Chicken Sandwich War of 2021

Diversion...okay...forgive me but reading CaptMJ's post...reminded me of a time...I was a young AF LT...and was out at Pearl, watching incoming ships. A naval officer informed us that a Japanese SDF Destroyer was coming into the channel. So we all stood out to watch. As she approached the USS Arizona Memorial, she raised a BUNCH of flags...and all the sailors lined the rails...and they rendered honors.

It was emotional...and so demonstrated how far we'd come in 45 years.

Okay, diversion over.
 
Diversion...okay...forgive me but reading CaptMJ's post...reminded me of a time...I was a young AF LT...and was out at Pearl, watching incoming ships. A naval officer informed us that a Japanese SDF Destroyer was coming into the channel. So we all stood out to watch. As she approached the USS Arizona Memorial, she raised a BUNCH of flags...and all the sailors lined the rails...and they rendered honors.

It was emotional...and so demonstrated how far we'd come in 45 years.

Okay, diversion over.
During my tours in Pearl Harbor, I occasionally had reason to go to the Arizona Memorial in uniform. Without fail, older Japanese tourists would come up to me with tears in their eyes, and in careful English, apologize. It is always emotional there, the way that place catches people. Those moments were pure humanity, wordlessly agreeing war is an awful thing between people.
 
Diversion...okay...forgive me but reading CaptMJ's post...reminded me of a time...I was a young AF LT...and was out at Pearl, watching incoming ships. A naval officer informed us that a Japanese SDF Destroyer was coming into the channel. So we all stood out to watch. As she approached the USS Arizona Memorial, she raised a BUNCH of flags...and all the sailors lined the rails...and they rendered honors.

It was emotional...and so demonstrated how far we'd come in 45 years.

Okay, diversion over.
My second ship, the good ship Cochrane, was out of Pearl.

On 7 Dec 82 a Japanese destroyer entered port. I don’t know if it was a coincidence or she was there for a specific reason on the date.

All the missile ships in port had a blue bird (practice missile) on the rail (launcher).

A long-time Pearl Harbor sailor told me every 7 December the ships aim missiles at Kolekole Pass as a pledge that we won’t be attacked like that again.
 
Attention Fried Chicken snd Bacon Lovers.

In a karmic moment this morning, I read the linked restaurant review of Yardbirds in the Wa Post Sunday Magazine. In case you can’t wait to read the menu (serious fried chicken! Corn bread! Honey butter!), I’ve attached the photos of the chicken (my idea of a fried chicken sandwich) AND the chocolate cake topped with, yes, BACON.

7DC9C045-523B-44FF-A927-88A39AD8FED6.jpeg
 
As a public service, I have been trying all of the "Crispy Chicken Sandwiches" out there, and I am almost ready to post my exhaustive study on the subject.

MY PSEUDO-SCIENTIFIC METHOD, EXPLAINED
1. As a science guy, I have ordered all the chicken sandwiches the same way; WITH NO SAUCE, which leaves you with the most-crispy-chicken-sandwich-on-a-bun-with-pickles, without the addition of unnecessary (in my opinion) calories from mayonnaise or ranch dressing, or whatever fat-laden goo they like to slather these things with.

2. When I get them, I IMMEDIATELY open the container that they are in, so that they don't unnecessarily steam themselves into an un-crispy-ness state, which would throw off the entire tasting/experience evolution. You see, some of these places put their sandwiches in a mylar-coated envelope which is designed to keep them hot, but just goes about steaming the crispy out of them, if left in that evil sauna bag from Hell. Some of the places put them in a more-standard cardboard flip-top box of sorts - which seems to be better - but I still open those up to keep the control over the test.

3. This is the only thing I order. No sides, and no drink. I always have water in the car during the Summer, so I'm not tossing these things down my gullet without something to chase them with. I'm not a savage.

4. I don't eat them while I am driving - because I simply am not a savage - but I do eat them soon after, usually in the parking lot next to the place.

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE FOUND SO FAR;

1. Popeye's

Listed as "Classic Chicken Sandwich", this is by far the largest chicken sandwich that I have ever thrown down my neck. It is crispy, and the most expensive sandwich I tested. I make it #1 because I made this thread and I think it was the best.

2. Chick-Fil-A
Where it all began, with the "Original Chicken Sandwich". All the others saw how these folks were crushing the market with chicken sandwiches and thought "Hey, we have to get into this chicken sandwich craze!" They didn't start the war, but they won a lot of the battles, that's for sure. There is a HUGE cult following for this highly-successful franchise, and I completely get it. When you see the dance they do in the parking lot with FOUR TIMES AS MANY CARS as any other fast-food restaurant anywhere, and still get you your order as fast as the other fast-food places, it is a wonder to behold. They have a good chicken sandwich. The fact that they aren't open on Sundays doesn't matter to me one bit. They are awesome, but their sandwich is a distant second (in my opinion) to Popeye's. Sorry, everyone, but it's true. It's also 1/2 the size of the Popeye's offering and not all that crisp. The pickles there are the best I have tested, by the way.

3. Hardee's
Their sandwich is billed as the "Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich" and it's really quite good. Again, it's 1/2 the size of the Popeye's sandwich (which puts it in line with the Chick-Fil-A original). It was crispy and the pickles were average.

4. Burger King
The "Ch'King Chicken Sandwich" sounds utterly stupid to me, but the sandwich was on par with the Hardee's offering.

5. Wendy's
The "Classic Chicken Sandwich" is what you'll find here. Again, on par with Hardee's and Burger King.

6. McDonalds
Get serious. You would be better off with a roller-dog from the Shell station. Even bacon couldn't fix this thing.
Wait! You did not include KFC.
 
