We're so clucking full after trying all of these... Jan 14, 2016 More fodder for a future taste-test! And we're going to eat all of them today, compare them against one another, and find out definitively what is the best fast-food chicken sandwich available to the public. They're known as a "signature sauce" place and a lot of people will just think it's the sauce that makes it work — but nope, that's some tasty chicken. Let’s talk spicy chicken sandwiches and which fast food restaurants have bragging rights as the best spicy chicken sandwich money can buy. Popeyes has mastered the traditional T.L.C. A woman is definitely giving me a … Popeyes' chicken sandwich is delicious, but it's not great for your health. While the chicken filet itself is reasonably crispy (if a little skimpy and thin), the shards of chopped lettuce mostly end up on your lap and wedged into the cracks of your car seat, and the tomato is a depressing colorless slab of mealy moisture that offers nothing in terms of flavor. Buyer beware. Cane's chicken is just flat out good. KFC – Crispy Colonel Sandwich. At most locations it's $1, but as with most dollar chicken, you really have to question what it did of to be so cheap. Most major fast-food chains offer grilled-chicken options, from sandwiches to nuggets — even Shake Shack is in on the trend now. They’ve got slightly irregular finish that gives a … But which are the best? If you think the chicken is good, and the sauce is good, throw it between some bread and add some lettuce and you've got something that's so simple, yet it's so good. But which are the best? The honey mustard doesn't do much to help this so you really need the lettuce and tomato to provide the flavor (and there sure is a lot of lettuce!). Raising Cane's sandwich meal is a lot with three chicken fingers, Cane's sauce, and lettuce on a Kaiser roll. Remove chicken from skillet and pat off excess oil using paper towels. It's a scientific trick that tells your brain that the food you're eating is bright and fresh. If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment. Fast food restaurants typically boast about how fresh and meaty their hamburgers taste, but where's the love for chicken? It's a stripped-down, barebones return to the classics, with a breaded, 100 percent white meat chicken filet, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise on a soft potato roll. The only fallback to the sandwich is it has just too much lettuce — it would be better with about half the greens they provide. Maybe a scattering of lettuce and/or tomato for color and texture. Here's the secret: They're all just selling sauce and the "spoon" is the chicken finger. Add chicken to oil and cook until chicken is golden brown on both sides and at an internal temperature of 165 degrees, about 8 minutes. The Checkers Big Chicken sandwich represents the opposite approach. It’s with this historical context that I considered the idea that Popeyes—Popeyes!— now had the best fast food fried chicken sandwich with deep skepticism. The fried chicken sandwich at Chicken & Farm Shop inside Soho House is piled so high you’ll definitely need a bib. Made correctly and with restraint, a simple, balanced fried chicken sandwich can be a thing of understated beauty, especially when the individual components are treated with care and attention. It's traditionally stood out in a field of fried chicken sandwich wannabes, with a perfectly balanced blend of spicy peppered breaded chicken that will wake up your senses without being overpowering, topped simply with leaf lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise, and served on a faux-Brioche style bun. At their best, good fast food fried chicken sandwiches can stand solely on the strength of their quality ingredients. Components: Potato bun, pickles, Roost sauce. For many years, long before a simple fried chicken sandwich became the "of the moment" fast food item of choice, the Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Wendy's was our gold-standard for what a drive-thru chicken sandwich could be. Add chicken to milk and egg mixture, coat well. Fast-food fried-chicken sandwiches are not all the same. In spite of its enormous size, the chicken remains impossibly crunchy, each bite of peppery breading shattering into juicy, naturally-textured chicken breast. So you're tired of the usual fast-food burger and want to switch things up with a chicken sandwich. The overall impact is like someone softly whispering a little puff of chicken breath into your ear while you are sleeping soundly; it