Ticket 2 Ride

This is my first food test; it comes after my coffee test. I picked a dozen or so fast food restaurants to sample their chicken sandwich. I no longer eat beef or pork, so chicken is a big part of my diet.

Check out my new blog:

Best Turkey Sandwich Taste Test

My plan was to order the meal combo at each location and eat in their dining area (if possible). I wanted the whole restaurant experience, including seating, music and ambiance. My intent was to order the crispy (fried) sandwich at all locations, but one time I ordered the grilled. I’m not as interested in exact comparisons as I am the quality of the meal, value and experience.

One thing I learned is how many restaurants now cater primarily to drive-thru and pick-up, rather than dine-in, as used to be the case. Convenience and COVID have decreased walk-in dining, and you generally get better service if you do a drive-thru rather than walking inside. At more than one location it was difficult to get waited on at the counter, and at one location I was turned away.

I’m not a huge consumer of fast food, so this taste test took several months to conduct. If I decided to visit a specific restaurant, I had to be prepared to pivot and have a plan B if I couldn’t get in or served. I experienced problems of closed parking lots, a restaurant not taking walk-in orders, and construction detours.

Chicken is generally a healthy alternative to red meat, but the preparation method and serving condiments can rack up the calories; not to mention the fries and choice of soft drink. I am including a nutrition chart (below) that covers most of the restaurants in my test. I do not attest to the accuracy, but you get the idea. Frankly, if you want a healthier choice, order grilled instead of fried, cut out the mayo or secret sauces, find something other than fries or tots as a side, and drink water. Jog home.

I was tempted to list the various chemicals and ingredients for each sandwich (those that I could find), but generally the lists were similar and I don’t speak advanced chemicalese.

Another thing I learned (or confirmed) is that the promotional pictures of the sandwich rarely look like what you unwrap. Duh. I included a photo of my meal along with what the restaurant chain posted online. I stayed away from local or regional restaurants and went with the national (and international) brands.

First up…

Sonic

On a cloudy Saturday I stopped in and ordered a meal, $9.99 plus tax for a Crispy Chicken Sandwich combo.

This was the only test meal I ate in the car. As a kid, eating meals in the car was fun. I thought the food would be delivered on one of those trays that attach to the window. Wrong, the meal came in a sack. That ruined the ambiance and contributed to the sandwich being mashed. At least they still have carhops.

Sonic, to their credit, was the only fast food that offered tots as a standard side. I love tots! Dipped in ranch dressing, heavenly. The tots were hot and not overly salty. And a Coke Zero to drink. When server or counter employees fill drinks, inevitably, they fill the cup with 2/3 ice, which cuts down on restaurant cost (and eliminates free refills) and shortchanges the customer. This is one case.

The sandwich was hot, on a brioche bun, it had a lettuce leaf, two pickles and was slathered in mayo. The chicken patty was good, it was juicy and flavorful. Absolutely nothing wrong with it, but not too much right with it. It was average.

Sonic is mainly a burger and icy treat restaurant. They have a half dozen chicken items on the menu, from cheesy to spicy. Still, it has a burger mentality. Chicken is not a burger, it takes a bit more prep and care to be fully appreciated.

C+

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McDonald’s

I am not a big McDonald’s fan, just to be honest. My experiences in recent years have been below average, but I approached this visit as a clean slate. I ordered the McCrispy Deluxe Meal. With tax it was under $10.

A large fountain drink came with the meal. They offered Coke products, but no Coke Zero option. The fries, usually piping hot, were plentiful, but average at best. Some fries were good, others soft and room temperature. That was a bit disappointing.

The McCrispy Deluxe was good, but not great. The bun was good, with mayo, shredded lettuce (more in the box than was on the bun) and several small, very red tomato slices. The Deluxe meal was a larger drink and more fries, than the basic McCrispy meal. The chicken patty was tasty and was the best part of the meal. It was breaded and crispy, not soggy, and definitely not spicy. The McCrispy is a step-up from the cheaper McChicken sandwich, the chicken version of the hamburger of the McDonald’s line.

The dining area was empty, but one person joined me later. The drive-thru was busy. I arrived just after 1 pm, after the lunch rush.

My order was delivered to my table while I was still getting condiments and my fountain drink. Were the fries and chicken patty sitting around waiting for a customer? Explains the fries. A hoped for better.

B-

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Chick-fil-A

A boneless breast of chicken seasoned to perfection, freshly breaded, pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil and served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips, green leaf lettuce, tomato and American cheese. – from the Chick-fil-A website.

