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Message
Did Raising Canes and Zaxby's basically copy Guthries entire menu?
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:42 pm
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:42 pm
That fact that there have never been any copyrights or intellectual property protections on recipes has always been sort of interesting...
Yes — Raising Cane’s and Zaxby’s basically copied Guthrie’s menu format, but not their recipes.
Here’s the clean breakdown:
? What They Copied:
The entire structure of the classic chicken-finger meal
Guthrie’s was the first to sell a streamlined “chicken finger box” that included:
chicken fingers
crinkle-cut fries
Texas toast
coleslaw
signature dipping sauce
This exact combination is identical to what Cane’s and Zaxby’s later built their core meals around.
The concept: a chicken-finger–focused restaurant
Guthrie’s basically invented the “chicken finger restaurant” category.
Cane’s and Zaxby’s started years later and clearly adopted that model.
- ChatGPT
-------------------------
- Grok
-------------
Yes — Raising Cane’s and Zaxby’s basically copied Guthrie’s menu format, but not their recipes.
Here’s the clean breakdown:
? What They Copied:
The entire structure of the classic chicken-finger meal
Guthrie’s was the first to sell a streamlined “chicken finger box” that included:
chicken fingers
crinkle-cut fries
Texas toast
coleslaw
signature dipping sauce
This exact combination is identical to what Cane’s and Zaxby’s later built their core meals around.
The concept: a chicken-finger–focused restaurant
Guthrie’s basically invented the “chicken finger restaurant” category.
Cane’s and Zaxby’s started years later and clearly adopted that model.
- ChatGPT
-------------------------
- Grok
-------------
41
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:43 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
Man this board talks about canes an awful lot
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:43 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
Did Raising Canes and Zaxby's basically copy Guthries entire menu?
That's a very common question, and the answer, based on the history of the chicken finger concept, is that Guthrie's was the originator of the specific, simple menu that Raising Cane's and Zaxby's are famous for.
Here is a breakdown of the key points:
?? The Original Chicken Finger Concept
Guthrie's opened in 1965 and, importantly, became the first exclusive chicken-finger-only restaurant in the world in 1982.
They established the classic "box combo" which includes:
Chicken Tenders (or fingers)
Fries (often crinkle-cut)
Texas Toast
Coleslaw
Signature Sauce
The "Copycat" Connection
Zaxby's (Founded 1990): The founder, Zach McLeroy, became familiar with Guthrie's while attending the University of Georgia in Athens. The Zaxby's menu, which features a similar chicken-finger plate with toast, fries, slaw, and a dipping sauce ("Zax Sauce"), is widely considered to have been directly inspired by Guthrie's.
Raising Cane's (Founded 1996): Founder Todd Graves also worked at a Guthrie's location (at the University of Georgia in Athens) before starting Raising Cane's. His concept, which is almost identical in its menu structure (The Box Combo has tenders, crinkle fries, Texas toast, coleslaw, and Cane's Sauce), was also inspired by his experience at Guthrie's.
- Gemini
That's a very common question, and the answer, based on the history of the chicken finger concept, is that Guthrie's was the originator of the specific, simple menu that Raising Cane's and Zaxby's are famous for.
Here is a breakdown of the key points:
?? The Original Chicken Finger Concept
Guthrie's opened in 1965 and, importantly, became the first exclusive chicken-finger-only restaurant in the world in 1982.
They established the classic "box combo" which includes:
Chicken Tenders (or fingers)
Fries (often crinkle-cut)
Texas Toast
Coleslaw
Signature Sauce
The "Copycat" Connection
Zaxby's (Founded 1990): The founder, Zach McLeroy, became familiar with Guthrie's while attending the University of Georgia in Athens. The Zaxby's menu, which features a similar chicken-finger plate with toast, fries, slaw, and a dipping sauce ("Zax Sauce"), is widely considered to have been directly inspired by Guthrie's.
Raising Cane's (Founded 1996): Founder Todd Graves also worked at a Guthrie's location (at the University of Georgia in Athens) before starting Raising Cane's. His concept, which is almost identical in its menu structure (The Box Combo has tenders, crinkle fries, Texas toast, coleslaw, and Cane's Sauce), was also inspired by his experience at Guthrie's.
- Gemini
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:45 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
What's the big deal?
Most burger places come with fries and a coke standard.
Most burger places come with fries and a coke standard.
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:45 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
Zaxby's sauce is awful.
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:46 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
Todd Graves stole the idea of stealing the menu from Akeem's boss.
This post was edited on 11/20/25 at 4:50 pm
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:46 pm to Geaux23
quote:
Man this board talks about canes an awful lot
Are we really THIS fat as a message board now?
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:46 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
OMG it’s fricking chicken tenders. It’s like saying Wendy’s copied McDonalds.
This board has mental issues of Raising Canes. Every other fast food is whatever, but Canes triggers grown men. They cannot handle Canes existing.
This board has mental issues of Raising Canes. Every other fast food is whatever, but Canes triggers grown men. They cannot handle Canes existing.
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:50 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
Yes. Guthrie’s is the best and the OG. Used to keep a gallon of their sauce in my fridge in college.
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:53 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
quote:
Did Raising Canes and Zaxby's basically copy Guthries entire menu?
If Guthries didnt want to expand and be successful, or have the wherewithal to do it, should people outside of their footprint not have the opportunity to eat chicken fingers? lol
Also crinkle cut fries suck
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:58 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
All of these copied in this order - Abners, Zaxbys, Canes
Posted on 11/20/25 at 4:59 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
The real question is, what else would you expect canes or zaxbys to put with fried chicken fingers?
I mean, Mac and cheese would probably be incredible but that’s besides the point
I mean, Mac and cheese would probably be incredible but that’s besides the point
Posted on 11/20/25 at 5:01 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
quote:
Did Raising Canes and Zaxby's basically copy Guthries entire menu?by Violent Hip Swivel
Just like you stole this topic from another thread and poster
Posted on 11/20/25 at 5:01 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
quote:
copy Guthries entire menu
I thought they copied Abner's menu
Posted on 11/20/25 at 5:01 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
Im definitely indulging in some heckin Slim Chickens while Im at XNA for my holiday travels 
Posted on 11/20/25 at 5:02 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
Guthries location seem random as hell.
Posted on 11/20/25 at 5:05 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
Did the Sonic owner work at Guthrie's also to make their chicken box?
Posted on 11/20/25 at 5:05 pm to Violent Hip Swivel
Zaxby’s delivers a better product. Guthrie’s has declined. Last 10 years it’s noticeable.
Posted on 11/20/25 at 5:19 pm to llfshoals
When I was in college in the early 2000s I would go to Guthries hungover AF and I swear I could have walked outside of Auburn to a farm, killed a chicken, brought it back and butchered it, fried it, and boxed it up faster than those frickers would make my box. None of those are very fast to this day. But holy hell Guthries early menu and maybe their menu currently was nothing but fries, chicken, slaw, and toast. There shouldn't be a walk in customer that takes more than 3 mins to get their order during the normal lunch and dinner times.
Posted on 11/20/25 at 5:21 pm to Clyde Tipton
quote:
Zaxby's sauce is awful.
Everything on their menu tastes like a salt bomb with no other flavor.
Canes FTW. Better Ingredients. Better Chicken. Raising Canes.
This post was edited on 11/20/25 at 5:22 pm
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