When Popeyes launched their now iconic chicken sandwich in 2019, little did any of us know it would be the first shot in an epic Chicken Sandwich War; one that shows no signs of relenting. With all the options out there in fast food world, we’re sure you’re asking – who has the best chicken sandwich? Here are our picks for the best fast food chicken sandwiches out there right now:
1 – Popeyes
The sandwich that started it all, it still rules supreme for us. The batter is enigmatically both light and full of crunch. The chicken is juicy and flavorful – and boom – those pickles pack a wallop. Read our review.
2- KFC
Of the two new Classic Chicken sandwiches released by KFC in early 2021 – the Spicy is our pick of the duo. The double breaded extra crispy batter is full of that unique KFC flavor. Read our full review here.
3 – Carl’s Jr. / Hardee’s
A very good (and surprisingly unexpected) effort from the twin-brands. The sandwich is big, full of bold crunchy coating, and has a very decent chicken interior. The sandwich is ultimately left shy of the very top places by a poor bun, listless pickles and a fairly high price. Read our review.
4 – McDonald’s
O.k. hear me out on this one. The Hot N Spicy is the winner when it comes to budget chicken sandwiches; not least succeeding on the promise of actually being a spicy sandwich; this one will actually bring some brow tingle. The cheap and cheerful price of a dollar means it’s ok to grab a couple and make yourself a McDouble Spicy – still half as much as most of the sandwiches on this list! Read our full review.
5 – The Habit Burger
The Habit Burger’s Crispy Chicken has a very clean and light flavor. This one won’t leaving you feeling full or bloated after a meal. Read our full review.
6 – Shake Shack
Shake Shack took a different path than most other brands. Rather than copying the Popeye’s model they riffed on classic Korean flavors for this unique spin. Read our full review here.
The also rans…
Zaxby’s – Signature Sandwiches
So close but not dice. A good strong crisp batter, very good chicken and texture but holt salt batman. One of these sandwiches packs in more sodium than the FDA recommends for a full DAY. See our review here.
Burger King – Spicy Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich
A decent effort but not good enough to break into the very best of the best. The batter here is big, thick and heavy. The chicken is bland and the pickles are limply sad. The Spicy version does pack a nice gentle cayenne warmth which is joined by some fun sugary sweetness. See our review.
McDonald’s – 2021 Crispy Chicken Sandwiches
This trio is just a mystery to me. The texture is unappealing, the toppings uninspired and the crisp coating is mediocre. What’s more, they’re priced just like some of our top five listed sandwiches. Skip these and just gobble up McD’s bargain basement spicy burger.
Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich
This effort from Wendy’s is a solid enough effort, but the sandwich shoots for spicy and really doesn’t live up to the name. Honestly if you didn’t tell me this was a spicy creation, I might not have known. Read our review.