My research associate and I dined on a Friday night during the dinner hour. The place was packed, especially the two-lane drive-thru, where employees were greeting customers even before the ordering kiosk. We dined inside, and were greeted by a friendly, eager young employee. I ordered the Original Chicken Sandwich meal. The chicken breast is served crispy on a bun as described above. The drink and meal are medium size. The meal price is listed as $9.99 plus tax.

The fries are waffle cut, which is not my preference, but these were good. Waffle cut fries are never evenly cooked and usually have soft areas. The meal was served with a Coke Zero.

My experience is Chick-fil-A restaurants are always busy, yet they do a very efficient job from ordering to delivery. The front counter always has cheery employees and well-trained. These are family-friendly environments, but can be a bit noisy at times. I’ve sampled other items from the menu and have never been disappointed. Praise the Lord.

A-

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Culver’s

I had never been to a Culver’s so this was a great opportunity.

I settled on the value meal basket of original crispy chicken sandwich, fries and medium drink was $9.89. The fries were crinkle cut fries, hot and not overly salted. There was a nice soft drink fountain with numerous choices.

The sandwich had a toasted bun, shredded lettuce, pickles and a great looking red tomato. The patty was moist and flavorful, not overly crispy or over-seasoned. This was one of the top tasting chicken sandwiches.

The restaurant was clean and comfortable. My research associate and I were there during dinner time, busy inside and very bustling drive-thru.

A-

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KFC

Once upon a time, Kentucky Fried Chicken ruled the roost, so to speak when you wanted a chicken dinner.

Get your hands on our KFC Chicken Sandwich Combo! This combo includes our premium, all-white meat, Extra Crispy™ fried chicken sandwich, served with pickles on a buttery brioche-style bun with Colonel’s real mayo. Includes a side of your choice and medium drink.

When I arrived, even the drive-thru right after lunch was quiet. I had the dining area to myself. A few people would come in and carry out their food. The dining area was outdated and worn. The team, including what appeared to the manager or owner, was busy when not cooking or waiting on customers; they restocked and cleaned. That was impressive.

The meal was hot and fresh. The soda fountain offered Pepsi products and teas. The Brisk raspberry tea was really good. The fries were fresh, thick cut and spicy, but not overdone or over spiced. They were quite good.

The sandwich had several pickles and a “healthy” slathering of mayo. The bun was lightly toasted. The chicken was a little spicy, even though I ordered the classic. The breading was plentiful, the shape reminded me of a pork tenderloin sandwich as it stuck out beyond the bun.

The music playing in the restaurant was classic rock and soul, and loud. This was the first KFC restaurant I’ve eaten at in probably 40 years. The meal, with tax, $9.85. Overall, it was surprisingly good.

B+

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Slim Chickens

We’ve been to Slim Chickens a couple of times and the idea for the taste test came from my first experience there.

My research associate and I each ordered the Crispy Chicken Sandwich meal, which cost $9.58 with tax per meal. The priced included fries and a medium drink.

The restaurant is bright, clean and airy, with classic rock playing in the background. It’s a pleasurable place to be.

Besides a drinking fountain with Coke products, there are four kinds of tea and two flavors of lemonade. I like the raspberry tea and the pink lemonade.

The fries are very good, a medium thickness and not too salty. These are some of the best fries I’ve encountered, and they come with a variety of dipping sauces.

The sandwich consists of a breaded chicken patty on a brioche bun, mayo and two thick pickles. My partner noted that the patty was not crunchy like another restaurant we tasted. I thought the patty was neither soft nor crunchy, but the right kind of firmness for me. The bun was not mashed down and soggy like some other restaurants.

I enjoy the dining experience at Slim Chicken; the food is superb and the environment is inviting.

A

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Wendy’s

A couple of years ago I tried eating at this restaurant and couldn’t get waited on. When I went back for this taste test, I waited till after the lunch rush. The drive-thru was busy, but the dining area was empty. This is a relatively new restaurant, certainly unlike the older ones. This one had very comfortable seating and contemporary decor.

I ordered a Classic Combo meal, with tax, $11.33. A little higher than other restaurants.

The fountain dispenser had a large variety of soft drinks and teas. I treated myself to a Barg’s root beer.

These were among the best fries I’ve sampled. They were crispy and hot.

The sandwich came with lettuce, a poor looking tomato slice, and a healthy splatter of mayo. The patty was crispy patty, not hard and wasn’t smashed.

Overall, the sandwich was satisfactory, but a bit bland. Nothing wrong with it, just didn’t stand out.

B

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Burger King

I paid $10.90 for a crispy chicken sandwich meal, with medium drink and fries, so a dollar up-charge.

The drink fountain had Coke products. The fries were thick-cut, fresh and over-salted. The fries were very good, but my blood pressure complained.

This restaurant has a modern eating area, a TV not music, it wasn’t fancy, but comfortable. The restaurant was constantly busy.

