Ranking Fast Food Chicken Sandwiches from Worst to Best.

With options like McCrispy, Double Down, and Ch’King, Americans devour over 3.5 billion chicken sandwiches annually. But which fast food chicken sandwich truly justifies the price? Reddit users have taken it upon themselves to dissect the chicken landscape. Spoiler alert: it’s definitely spicy.

A classic staple featuring delightful, toasty buns, zesty pickles, and rich mayo, the fast food chicken sandwich has begun to edge out beef patties since Chick-fil-A’s founder debuted it on The Dwarf Grill menu in 1946. But even with their advantage, several contenders surprised us with their takes on which joint is acing the chicken game.

From Shake Shack and Wendy’s to Popeye’s and Chick-fil-A, we combed the web for the most compelling points both for and against every notable sandwich on the menu. (More on our evaluation methods below.) By stacking crowd favorites against the apparent mediocre ones, we rank the fast food chicken sandwiches from less desirable choices to the juicy hits.

Don’t blame the player, blame the game. (Or maybe avoid the player’s drive-thru.) Enter the internet’s least favorite option: McDonald’s McChicken… along with the McCrispy, Deluxe McCrispy, Spicy McCrispy, and Spicy Deluxe McCrispy. This whole lineup has faced severe criticism on Reddit.

“Absolutely disgusting. It tasted like it was made from cleaning solutions. I was shocked at how bad it was,” recounted an unhappy diner. The classic McChicken has been called a poor representation of chicken, merely consisting of shredded lettuce and mayo on a bun, and the negative sentiment extends to other offerings. One user described the Spicy McCrispy as, “Probably the worst chicken sandwich I’ve ever had. It’s just a regular chicken filet with some ‘spicy’ sauce on it.”

“[It] was a chicken brick with a few drops of sauce and 38,000 pounds of shredded lettuce that went flying all over my car as soon as I opened the sandwich box,” shared another dissatisfied customer. Despite possibly being the cheapest option listed here, that might be its only redeeming quality. As one Redditor warned, “Anyone with taste buds would prioritize any other place over McDonald’s for a crispy chicken sandwich.”

Narrowly avoiding the bottom slot on this list, Hardee’s occupies the 13th position largely due to a lack of attention compared to McDonald’s. Flying under the radar seems to work for Hardee’s Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich, which is unremarkable except for its crispy, buttermilk fried chicken, pickles, and mayo on a potato bun. One Redditor noted, “Hardee’s chicken strips are good, but the sandwich is quite disappointing.”

While some longtime fans recalled better versions from the past, today’s offerings seem lackluster. “The chicken’s texture was strange; I felt like it was undercooked,” shared an eater, adding, “The chicken and its breading lacked flavor. There was way too much mayo, and the piece of chicken was way smaller than the bun. 1 out of 5 stars.” Perhaps the establishment has become a mere shadow of its glory days.

Raising Cane’s gained popularity in the ’90s due to its marinated, hand-battered chicken. However, opinions about the sandwich featuring those signature tenders are mixed.

With three crispy chicken fingers, lettuce, and Cane’s Sauce on a lightly toasted sesame seed bun, the sandwich feels like a winning combo. Yet, the internet’s response has not been entirely favorable. “Raising Cane’s is pretty bad. It may not be the worst, but for a chicken-only chain, it’s disappointing,” remarked a Reddit user. Another person complained about the small servings and low quality.

Many commenters credited Cane’s Sauce as the main draw for the brand’s fame, with one noting, “Pretty much everyone I know thinks the chicken is just a tool to deliver the sauce.” Complaints about rising costs and shrinking portion sizes were rampant, with one diner declaring Raising Cane’s overrated.

Burger King has maintained its classic Original Chicken sandwich since 1979, but it appears that the original breaded chicken, lettuce, and creamy mayo on a toasted sesame bun may not be sufficient to thrive in today’s chicken sandwich arena.

With a stroke of luck, a Reddit user described their experience, stating, “The chicken tasted stale and sour. The lettuce was almost wilted. I was praying I wouldn’t get sick.” Others lamented the loss of the now-defunct Burger King Tendercrisp sandwich, while another user described the OG, saying, “It was so SALTY that I ditched my plans for barbecue sauce, which only made the experience worse.”

Apparently, the lettuce was taking the sandwich down, and the lone condiment fared poorly as well. One comment read, “It was like someone dumped a jar of mayo on it, with wilted lettuce, and bland, skinny chicken. I threw it away and just ate fries, which were terrible too.”

If you begin to feel a flicker of hope for chick’wiches, a visit to Wendy’s might be in order. As of summer 2024, the chain stirs things up with seven varieties of chicken sandwiches, yet each one is seemingly under fire (or maybe foil). There’s even a subreddit titled “The chicken sandwiches are pure trash.” We’ll let the users have their say.