leaves the impression of having eaten food, without any evidence to support the consumption of a meal other than a sad scattering of empty cardboard slider boxes. Most fast-food fried chicken sandwiches look pretty much the same. Is it a very good sandwich? There's a chicken patty, lettuce, and a bun. Unfortunately, most of the good news stops there, as this sandwich seems like a much better idea on paper, than in reality. Prices vary by location, but you're not getting this for less than $6 — and that's without a side or a drink. But which chain is serving up the best fast-food chicken sandwich? Another, somewhat more natural and appealing choice, is the  Chicken Breast Slider. We rank 26 of them. The tomato provides all the moisture you'll need for this chicken sandwich. While fast food chains are known for their burgers and fries, one cannot underestimate the power of a chicken sandwich. Price: $6.50 Verdict: The thick, flavorful, crispy coating tends to overpower the chicken at times. During the tasting, one thing became very clear: not all chicken is created equal. Would you like fries (or onion rings or chicken tenders) with that? When a craving for fast-food chicken hits, there are plenty of restaurant options. That really sets it apart from other chicken sandwiches; most sacrifice taste for crunch, but Popeyes delivers on both.... kinda. In true McDonald's style, the mayo and bun feel eerily familiar—just what you'd expect from McD's, even if you haven't had the sandwich before. It's fairly underwhelming and you're better served going with another sandwich or just riding those chicken fingers. Hattie B’s Hot Chicken is a family-run restaurant based in Nashville, … Bojangles' offers up some fancy chicken sandwiches, but the standard is the Cajun Filet sandwich. In 2018, they introduced chicken to the prior mostly meat menu. A chicken thigh is a wise choice when building a better fried-chicken sandwich; the dark meat has more fat and flavor than the breast, so it cooks up juicy and rich, not dry and boring. Actually, they "double sauce" it, adding Cane's sauce top and bottom buns. They’ve also recently launched a Nashville hot chicken sandwich if you’re looking to curb your hot and spicy chicken sandwich … We tried the standard fried chicken sandwiches*, whether chicken patty-like or chicken fillet-like, from KFC, Popeye's, McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Wendy's, and Burger King. Since this fast food fish sandwich is made to order, you can guarantee the fish is fresh, which is what helped land this sandwich in the #1 seat. These are the sandwiches where the meat you bite into seems like a reconstituted chicken patty—let's call it a giant McNugget—than any part of the animal. In fact, the impression isn't that this is a piece of chicken sitting on a bun at all, but instead a bun that's been somehow wrapped around a piece of chicken. Keep reading below to see which fast-food chicken sandwiches to skip ordering and which are the best option to enjoy every once in a while. "Most contain tons of sodium, a lot of refined carbs, additives, food dyes, refined oils, and very long ingredient lists. For the build, they are going the pickle route ala Chick-fil-A with a few accompanying a buttered brioche bun. The pure simplicity is what takes it to a whole new level... and makes it almost the best. Kenji admitted to liking the pepper and mayo on the sandwich, though he added that "looking at it is a little scary.". The first thing you notice is that hulking mass of fried chicken breast, dwarfing the squishy toasted potato bun it is served on, with craggy, seasoned edges hanging lasciviously out of the edges like a college student at Mardi Gras. McDonald's Crispy Chicken Sandwich actually gives you a few variations on a theme, even before you get to the "Club" and "Ranch" sandwiches. Note to readers: if you purchase something through … (Because chicken is a fairly lean protein, any extra fat is likely from globs of high-calorie sauces.) There's a chicken patty, lettuce, and a bun. The sandwich strips out all unnecessary components, offering a giant slab of fried chicken that overwhelms and destroys the bun it sits on, with a scattering of pickle slices and a new "Signature Sauce." But just like those places, they do offer up a chicken sandwich. Fast-food fried-chicken sandwiches are not all the same. What makes it stand out beyond the rest, however, is a gravy packed with flavors of onion and celery that is absolutely ethereal. They're a big step up from the fast-food variety, and worth