The sandwich came with a sturdy-looking bun, plenty of chopped lettuce and a nice tomato, and lots of mayo. Lots. The chicken patty was fried and rather flat. It tasted fine, but the patty seemed a bit thin, and flat usually means dry. It was the driest of the sandwiches I tested.

This is a burger place. Fish and chicken are for those accompanying the red meat eaters. Was the chicken bad? No. Was it great? No. It was average or slightly above. If I was accompanying a red meat eater to Burger King’s again, I’d be content with a crispy chicken sandwich.

C+

Dave’s Hot Chicken

I was the least familiar with this restaurant. Somewhat like Raising Cane’s, Dave’s sandwiches are spicy tenders on some kind of bread or bun. Their spicy range goes from wimpy to thermonuclear. I declined any spice on the advice of my gastro intro

Like so many American dreams, ours had a humble beginning. Three childhood friends in their 20’s who scraped together $900. Our not-so-grand opening was in 2017, in a parking lot in East Hollywood, with a couple of folding tables and a portable fryer under the night sky. But thanks to Instagram, people came. And tasted. And came back with their friends. In 2021, Drake took notice, and became a significant investor in the concept. – Dave’s Hot Chicken website

Two crispy tenders, bread and fries were about $12, add a drink and tax, about $15. That’s the most expensive of the test meals, but also more food.

One tender would probably been enough. The tenders were huge, and two tenders do not fit comfortably on two pieces of bread. Prepare to get your hands messy. The meal comes with a pink sauce that is very tasty, but is soaked up by the bread and comes apart. It’s messy, but worth it.

The tenders are delicious and crispy. I tore one tender apart and dipped it in the sauce to eat. It’s not required that you eat the sandwich ingredients as a sandwich.

The meal comes with a stack of thick, crunchy pickles. A healthy serving of crinkle-cut fries are spicy, but not overly spiced or salty. The drink fountain has Coke products.

The restaurant was one big open area with a retro decor and old school music, but wasn’t catering to a certain age group, but an international crowd who love must love spicy food.

B+

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Arby’s

I’m not a frequenter of Arby’s. I associate them with roast beef, but they have so much more.

Crispy chicken breast is topped with lettuce, mayo, and tomato and served on a toasted bun. Nothing fancy. Just real good taste. – from the Arby’s website

I ordered the Classic Crispy Meal, and for a mere forty cents more, for a total of $11.49, I went for the large size. That got me more curly fries, which may be my favorite. They were served hot and tasty.

The wait was about five minutes for my food to come out of the kitchen. The dining area was almost empty (at the end of the lunch rush), but the drive-thru was still busy. This was an old-fashioned style restaurant inside, reminding me of the 1980s. It was clean, just dated.

The sandwich was crispy and hot. The patty was moist, with a lot of mayo, shredded lettuce and a pinkish slice of tomato. The bun was not smashed, like so many restaurants seem to do.

I was impressed, and wouldn’t hesitate to stop in again.

B+

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Jack-in-the-Box

I have never ordered from a Jack-in-the-Box. I went there today. I left without ordering, there was some internal issue going on in the kitchen and we were told they couldn’t take our order right now. I contact the corporate office to inquire about the situation. They didn’t contact me. I want to be fair in evaluating the experience. I could have just eliminated them from my list, but I selected them for a sampling.

Incomplete

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Popeye’s

Classic Chicken Sandwich, a juicy chicken breast fillet marinated in Popeyes seasonings, hand battered and breaded in our buttermilk system, fried until golden brown. Sandwiched between two buttery toasted brioche buns, topped with our barrel cured pickle slices and classic mayo. – Popeye’s website

My research associate and I sampled Popeye’s on a Friday night. First time ever at one of their restaurants. I admit, I was wary of the chain for some reason, maybe it was the fact that one of their restaurants burned and still stands boarded up after 8 months.

We visited a Popeye’s in a storefront located in a strip mall and the inside felt like a trip back to the 1970s. Nothing fancy to the restaurant or dining area. I got the feeling that most customers ordered ahead and carried out, or just ordered and took the food home.

We each ordered the Classic Chicken Sandwich meal, which came to just over ten bucks each. We waited about ten minutes as they prepared our meals, not a bad wait for a fresh, hot meal.

The drink area had Coke products and teas. Nothing fancy. The Fanta Orange satisfied my taste buds.

The fries were seasoned but not overly spicy. The sandwich was a handful and looks a lot like pictures on their website. The bun was slathered with mayo with two crunchy pickles. The bun was fresh and tasty, but didn’t fall apart in my hand. the chicken patty was crunchy on the outside, but not hard. The inside was moist and delicious. I was impressed.

