO himself says he subs out the coleslaw for double Texas toast. You may not know what you love quite yet if it is your first time at Raising Cane's, but follow this rule if you have specific dietary restrictions or know you love or hate a particular side item.

The substitution dining tip is one that is widely popular among Cane's enthusiasts. It seems that many suggest substituting the coleslaw for extra toast, fries, or extra sauce, but there are some coleslaw fans that stan Cane's coleslaw. The one caveat to this substitution rule is that you can't swap out a side for extra chicken fingers (without an extra fee at least).

Now that we're on the subject of sides, Raising Cane's doesn't just offer you a measly slice of bread or a thought-after bun. Raising Cane's is actually known for its Texas toast, described as "pillowy pull-apart bread with just the right amount of butter and garlic." Diners agree that the Texas Toast is really, really good. In fact, Mashed ranked the Texas Toast as the best item on the menu (behind the chicken, of course).

All that being said, the toast isn't just your average toast. There are copycat Cane's Texas Toast recipes galore trying to recreate the side. This could be the unique preparation of it — the toast is grilled, not baked, to order. Diners say it makes a perfect dipping vessel for that coveted Cane's Sauce. Another rule of enjoying Raising Cane's Texas Toast is to ask for it "BOB" or butter on both sides. And if you really love the toast, use that as one of your substitutions and make your own sandwich out of your chicken fingers (sans brioche bun).

Another pro tip from Raising Cane's enthusiasts is to ask for specific preparation methods for your meal. If you love super crunchy chicken and fries like me, Raising Cane's will do it for you and cook your chicken and fries extra crispy. This can also be a game changer if you are doing takeout, according to diners, as your meal may still have some crunch to it when you get it home.

The same modification goes for the Texas Toast – diners reported some locations will toast your bread more (or less) for you if requested. If you opted for the Chicken Finger Sandwich, feel free to ask for more lettuce. However, it is recommended to be mindful of how busy the location is when considering these extra prep methods. Some diners say they avoid making these requests during lunch or dinner rushes out of respect for the employees. But if it looks like it's a calm time at your Raising Cane's location, feel free to ask away!

Fountain drinks are a staple of any fast food chain, and Raising Cane's is no exception. In fact, the Raising Cane's combo boxes come with a drink automatically. But the chain is known for offering its lemonade year-round, made with juice from freshly-squeezed lemons. It's a little extra cost compared to a regular drink, but diners say it's well worth it for a taste of summer during any season. Plus, lemonade is integral to Raising Cane's mission to foster community connections and create future entrepreneurs.

And if you love an Arnold Palmer moment, add the famous freshly brewed iced tea made with 100% cane sugar for half lemonade and half iced tea. The iced tea is equally as delicious if you are a tea drinker. And if you are an ice snob, you'll be happy to know the drinks are served with Cane's signature crushed ice. So skip the soda for your first time at Raising Cane's and try out one of its homemade drink offerings.

There is quite a debate about if an actual secret menu exists for Raising Cane's, as the regular menu has limited offerings. However, diners say there are a handful of menu items that aren't widely advertised. Naked Chicken Fingers give you the same premium chicken that is marinated for 24 hours, but without the batter. The result is a lightly golden chicken finger without breading that is still moist. It should be noted that former employees say Naked Chicken Fingers are still cooked in the same oil as the regular hand-breaded chicken fingers, so they're not considered gluten-free.

There are also a couple of "secret" sauces available other than the Cane's Sauce. Honey Mustard is also a sauce option that is prepared and packaged on-location, though not advertised. And if you are lacking a little spice to your Cane's experience, ask for Louisiana Hot Sauce (it is a Louisiana-based chain, after all) to add to the Cane's sauce to make your own homage to the "Nashville Hot" chicken.

Finally, if you know you love fried chicken and see yourself becoming a Cane's regular, don't forget to join the loyalty club, aptly called the "Caniac Club." This way, you get members-only benefits like special surprises for your birthday and member anniversary. You may also have randomly loaded offers on your card throughout the year for holidays, as well as be entered into contests, merchandise deals, or other unique prize offerings. You don't have to have a physical card, either, as the club runs off of an app on your phone.

It should be said that diners have noted there seems to be less of an incentive to join than previously, as rewards were more plentiful. There doesn't seem to be a "new member" reward any more. But for newbies to Raising Cane's it is still worthwhile for long-term deals. And who doesn't love good chicken fingers that are free?