From Business Insider · Erin McDowell · · 3m
I tried 5 fast-food chicken sandwiches. The best one surprised me.
A taste test of McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Popeyes, and Bojangles reveals which chain makes the best chicken sandwich.
In brief
A taste test of McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Popeyes, and Bojangles reveals which chain makes the best chicken sandwich. Bojangles' chicken sandwich won a taste test of five major chains, beating McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, and Popeyes on texture, flavor, and value. Originally reported by Business Insider.
Five chains enter the ring
Chicken sandwiches have become a major fast food battleground, with chains competing on buns, sauces, and toppings. A taste test compared McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Popeyes, and Bojangles.
McDonald's: simple but underwhelming
The McCrispy cost seven dollars sixty nine at a Brooklyn location. It came with a large chicken filet, two pickles, and mayonnaise, but had only a light smattering of mayo.
McDonald's texture falls short
The sandwich was moist but almost soggy. The bun tasted pretty artificial but held the sandwich's contents together perfectly. It lacked the distinct crunch the taster was looking for.
Wendy's: size without substance
Wendy's sandwich cost nine dollars eleven at a Brooklyn location. It came topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayonnaise. The chicken filet was large but not crispy enough.
Wendy's disappoints on texture
The lettuce looked limp and there wasn't much of it. The chicken filet bordered on soggy and lacked crispiness. The bun was soft and buttery, but the sandwich didn't live up to expectations.
Burger King: good chicken, weak toppings
The Royal Crispy chicken sandwich cost seven dollars forty nine at a Brooklyn location. It came topped with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise on a fluffy potato bun.
Burger King's chicken shines alone
The chicken filet was thick and tender with a rich, briny flavor. The tomato tasted limp and the lettuce lacked crunch. The taster wished it came with just mayonnaise and pickles.
Popeyes: the strong contender
Popeyes introduced its signature sandwich in two thousand nineteen, sparking the chicken sandwich wars. This sandwich cost seven dollars ninety nine and came with mayonnaise on both buns and pickles under the filet.
Popeyes delivers crunch and flavor
The chicken filet crunched and flaked with every bite. The thick pickle slices were tart and flavorful. The sandwich was moist and tender without being soggy, but another chain clinched the win.
Bojangles wins on all fronts
Bojangles' sandwich cost eight dollars seventy four. The chicken filet is marinated in Bojangles' signature blend of spices and buttermilk, then hand breaded and fried in store for extra crispiness.
The winner: Bojangles
The filet was unbelievably crunchy with a craggy coating.The pickles added crunch and bright, briny flavor.The marinade added a subtle kick that kept each bite interesting.Bojangles delivered the most on taste and value.
“The filet was hand-breaded and fried in-store, creating an extra-crispy, craggy coating that delivered a satisfying crunch with every bite.”
What it means
Bojangles' chicken sandwich won a taste test of five major chains, beating McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, and Popeyes on texture, flavor, and value.
