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Did you know theChicken SandwichWars are still going on?
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The poultry phenomenon originally began in 2019 when Popeyes launched its very first fried chicken sandwich.
But, it didn’t just simply launch a new product.
Nowadays, we’re not being bombarded with chicken sammies constantly flashing across our T.V.
Megan Hageman/Eat This Not That
screens or taking over entire chains.
All of that is but a distant fowl fever dream.
We all tend to have our go-tos in this department (myself included).
Megan Hageman/Eat This Not That
Let’s dive into my final pecking order from least to most favorite.
Wendy’s
Chicken comes in several forms at Wendy’s.
Nuggets are often cited as the most popular way Wendy’s consumers choose to chicken.
Megan Hageman/Eat This Not That
They often pop up on thechain’s annual listsof most ordered items.
But, when you don’t want to dip and dunk, sandwiches are there for you as well.
It comes to a single sandwich price of $5.99.
Megan Hageman/Eat This Not That
The Look:On the small side even with its array of veggie toppings.
The condensed chicken is breaded in golden brown, though it appears to lack any kind of seasonings.
Thinner dabs of mayo seep into everything from the chicken’s outer crust to the soft bun.
Megan Hageman/Eat This Not That
I think the fact that it comes with the works is just a distraction from this inferior composition.
The lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise don’t do much to improve the experience.
you could order one grilled or spicy, but I ordered a classic crispy version for $6.29.
Megan Hageman/Eat This Not That
The Look:The sandwich stands tall but mostly because of the bumpy and puffed-up Kaiser bun.
Below, the slab of fried chicken takes up the same amount of room as the fresh toppings.
It delivers a nice crisp and juiciness.
However, the meat’s surrounding environment isn’t doing it any favors.
I’m convinced the chicken would have been better off as a solo act.
But, I believe this taste test called for a more adult option and not on the McValue menu.
Enter: the McCrispy.
One sandwich sans fries cost me $4.29.
The Look:The chicken cutlet is still pretty flat.
It’s not a big-mouth sandwich by any means.
But, McDonald’s doesn’t make a complete fool out of itself with this copycat sammie.
Even if it’s unoriginal, I still like the simplicity of it.
The only real problem comes from the protein itself.
It’s confirmed white meat chicken but it’s more dry and chewy than juicy and crispy.
And, with a name like McCrispyyou simply can’t have that.
This comes stacked on a toasted and butter brioche bun with pickles and the Colonel’s real mayo.
Getting in on the finger-lickin' good action will cost you $4.99.
The Look:The glistening bun was unfortunately smashed in the hand-off process.
But, the chicken filet remained as plump as ever covered in ridges and valleys of brittle breading.
Three pickle chips were tucked below as well as a hefty glob of mayo.
The Taste:Extra crispy is an understatement.
You could hear the crunch of this sandwich from the next room over.
I would have been happy with about half the mayonnaise portion.
All in all, it’s an inviting home-cookin' style sammie.
A fact that speaks volumes to what we have coming up next.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A has been making chicken sandwiches since before it was cool.
It costs $5.09.
Two standard pickle slices are accounted for and the bun was its usual perky self.
Of course, it’s possible for you to always add the Chick-fil-A dipping sauce of your choice.
The chicken could even stand by itself if need be.
Since 1972 to be exact.
But, it didn’t drop its famed chicken sandwichthe one at the center of the sandwich warsuntil 2019.
Now, 6 years later, it still follows the same recipe.
The bun is brioche and both classic mayo and barrel-cured pickle slices join the party.
The Look:Mayo was over-applied.
Let’s get that out of the way first.
It appears like congealed vanilla frosting all over the chicken and sandwich.
But, today Popeyes triumphed, and it has everything to do with the Cajun-style breading.
Even the pickles are delicious.
Their barrel-cured brininess made me wish I had a handful just to snack on.
It’s a worthy opponent and my top pick in this poultry-off.