every indulgent calorie. How about the early favorite, Chick-fil-A. The bun disintegrates into nothingness almost immediately, and the lettuce and tomato contribute nothing but a slightly upgraded appearance to the sandwich. Yet somehow, you won't even miss it. Some HTML is OK: link, strong, em. Instead, dig in to this finger-licking good ranking of the most popular fast food chicken chains, ordered from the worst to the best. For all of the promotion of the pre-cooked weight of the (weirdly ridged and bumpy) processed chicken filet, the finished product seems a little wimpy; there's not much in the way of plumpness or moisture, with a soggy, nearly flavorless breading that starts to fuse with the mayonnaise-covered cut interior of the bun into a pasty sludge long before you've worked your way through even half of the sandwich. Try the original fried chicken sandwich nestled between a soft bun and layered with lettuce, white cheddar, avocado aioli and pickled peppers. In the fast food world, fried chicken sandwiches are the new black. Fast Food Chains With the Best Fried Chicken 5 of 6 4. And according to the signs inside the stores, PDQ stand for People Dedicated to Quality (because you wanted to know). An envelope. 699 calories, 42 g fat (14 g saturated fat, 1.5 g trans fat), 1,443 mg sodium, 50 g carbs (2 g fiber, 7.5 g sugar), 28 g protein. As America falls deeper in love with chicken, the number of chicken chains seem to be growing by the day. If you value the crunch, this is for you. For a moment, let’s put aside the fact that they have one of the best fast food sides in Canada with their taters. Whether you’ve left Chick-fil-A behind for the politics of their CEO or not, it’s hard to deny that the place makes hands down the best spicy chicken sandwich on the mainstream fast food market. But which chain is serving up the best fast-food chicken sandwich? Just about every chain, whether a burger chain or fried chicken establishment, offers multiple versions. Burger King's Tendercrisp, a chicken fillet sandwich, lived up to the first part of its name, but not the second—the crisp just isn't there. The letter "P" styled to look like a thumbtack pin. The standard chicken sandwich is just three chicken fingers on a bun with lettuce — but the trick is that they go ahead and put the sauce on there for you. 2019-07-02T15:21:00Z The letter F. A ghost. The chain continues to serve rock-solid versions of classic drive-in fare, at low prices and with friendly service. While most fast food grilled chicken can be left dry and overcooked, this sandwich defies the odds. Seasoned with peppery spices and fried, the chicken breast is moderately juicy. Stunningly crisp skin, perfectly cooked breast and leg, and a flavorful gravy in one fell swoop. The reason that PDQ is spreading is because their chicken is flat-out excellent. 6½ out of 10 Still, one of the customers’ favorites is the fried chicken — be it their breakfast chicken sandwich, their boneless chicken dippers (a.k.a. When they say big, they mean big! The texture has a nice flavor to it; it tastes like a real piece of chicken. Some comments may be held for manual review. We tried the standard fried chicken sandwiches, whether chicken patty-like or chicken fillet-like, from KFC, Popeye's, McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Wendy's, and Burger King. It's time to settle the debate once and for all... who will be the winner of the #ChickenSandwichShowdown2k19?! Bojangles' makes great chicken, but you're better off going eating it with a biscuit. There are a few chains doing the job right. If not, that's a whole lot of chicken going on. But where KFC really starts to outshine its competitors is in the slathering sauce arena: Customers can augment their Crispy Colonel Sandwich with the company's Smoky Mountain BBQ, Georgia Gold, or Nashville Hot sauces, which dial up the flavor considerably without sacrificing crunchiness, thanks to the oil base of the sauces. I'm talking about the Great Chicken Sandwich Feud. Here's our ranking of fast-food grilled chicken sandwiches, from worst to best. And wouldn't you know it? This is a YUGE piece of chicken. Popeyes Chicken Sandwich . In a wide bowl, combine flour, remaining salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and canola … It's about as traditional "southern homestyle" as you can get — just lettuce, tomato, and mayo. There is a spicy chicken sandwich revolution taking place. The 2020 forecast projects that the average American will eat 99 pounds of chicken for the year, which is far