The dining experience was okay, but people don’t go there for a ambience.

A

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Freddy’s

The Chicken Club Meal is a bit pricey, $10.29 + tax, but it’s a lot of food. I had the crispy instead of the grilled. Why be healthy? The chicken breast was delicious, but it’s a lot of food. I had the crispy instead of the grilled. Why be healthy?

The chicken breast was delicious. The bacon was a little undercooked for my tastes, but I can’t really complain. The sandwich included shredded lettuce, two slices of tomato (no green or pink), several slices of bacon, pickles, a slice of cheese and mayo. The breading was not greasy or overcooked.

The fries are thin cut and you eat them by the shovel. Personally, I like larger cut fries, but these are like eating shoestring potatoes from a can. You can’t stop. A tall cup of Mug’s Root Beer completes the meal.

The dining experience was pleasant, it was the beginning of the lunch rush, so it was beginning to get busy. The ordering was quick and the meal arrived in less than ten minutes. I figured with chicken and a line at the drive-thru it might be that long. The food production process always seems to be efficient at Freddy’s restaurants. One of the front counter staff collected trays in the dining area during a lull, she asked customers how their meal was and if they needed anything.

I would recommend the sandwich and the experience.

B+

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Raising Cane’s

I was game for this restaurant I’d heard of, but never sampled before. A Chicken Finger Sandwich Combo cost me $10.18 including tax.

The soda fountain offered the standard soft drinks and teas. Crushed ice (yes!) The French fries were crinkle cut, hot and with an inconsistent texture. Some were wonderful, others too soft. Probably a mixture of different batches, but a large portion. Salted (a lot).

The sandwich consisted of three, thick, crispy chicken fingers. Crunchy on the outside, but juicy on the inside. It came with a leaf of lettuce on a sesame seed bun.

Mostly drive-thru traffic, but a few of us insiders, as it was just after the lunch rush. Comfortable, not fancy or large dinning area. Indie rock on the music, seems programmed for a younger crowd.

This was a very good sandwich, but an average meal. I certainly would return, I sense they can do better.

B

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Whataburger

I’ve never been to this very popular restaurant that is “the thing“ in the Kansas City area because Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is an investor.

My research associate and I went on a Friday evening for dinner and I was surprised it wasn’t very busy. Each of us ordered a crispy chicken sandwich meal for $10.05 each.

The restaurant is very new and has an airy, contemporary look. It was very clean and appeared to be an efficient operation with a very systematic feel for consistency. Much like Chick-fil-A.

The drink fountain had a large selection of Coke products and teas. The fool was delivered to us on a tray, with the server carrying a second tray of napkins and condiments. Classy idea.

The fries were plentiful and not overly salted. My blood pressure was pleasantly happy. I thought the fries were very good but my research associate would have preferred they be hotter. If they don’t burn your mouth, they ain’t nuked enough. The fries were uniform, that great product consistency again.

The sandwich was double wrapped and had a great presentation. Served on a brioche bun, you have your choice of mayo or their own WhataSauce, a pinkish, tangy sauce. A leaf of lettuce and full tomato slice are included. The crispy chicken patty was thick and flavorful. The sandwich was delicious, almost melting in your mouth. My research associate commented about the bun, saying that it could have been fresher.

The food was very good, I found no deficiencies at all. I did not try the WhataSauce, opting for the mayo. While the food was quite satisfying, something was missing. If you asked me what was unique about the experience, I couldn’t really say. Maybe it’s their sauce that provides the uniqueness? I can identify the uniqueness of other brands, but here I can say that I enjoyed the meal, but I cannot articulate why I might prefer it over another brand. That was disappointing. Would I go back? You bet.

B+

Final Comments: These chicken sandwiches ranged from average to amazing. I have to admit, even the average sandwiches were acceptable, but I was looking for more with my purchase. The quality of the dining environment played a small, but important factor in my evaluation. A dirty, uninviting eating area won’t get me back. I don’t need fancy, just clean and reflecting of the care I expect from the food.

For some restaurants, if you don’t order from the drive-thru, you don’t count. Expect second-rate service and food that has been sitting around. A bad counter experience and I’ll never return.

Fast food doesn’t mean it should be sloppily prepared or look like a truck ran over it. Taste is directly related to the care in preparation. I hardly expect my meal to be exactly like the advertising photo, but make an effort at quality.

Finally, fast food prices have soared in the past five years. Certainly, labor costs have risen, a livable wage is deserved for employees. Labor isn’t the only cost factor as food prices have exploded, for various reasons. I listed the cost for each meal, not so much for comparison, rather for meal value, which is definitely part of the experience.

Thanks for coming along on my tour of fast food restaurants, in search of a good chicken sandwich.