Best Fast-Food Chicken Sandwiches, Ranked | Invesloan.com

McDonald’s crispy chicken sandwich, aptly named the McCrispy, was released amid the 2021 chicken sandwich wars and is available in classic, spicy, and — as of January 27 — a new, limited-edition hot-honey flavor.

It cost $7.69, excluding tax, at my local chain in Brooklyn, New York.

When I opened it, I noticed the sandwich had a very light smattering of mayonnaise. As someone who loves condiments, I found this a little disappointing.

I was eager to see how it would affect the taste.

The sandwich was moist but almost soggy. The bun tasted pretty artificial but held the sandwich’s contents together perfectly, and in terms of size, I thought McDonald’s nailed the bun-to-chicken ratio.

I’d order it again, but it didn’t blow me away.

It came wrapped in paper and cost $9.11, excluding tax, at my local Wendy’s in Brooklyn, New York.

The lettuce looked a little limp on first inspection, and there wasn’t much of it either. However, the chicken filet was large — it was practically spilling out of the bun.

While this sandwich impressed me in terms of size, the texture of the chicken filet let it down. It wasn’t nearly as crispy as I would have liked, and it bordered on soggy.

The toppings also lacked flavor, though the bun was soft and buttery, which I enjoyed. Even though it was the most expensive sandwich, I didn’t think it lived up to expectations.

Burger King offers a few different chicken sandwiches — this classic Royal Crispy chicken sandwich, a spicy version, one with bacon and Swiss cheese, and its older original chicken sandwich, which is served in a longer bun with just lettuce and mayonnaise.

The classic Royal Crispy chicken sandwich costs $7.49, excluding tax, at my local Burger King in Brooklyn, New York.

This was different than the more Southern flavor profiles served at chains like Popeyes, McDonald’s, and Chick-fil-A.

The amount of toppings was generous, I thought. Thick slices of tomato and lettuce leaves covered the entire chicken filet, and plenty of mayonnaise was smeared on top of its fluffy potato bun.

The tomato tasted a little limp, and the lettuce lacked a distinct crunch. However, the chicken itself really impressed me — it was thick and tender, with a rich, briny flavor that I enjoyed. I also liked the bun, which was fluffy but sturdy enough to hold the sandwich together.

I was left wishing the sandwich came with just mayonnaise and pickles, so the chicken could really shine through.

Popeyes practically invented the chicken sandwich wars after it introduced its signature sandwich in 2019, sparking fistfights, lengthy lines, and a ton of online discourse.

The sandwich may not be as talked about as it once was, but it’s still a fan favorite. It cost $7.99, excluding tax.

Popeyes puts mayonnaise on both buns and layers pickles under the chicken filet, setting it apart from other chains.

The chicken filet crunched and flaked with every bite, and the thick pickle slices were actually tart — they certainly weren’t just for show.

The sandwich was also moist and tender, without being a soggy mess.

Overall, I was impressed. However, another chain clinched the win.

The sandwich, which the chain updated in the aftermath of the chicken sandwich wars, features a large fried chicken filet on a buttery brioche bun. Its flavor profile is classically Southern, built around fried chicken, pickles, and mayonnaise.

The chicken sandwich cost $8.74, excluding tax.

Like the other chicken sandwiches, Bojangles’ chicken sandwich was topped with mayonnaise, but it was thicker than the mayonnaise from other chains. It also came with two crunchy pickle slices.

Bojangles’ process of marinating its chicken helped to infuse flavor deep into the meat rather than just coating the surface.

The filet was hand-breaded and fried in-store, creating an extra-crispy, craggy coating that delivered a satisfying crunch with every bite. The pickles added even more crunch, with a bright, briny flavor that cut through the richness of the fried chicken.

The sandwich also had a subtle kick from the marinade — it wasn’t overwhelmingly spicy, but it was enough to add flavor and keep each bite interesting.

Together, the crispy breading and flavorful filet created a layered texture and flavor profile that set the sandwich apart from its competitors.

The chicken sandwich wars are over — for me at least. I declare this sandwich the winner.