KFC has had quality issues for many years. Getting bought out by someone else certainly not made the situation any better. Some stores are good, while others sell gloppy coating or greasy undercooked chicken. If traveling and stopping at a location you have never been before, you have NO idea which of those 3 choices you will get. Part of what people want in a franchise is consistency of quality and KFC has sure lost control of that.

Had the McDonald's sandwich recently and thought it was awful. Some sort of greasy/grilled bun and the chicken had no taste. They also stopped selling their chicken tenders which used to be good since introducing this new sandwich. Won't eat those nugget things which are made from some mystery meat that is supposedly chicken based.......LOL.

Have never been a fan of Chic-fil-a, guess not one of their cult followers. Chicken tastes very average, fries are usually soggy. I don't get the people who rave about their 'customer service'. At any fast food place, I just want to get what I ordered, fresh/hot food that tastes good. I can't count the number of times at Taco bell I have gotten someone else's order..........LOL. Now before I drive away, I always look to see I got what I ordered (but obviously they don't sell a chicken sandwich).
 
Last edited:
You must not get to the East Coast. Not all chains are national, even today. It’s a burger chain that’s been around since the 20th c. It’s a cousin of Carl’s Jr., owned by the same restaurant group.
Ah yes I see. Is it worth travelling to the East Coast for this Hardees?
 
In no way do I want to derail this thread, but....there is NO BETTER SANDWICH THAN Pork Chop John's in Butte, Montana.

Go get ya some!
I love out of the way places. When I used to travel heavily for work, I would research “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” and “My Favorite ____” type of food shows. I wouldn’t go to a chain if there was an adventure to be had.
 
Today, I continued my quest and had the offering from KFC. It was a letdown. It looked good. It was crunchy and wasn't a steamed mess, but the chicken was dry and had an off-putting "rubber band stringy-ness" to it. Really sort of disgusting.

My experience would put it at second to last on the list in the OP, which is still a step above McDonald's poor excuse for a chicken sandwich.

In talking with colleagues this afternoon, they urged me to take a bigger sample. I fear that if I increase the sample size of my data set, I will increase MY size and look like a typical fat 'Merican, so I urge YOU the followers of this thread to post your experiences!
 
I agree with the poster who talked about KFC’s inconsistency. I’m fond of getting 3 chicken tenders as a “protein snack.” If I go to the one on West St. in Annapolis and the lovely woman with the lilt of the islands is working, the crust is hot and crispy, the chicken is moist, tender and steamy. If I go to the one outside Ft. Meade’s Mapes Gate, it is always dry rubber bands, and I kick myself every time.

And let’s not even talk Royal Farms, supposedly known for their fresh, made-on-premises fried chicken. During the pandemic, we were desperate for a change of pace, so after years of seeing various Baltimore Ravens endorsing RF with gusto, I brought some home. DH looked at me and said, “Never again.”
 
DS goes to work the late shift at Chick-fil-A at 4:00 today. Last night he brought some home after work. It was the spicy chik-n-strips. Very good, but a little too spicy for me.

DS’s Plan D is to serve his country chicken in Chick-Fil-A uniform. I hope it won’t come to that. But at least Chick-Fil-A is the USMC of fast food chicken joints. The few and the proud.
 
Last edited:
I agree with the poster who talked about KFC’s inconsistency. I’m fond of getting 3 chicken tenders as a “protein snack.” If I go to the one on West St. in Annapolis and the lovely woman with the lilt of the islands is working, the crust is hot and crispy, the chicken is moist, tender and steamy. If I go to the one outside Ft. Meade’s Mapes Gate, it is always dry rubber bands, and I kick myself every time.

And let’s not even talk Royal Farms, supposedly known for their fresh, made-on-premises fried chicken. During the pandemic, we were desperate for a change of pace, so after years of seeing various Baltimore Ravens endorsing RF with gusto, I brought some home. DH looked at me and said, “Never again.”
I like chicken tenders. I don't really like too much bread so typically don't get sandwiches. Here, in AZ, Culver's is the go-to place. They run like a well-oiled machine and everything is fresh and made to order. I order the kid's meal. 2 generously sized chicken tenders, a kid size excellent french fry, and a small drink. You also get a free kid-sized chocolate or vanilla 'custard', which really is the best ice cream ever. You can add a topping for free (mini m and m's are my go-to). If you want to switch it up, you can have the single butter burger instead of tenders.

When DS was home for 6 days last month, DH and I took him to Culvers. The two of them ordered butter burger combos. I ordered a butter burger kid meal. Theirs were like $9 bucks. Mine was $6. I got free ice cream. They didn't. WINNING!!!!!!
 
I like chicken tenders. I don't really like too much bread so typically don't get sandwiches. Here, in AZ, Culver's is the go-to place. They run like a well-oiled machine and everything is fresh and made to order. I order the kid's meal. 2 generously sized chicken tenders, a kid size excellent french fry, and a small drink. You also get a free kid-sized chocolate or vanilla 'custard', which really is the best ice cream ever. You can add a topping for free (mini m and m's are my go-to). If you want to switch it up, you can have the single butter burger instead of tenders.

When DS was home for 6 days last month, DH and I took him to Culvers. The two of them ordered butter burger combos. I ordered a butter burger kid meal. Theirs were like $9 bucks. Mine was $6. I got free ice cream. They didn't. WINNING!!!!!!
Agree that Culver’s burgers and custard are top-rate. On the pricey side, but worth it.
 
The big news this month is that Popeye's is going to...



wait for it...




market chicken nuggets by the end of July.

Bam!

View attachment 9589
That’s right up there with “all breast meat boneless wings” from another franchise. That is a chicken I want to see.
 
Back
Top