One unhappy poster remarked about tough, white meat chicken, claiming the sandwich is excessively hard. On various discussions, users concurred, “Wendy’s burgers and fries are indeed top-notch. Everything else is inedible,” noted a fan of beef patties.

Countless rants about the plummeting quality of the chicken have arisen over the years, with one former fan writing, “It’s now always soggy and tastes like rubber when bitten into. Hard pass; so disappointing.”

In terms of providing a slightly better offering than its predecessors, Jack In The Box settles in here. Regardless of the so-called unpopular opinions online praising its late-night chicken options, not even the Good Good Sauce can redeem its Cluck Sandwich.

“I had no expectations and was still let down,” shared a Reddit user about the crispy white meat filet, pickles, and sauce on a toasted brioche bun. Others noted the sandwich fell short of its price point when compared to competitor chains, and someone mentioned, “The portion is tiny compared to Popeyes or Chick-fil-A… Beyond that, the chicken lacked flavor and was a bit dry. The sauce is awful.” (That’s definitely not “Good Good.”)

Illustrating the issue, one user who posted about the Cluck Sandwich revealed a quarter-sized dollop of sauce beneath the bun, suggesting, “Jack In The Box is known for excellent marketing with mouthwatering food that never meets the actual quality.”

Discussing a fiery chicken venue without addressing its hottest chicken sandwich seems impossible. At Dave’s Hot Chicken, the most intense item on the menu is their chicken tender slider served at extreme heat. (It’s so hot that diners may need to sign a waiver to enjoy it, depending on the location.) Despite its heat potential, some patrons feel it lacks sufficient spice.

Overwhelming other components like kale slaw, pickles, Dave’s sauce, and the bun, the Reaper slider has taken down many enthusiastic spicy food fans. Yet, it has simultaneously disappointed the same group at times. One Redditor called it “Reaper Roulette,” saying, “You’re either left unsatisfied, or can’t sleep because it feels like a lava rock is moving through your stomach for hours.”

For most people, the Reaper might taste overwhelmingly spicy. Yet, one customer shared, “It’s right at the limit of ‘too hot to enjoy as a meal.’ If it were milder, it would be perfect.”

Established in 1977, Bojangles, based in the Carolinas, serves Cajun chicken, Southern biscuits, and sweet tea at all of its 824 locations and growing. While some customers enjoy the Bo’s Chicken Sandwich that debuted in 2021, others, well, are less impressed.

A Redditor reflected, “It was just ‘meh.’ The chicken was dry and the spice drowned out the other flavors.” Another chimed in, “The mayo and pickles failed to enhance it. The pickles were actually too mushy.”

Another customer felt it could not compete with Chick-fil-A’s offering. Yet, one said, “It’s pretty solid, but it doesn’t really innovate the chicken sandwich landscape.” If you’re near a Bojangles (one of the “good” ones in this reportedly inconsistent chain), the chicken sandwich could be worth a taste.

Holding steady at sixth place, Zaxby’s garners mixed feedback. Established in 1990, the chain serves a breaded chicken filet on its Spicy Signature Sandwich — complete with Spicy Zax Sauce, which appears to be a crowning feature.

Zaxby’s presents their version on a classic potato bun, topped with pickle chips and a spicy, aioli-style sauce that seems to be the saving grace. Ranking the sandwich just shy of a 10 out of 10, one Reddit user recalled, “That spicy Zax sauce they made for this sandwich is fantastic. The pickles and bun rival Popeyes, and the chicken is moist, juicy, and incredibly crispy… loved it.” Another added, “I truly enjoy Zaxby’s spicy signature sandwich.”

However, not everyone felt the same. A third comment implied Zaxby’s tasted mediocre, while another stated, “Zaxby’s tasted like a frozen chicken breast. No flavor or crunch.” A blow for a brand that originated with chicken. Still, one user offered support, saying, “I do love the spicy Zax sauce though.”

With its locations spanning 26 states in the central and southeastern U.S., long-distance fans may have to plan a journey for this one. Culver’s Spicy Crispy Chicken sandwich comes fully equipped with lettuce, tomato, and pickles on a toasted Kaiser bun. “Best spicy chicken sandwich I’ve ever had,” noted one enthusiastic Reddit user.

Featuring crunchy, Southern-style breading infused with onions, garlic, and a hint of cayenne — along with a four-pepper spice blend to add a kick. After debuting as a limited-time item in 2018, many customers inquired, “Is this just a limited-time thing? I can’t live without it now!” The positive initial reception allowed the Spicy Crispy Chicken to become a permanent offering.

Culver’s sources its chicken from local farms where birds are raised humanely on a vegetarian diet, which might contribute to its superb flavor even without any mayo. Still, you can elevate it with Culver’s signature sauce that pairs beautifully with chicken.

