What is the Best Fried Chicken Sandwich Franchise?
Michelle Fan • March 2, 2024
Few things in life can cause a ruckus quite like the onslaught of lines wrapping around buildings or the hours spent in line. You would imagine such a sensation to be caused by an item of high magnitude. That depends on what you define magnitude as. The culprit of this ordeal was the infamous Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich that sent the internet into a frenzy over fried chicken. Years after this conundrum, I think it’s time I sort out things once and for all. This article delves into my personal experiences regarding and rating various fast food chicken sandwiches.
The Poultry King: Chick-fil-A
10/10: My decisive winner for this poultry showdown is Chick-fil-a’s classic chicken sandwich. I think it does everything it needs to do. It isn’t quite as filling as Popeyes, but there is still a considerable portion of crispy chicken. In fact, I find Chick-fil-a the perfect balance between substance and being overbearing. Chick-fil-a’s iconic sauce also cuts through the grease and makes the sandwich more flavorful. I would recommend this sandwich to everyone who wants balance but still wants to feel satisfied.
The Classic: Mcdonalds
6/10: The McCrispy is a relatively new addition to the fried chicken battle. Aiming to be a more high end version of the classic McChicken, It was marketed as a competitor to the other sandwiches on the market. However, McDonald’s doesn’t scream boujee to me, and the sandwich was quite underwhelming. With a classic bun, patty much smaller than the competitors, and generic sauces, the sandwich delivered what Mcdonald’s is known for: mediocre food at a fast pace. I would recommend this sandwich to those looking for a basic meal, and definitely not for those looking for something special.
The Deserved Underdog: Burger King
3/10: Burger King may be the king of burgers, but it might be the pawn of chicken sandwiches. In my opinion, this sandwich was my least favorite because everything about it was underwhelming. Like Mcdonald’s, the portion of the meat was significantly smaller. Yet, Burger King couldn’t replicate the classic taste of Ronald Mcdonald. Instead, it delivered a bland sandwich where salt was the only thing I could taste. I would not recommend this sandwich to anyone looking for a good time.
The Fan Favorite: Popeyes
7/10: For the stur it caused, I expected the Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich to be a bite of heaven. In reality, I bit into the Walmart equivalent of that analogy. Nonetheless, I get where the fame is coming from as each bite packs a flavorful punch with the sweet bun, umami sauce, juicy chicken, and a dose of pickles to balance it all. I think its heaviness is a double edged sword. On one hand, you won’t find as much chicken on any other sandwich. On the other hand, the sandwich was too greasy for my liking because it was so jammed packed. Overall, I recommend this sandwich to those who love bold flavor and a soulful bite, although it didn’t quite live up to its internet fame. A solid finish!
Where Should You Eat Fried Chicken
Although my opinions were quite decisive and maybe controversial, they were exactly that, opinions! This has been my personal analysis of popular fried chicken brands but you could certainly prefer one over the other and disagree with me completely. The bottomline is that there is such a wide variety of options to choose from. Exploring all these options has been a valuable experience where I noticed intricacies and ate delicious chicken sandwiches. Now, it’s up to you to choose your own will, poultry edition!