higher than beef (57 pounds) or pork (53 pounds).. KFC, the granddaddy of fast food chicken, was born in 1930 in, … Jenn Harris and Lucas Kwan Peterson visit Jollibee, KFC, Popeyes, Krispy Krunchy and Church’s Chicken to find the best fast-food fried chicken. What is PDQ? Hattie B’s Hot Chicken Source: Wikimedia Commons. The Chicken Fingers Sandwich is simply chicken fingers on a bun — wisely served with their signature "Zax" sauce and lettuce and tomatoes. Whereas Chick-fil-A has a menagerie of sauces that you can self-apply to your chicken, Popeyes does that for you by providing mayo on the bun. It ' s enormous, with a huge piece of chicken that ' s as crunchy and satisfying as their Extra Crispy variety chicken. Chains be damned, I have to find the best fried chicken sandwich in Connecticut. I taste-tested a glut of chicken sandwiches from major fast-food chains this year to find which chain does it best.. It's Burger Fi, not Chicken Fi. 17. Depending on where you are in the US, you either have a Hardee's or a Carl's Jr. in your area — or you have neither. We tried the standard fried chicken sandwiches, whether chicken patty-like or chicken fillet-like, from KFC, Popeye's, McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Wendy's, and Burger King. If you're just off a three-year desert island stay, this might be a good choice for stop number one. With the Chick'n Shack, Shake Shack's much-hyped foray into the realm of fried chicken sandwiches, the tradition continues. Despite their amazing chicken, they know the sauce is boss. You know how they say there's no such thing as bad pizza (even though there is)? That seems logical, considering, well, it is, but when other places brine their chicken and Popeyes doesn't, the taste is certainly different. Most major fast-food chains offer grilled-chicken options, from sandwiches to nuggets — even Shake Shack is in on the trend now. Just about every chain, whether a burger chain or fried chicken establishment, offers multiple versions. They really stress quality ingredients, and practice a friendly service each time they dutifully take your order. The chicken itself has a natural texture, and is breaded crisply and evenly. After spending years trying to dazzle hungry customers with increasingly over-the-top creations, stacking everything from house-cured maple bourbon bacon to sour cherry compote on top of burgers and chicken sandwiches, chefs have gotten back to basics. Then a pleasantly plump piece of chicken gets a gluten-free rub down and is fried in soybean oil. They also offer a couple other traditional chicken sandwiches. Let’s talk spicy chicken sandwiches and which fast food restaurants have bragging rights as the best spicy chicken sandwich money can buy. Explore other popular cuisines and restaurants near you from over 7 million businesses with over 142 million reviews and opinions from Yelpers. At their best, good fast food fried chicken sandwiches can stand solely on the strength of their quality ingredients. 18. You're not thinking chicken when you go to Culver's, but this is an excellent and unexpected chicken sandwich — well worth adding into your chicken eating repertoire. It's a good thing they have more than a million drink choices... Burger Fi is a new kid on the block, so to speak, and prides itself on wicked fresh ingredients. This—on paper—works. Learn more on our Terms of Use page. To be honest, so did we. This tradition mostly continues with the Classic Crispy Chicken Sandwich, with some caveats. Chick-fil-A is the new Twenty-First Century pizza. A truly excellent fried chicken sandwich doesn't try to dazzle you with the cheffy pedigree of its toppings, or the complexity of its preparation. I order the #1, since that comes with the original chicken sandwich, waffle fries and a sweet tea (or soda, if you’re boring). An image of a chain link. The crispy bird has flown to the top of sandwich menus across the United States with the best chefs in the country luring hungry eaters with their finest renditions — not to mention numerous fast food joints, including Popeye's and Chick-fil-A, flocking in an attempt to rule the roost. This button-busting sandwich … The PDQ standard sandwich is the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, with their crunchy fried chicken served up with lettuce, tomato, mayo and pickles. The sandwich is a crispy fried chicken breast, topped with pickles, slicked with your choice of mayo or spicy Cajun sauce, and nestled on a brioche bun. With the Southern Style Crispy Chicken, Mickey D's seems to copy