Coming from the chain that tests everything on its menu — including its nostalgia-inducing (never fresh, always frozen) crinkle-cut fries — one would anticipate the same careful consideration for its chicken sandwich offering. Enter the Chicken Shack. (It’s so loved it’s Ina Garten’s go-to when she’s not up for cooking.)

The establishment proudly mentions that the chicken sandwich is available any day of the week — a playful nod to Chick-fil-A, which is notoriously closed on Sundays. Featuring tender, white meat chicken breast served on a soft potato bun with pickles, lettuce, and buttermilk herb mayo, one Redditor praised it, stating, “Chicken Shack claps hard.”

Another encouraged diners to order the bacon cheese fries if they are really hungry. “Chick’n Shack was one of the best things I’ve eaten in my life,” confirmed another fan. Yet, the challenge loomed large with this comment, “The Chicken Shack pretty much clinches the chicken sandwich wars.”

It can be hard to ignore the back-and-forth nature of the bun-less, dual chicken stack: the KFC Double Down. Thus, for this ranking, we’ll focus on the conventional KFC menu for the third-best fast food chicken sandwich available.

While Canadian customers call it the KFC Spicy Famous Chicken sandwich, fans in the U.S. know it simply as the KFC Spicy Chicken sandwich. With both the spicy and classic options receiving high praise, customers adore the double-breaded, extra-crispy, white-meat chicken, crunchy pickles, spicy sauce, or Colonel’s mayo, all nestled within a toasted brioche bun. “I took my first bite of the KFC Spicy Famous Chicken Chicken Sandwich and I’ve since eaten three in four days. This is mind-blowingly good,” shared one Redditor.

Consistency across locations seems to help KFC’s chicken sandwich maintain its top tier status, with another user stating, “KFC is consistently best from location to location.” Another fondly reminisced, “My heart will forever belong to KFC. It was a huge treat during my childhood. It typically meant parents were out, and we were getting a babysitter!”

Just trailing in second place by the width of a Cajun french fry, Popeyes remains hot on the heels of our top pick by taking advantage of TikTok trends like “girl dinner” while securing limited-time fan favorites like wings for the permanent menu. Yet, when it comes to their chicken sandwiches, opinions are quite divided.

A Reddit subreddit titled “Popeyes has the worst chicken sandwich” is filled with fans defending the Spicy Chicken and Classic Chicken sandwiches. Both versions highlight hand-battered, buttermilk fried chicken breast; a toasted brioche bun; pickles; and mayo, with the spicy rendition featuring a spicy mayo that packs some heat. “I absolutely LOVE Popeyes chicken sandwich! It’s #1 for me! I adore the spicy version with pickles!” posted one thrilled customer. Another compared it to McDonald’s chicken offering, stating, “Popeyes chicken patty is crispy, four times larger and usually fresh, plus the spicy mayo is made in-house.”

It may not quite earn the top sandwich title just yet. However, since the launch of the Popeyes chicken sandwich, which quickly sold out back in 2019, fans have been stoking the flames as the chain sets its sights on competitive glory.

Messing with the best is inadvisable! Chick-fil-A’s revered chicken sandwiches reign supreme in the fast food world. “Chick-fil-A. It’s not even close,” asserted one Reddit user. This brand is such a consistent leader that even those who have moved on still regard it as their top choice.

Praise often centers around the Spicy Chicken and classic Chick-fil-A options. Offering a buttery toasted bun, dill pickles, and lightly breaded, tender chicken breast, this chain remains unassailable in first place. “My favorite is the spicy sandwich with extra pickles and cheese sauce,” noted a northeast-based fan, while an employee mentioned, “My standard is the regular CFA sandwich, with only pickles and mayo. It’s delicious that way.”

Some fans do cross the proverbial picket line regarding the brand’s well-documented stance. “I’m a member of the LGBT community,” wrote one Redditor who appreciates Chick-fil-A for more than just the chicken. “I love Chick-fil-A. The app is fantastic and the staff are genuinely kind… You’re good people in my view, regardless of personal beliefs.” If you happen to be left with any leftovers, Chick-Fil-A even has a recipe to ensure that not a bite goes to waste.

When looking for authentic opinions from the online community, you delve deep into the Redditiverse. (It was a dark journey with crumpled napkins aplenty.) Here, we uncovered a realm populated by purists, loyalists, and restaurant employees engaging in heated debates, such as why anyone would order a chicken sandwich with lettuce — since that is a salad. (Somewhere, the truth remains elusive.)

However, hidden in the rants lay precious insight we highlighted in this ranking. These unfiltered reviews, perspectives, and opinions are presented here. And if this article has increased your appetite as it did ours, nothing completes a fast food chicken sandwich order better than a silky, creamy milkshake on the side.