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Who doesn’t want a bite of a crispy, juicy chicken sandwich? They’ve been around for decades, but lately, they’ve been getting a lot of attention as the “new” sandwich on the block. Since 2019, when Popeyes first released its now-famous chicken sandwich, other major chains have tried to get in on the action. Everyone seems to want a piece of the chicken sandwich pie, from fast food to fast-casual. But who does it best? It all comes down to four key components: the chicken, the bun, the pickles, and the mayo or sauce. We’ve reviewed the major players’ new chicken sandwiches one by one, and these are our 10 favorites.

# 10 – Arby’s Classic Crispy Chicken Sandwich

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Although it’s ranked the last, Arby’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich isn’t that bad. It’s juicy, has a nice pepperiness, and has a tender chicken patty. It has plentiful and succulent tomatoes with a slight crunch from the iceberg lettuce. The main reason it’s ranked last on our list is that it’s dry and could use some more sauce or mayonnaise. It would be even better with some pickles to add a tangy flavor. Overall, it’s a tasty chicken sandwich, but it lacks the “wow” factor.

# 9 – Burger King’s Original Chicken Sandwich

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Burger King’s Original Chicken Sandwich is another disappointing Chicken sandwich with potential. It’s served on a soft and light potato bun, which is great because each bite never feels too bready. However, the chicken itself flakes off in weird sections, as if it wasn’t cut correctly from the bone, which makes for a less than enjoyable dining experience. The overall flavor of the sandwich is forgettable, which is a shame given how good Burger King’s fries are. If you’re at BK and looking for a chicken sandwich, you’re better off with one of their tenders. Sorry!

# 8 – Portillo’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich

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Another fast-food chicken sandwich worth a mention is Portillo’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich. While Portillo’s is best known for their Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef, they’re currently testing a new sandwich: a spicy fried chicken sandwich. Even though it’s in the test phase, this plain old fried chicken sandwich isn’t enough to capture everyone’s short attention spans and keep their stomachs occupied. However, it has some positives that make it appear on our list. One, the restaurant blitzed it up with some “creamy hot sauce” (or mayo?), betting that this would be the bait that gets us hooked. Otherwise, the sandwich is the classic combination of fried chicken patty, lettuce, and tomato on a brioche bun.

# 7 – Sonic Drive-In Classic Crispy Chicken Sandwich

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Sonic Drive-In is known for its delightfully expansive menu, so it’s no surprise that they offer a crispy chicken sandwich. It’s made using a thinly breaded chicken breast, tomatoes, mayo, and a brioche bun – but it’s not their best menu item. The chicken breast is bland, the breading is uninspired, and the toppings don’t do much to save it. It’s not a terrible sandwich, but Sonic has to go easy with the chopped lettuce – nobody wants giant clumps falling out of their sandwich. The mayo and brioche bun are the only redeeming factors here.

# 6 – Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco

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Next up, we have the fast-food chicken sandwich from a place that’s not known for its chicken. We’re talking, of course, about Taco Bell. The chain’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco features a puffy bread folded around a spicy chicken tender with creamy chipotle sauce and jalapeno slices. It’s a delicious and exciting twist on the classic chicken sandwich, but it’s not what you crave when you’re in the mood for a more traditional sandwich. But it’s enough to make you turn your head the next time you’re thinking about Taco Bell.

# 5 – Chick-Fil-A Spicy Deluxe

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Maybe you were expecting to get a wimpy fast-food chicken sandwich when you stopped at Chick-Fil-A. But this Spicy Deluxe will show you that they mean business. Crinkle-cut pickles, fresh lettuce, tomato, a spicy chicken breast, and pepper jack cheese all come together on a toasted bun. It’s a delicious sandwich, and it might even convert some non-chicken fans. One drawback is that the chicken breast can be too dense and pressed, but overall, it’s a tasty sandwich.

# 4 – Chick-fil-A Original Chicken Sandwich

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Here is another chicken sandwich from Chick-Fil-A that make the cut to our list. This is the chain’s classic fried chicken sandwich, and it’s a solid choice if you’re looking for a traditional sandwich. The chicken is juicy and well-seasoned, and the bun is soft and fluffy. The pickles provide a nice acidic contrast to the chicken, and the Chick-Fil-A sauce is delicious. However, we did find that the sandwich can be a little bit dry, so you may want to add a sauce or condiment of your choice.

# 3 – Bojangles Bo’s Chicken Sandwich

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Bojangles Bo’s Chicken Sandwich offers something different with their take on the classic sandwich. This sandwich is hard to resist with a crispy coating on its juicy chicken, creamy mayo, thick-cut pickles, and buttery bun. While it may not be the most traditional southern fried chicken sandwich, it is one tastiest. You might however want to add a sauce or condiment of your choice to add some extra flavor.

# 2 – KFC Chicken Sandwich

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KFC Chicken Sandwich wins second place. It’s made with a brioche bun, fried chicken breast, pickles, and mayonnaise. It’s got a great flavor, but it’s a bit too salty. The pickles are a great touch, though they add to the overall saltiness. The brioche bun is excellent. Another thing to note is that the chicken breast isn’t as juicy as the top two sandwiches, but it’s still moist and tender.

# 1 – Popeyes Chicken Sandwich

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Our top-best chicken sandwich goes to Popeyes Chicken Sandwich. The fried chicken sandwich was introduced in August of 2019, and it quickly sold out due to high demand. The sandwich consists of a brioche bun, a piece of buttermilk battered chicken, pickles, and mayonnaise. The Popeyes Chicken Sandwich is the sandwich that changed the game, and it is still one of the best fast food chicken sandwiches today.

Conclusion

Fast-food chicken sandwiches have come a long way in recent years. Most of us have our go-to sandwich when we’re in the mood for a quick and easy meal. While some of the sandwiches on this list might not be the most traditional, they are all delicious in their own way. There are some shortcomings with each sandwich, but overall, these are the best fast-food chicken sandwiches that you can find.

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