A Popeyes outlet in San Jose, California apparently referred to a customer as “CHINK,” but the fast-food chain’s corporate office allegedly snubbed the incident.
The customer, who took to Reddit to share his receipt, dined in at the branch located in 705 West Capitol Expressway, just after 2:20 p.m. on Feb. 15.

The receipt clearly shows the customer being referred to as “CHINK.”
It also identifies an “Erika” as his “host” for the day.

The customer has since deleted his original post, but he claims corporate has “ignored” his complaint in an update which has also been taken down.
Betty Yu, a reporter for KPIX, also shared the matter on Twitter: “A @PopeyesChicken customer in San Jose posted this receipt and says corporate has ignored his complaint.”
A @PopeyesChicken customer in San Jose posted this receipt and says corporate has ignored his complaint. https://t.co/LfZM0220q4 @KPIXtv pic.twitter.com/GG0A83lk7n
— Betty Yu (@BettyKPIX) March 3, 2020
It’s unclear whether Popeyes plans to address the customer’s supposed complaint.
“I just cannot imagine someone writing a slur on a customer’s receipt name field, then handing it to them. That just seems so stupid,” a Reddit user commented. “That said, f*** racists.”
Another claimed that the Popeyes branch in question is the “worst” they have been to.
“It’s the worst Popeyes I have been to. Filled with high school kids behind the counter that work slow as f***. I remember waiting 25 minutes for a Chicken Po’ Boy.”
Twitter users shared the same sentiment, with one noting that Popeyes’ customer service is “nonexistent.”
Their customer service is nonexistent. I tried to get in touch with them about an incident once – they emailed me with a survey. The 1st question said “did anyone follow up and resolve your issue?” When I clicked no the survey ended. pic.twitter.com/1teHcKCoD9
— jawk (@jawk) March 3, 2020
Others suggested boycotting the company and called for Erika’s sacking.
Erica needs to be fired for the choice of word she made by calling a customer in derogatory on a receipt. #fireErica @popeyeschicken
— แสง สีสมพร (@sjcalsbm3) March 4, 2020
Someone needs to be fired.
— David Barnum (@DavidBarnum10) March 4, 2020
.@PopeyesChicken wants a boycott
— Stan TheMan (@StanTheMan0000) March 3, 2020
Love fried chicken but @kfc is gonna get our money if #PopeyesChicken cannot address apparent #racism and nastiness
— Cindy Lau-Evans (@CindyLauEvans) March 4, 2020
And Popeye’s is perpetuating it by not responding to the customer’s complaint.
— J. $chmoney (@Scottie_Pimppen) March 3, 2020
People have also raised the matter on the branch’s Yelp page.
Feature Images via Wikimapia (left) and @BettyKPIX (right)