the Classic Chick-fil-A sandwich, offering a real chicken fillet, bun, and pickles. Whatever you think of their politics, they make a damn good sandwich. Just like many of the chicken sandwiches you will find on this list, Wendy’s variation is topped … Unfortunately, the fried chicken sandwich at Dairy Queen is about on par with what you would expect to find if you were stuck wandering around a semi-abandoned airport terminal at 11 p.m., albeit at one-tenth the cost of an overpriced, anemic chicken sandwich in Terminal C. The chicken itself is completely devoid of flavor, and tastes as though it was boiled prior to coating and frying, without a trace of seasoning. But what about eating it between two buns? They keep it simple like Church’s, and you can get it in tender form or in varied piece buckets. It's very similar to the chain's "Mac Sauce," but adds just a touch of spiciness. If there's one in your area you might think of it as The Last Jedi of restaurants — you either love it or hate it; there's no in between. From it’s smoky taste, to juicy grilled lemon-herb boneless chicken breast, this healthier option doesn’t sacrifice taste. Chicken fingers are a thing, and people get very passionate about their favorite places. But like snowflakes, no two chicken sandwiches are … The Most Popular Fast Food Fried Chicken Sandwiches, Ranked. It symobilizes a website link url. The chicken presents crispy, yet juicy, and the spice on the fried goodness makes this a savory win. The Best Fast-Food Fried Chicken Sandwich? Sure, the majority of fast food joints have chicken nuggets, but those puppies disappear in four bites.Sometimes, a crispy chicken sandwich is needed. They also feature a chicken sandwich with pimento cheese and potato chips on it. That's a darn tasty sandwich. If you actually look at the ingredients you'll be surprised to see vinegar listed there — that's the secret. The chicken here is thinner than many of the other sandwiches we tasted, but it doesn't compromise in terms of flavor. Oh, Burger King. Mary Brown’s is the holy grail of fast food chicken in this country. Too big. It's difficult to go to a place and not get the specialty. The Crispy Chicken Sandwich is in the family of "southern style." Please chime in with your favorites. Fast food restaurants typically boast about how fresh and meaty their hamburgers taste, but where's the love for chicken? But the "Grill" side of the menu offers a substantial meal at a bargain price, such as the "Crispy Chicken Sandwich Meal" which includes a drink, fries, and a small sundae for just $6 bucks (depending on your location). (Kenji and Ed both approved.). That familiar Wendy's heat is still there, and still seems the most balanced of many of the sandwiches in our lineup. (via KFC) From coast to coast, these are 30 of the best fried chicken sandwiches in America. But all the big places out there actually make a pretty fine chicken! The Premium Crispy Chicken Classic Sandwich, though it comes with the same chicken, has a strangely sweet bun that doesn't jibe with what should be a salty delight. Here are the results. The sandwich is lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo, on a massive brioche bun. Yes, you really can find an excellent fried chicken sandwich at a fast food drive-thru window. Flip chicken halfway through. The other big big problem is the price. Let us know where you believe the best fast-food fried chicken in Pennsylvania can be found. When it comes to the other fast-food outlets, Wendy's and McDonald's put up a good fight against Chick-fil-A, but ultimately can't dethrone the Southern star. Also plagued by sweetness was Wendy's; tasting it side-by-side with other sandwiches showed me how much sweeter their mayo tastes; I'd actually recommend ordering without, because it ruins one of the better crispy chicken fillets, though they're usually drier than most. Their small, 2x2-inch steamed burgers continue to be a craveable obsession for many, but the chain's efforts to branch out into other pocket-sized sandwiches have been mixed, at best. If 2019 could be summed up in a sandwich, it would be one made of fried chicken. Arby's introduced their entry into the "buttermilk" fried crispy chicken sandwich trend in 2016, with the introduction of the Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich. Jack In The Box Chicken Sandwich. didn't you? But seared chicken isn't masked by a delicious fried … It's deceptively simple, completely satisfying, and the new standard by which other fried chicken sandwiches should be measured.