With so many chicken sandwiches on the market, how do you choose which one to order?
Fortunately, fans agree on the best sandwich, so keep watching because the answer awaits!
In recent years, the fast-food chicken sandwich wars have escalated to a whole new level, with
just about every quick-service restaurant offering their own take on the fried bird between buns.
After the Popeyes chicken sandwich sent the nation into near-hysteria following its release in 2019,
the fried chicken sandwich has become a staple of many fast-food menus.
In response to the roaring success of Popeyes' crispy chicken sandwich, McDonald's, KFC,
and Burger King each released upgraded versions of their chicken sandwiches. Wendy's also debuted
a line-up of new chicken sandwiches. Even Taco Bell got in on the fried chicken action with a
Crispy Chicken Sandwich Taco served in a puffy flatbread rather than a standard tortilla.
While the fast-food chicken wars caused a lot of companies to up their game, new data
suggests that one classic chicken-slinging company currently reigns supreme when it comes to the best
of the chicken breast. Merchant Centric — which gathers data from customer reviews in order to
monitor public opinion — recently collected data from a number of chicken-focused quick-service
restaurants and determined which brand has the highest customer satisfaction score.
In a press release shared with Mashed, the Merchant Centric research company declared
that the resounding chicken sandwich champion is the classic pickle-topped Chick-fil-A chicken
sandwich, which hasn't changed much since its inception in the 1960s. In a ranking system
with a maximum of 5 points, Chick-fil-A led the pack with a satisfaction score of 4.39, followed
very closely by Raising Cane's and Culver's, with scores of 4.38 and 4.37, respectively.
According to Eat This, Not That, Chick-fil-A also topped the American Customer Satisfaction Index
for the seventh year in a row, solidifying its reputation as one of the most consistent fast-food
restaurants in the country. Also ranking in the top chicken spots were regional chains
Runza with a score of 4.35, Charleys Philly Steaks with a 4.02, and A&W with a 4.00.
Falling toward the bottom of the pack was El Pollo Loco with a 3.71, Wendy's with a 3.63,
Taco Bell with 3.60, and the California-based chain, Waba Grill with a 3.42.
Despite recently being declared the most popular fried chicken chain in America,
KFC also fell to the bottom of the list, with a score of 3.40.
Surprisingly, Popeyes — the chain that first set off the chicken sandwich frenzy — came
dead last in the rankings, with a customer satisfaction score of 3.39.
While countless fast-food chains have attempted twists on the deep-fried magic of Chick-Fil-A's
notable sandwich, the latest data indicates that most American diners still prefer the original.
"Welcome to Chick-fil-A."
Although the Atlanta-based chicken chain's story technically began in 1946 when
its founder, S. Truett Cathy, opened up a still-operating diner called Dwarf Grill,
the famed chicken sandwich didn't come to be until the early 1960s.
According to the chain's website, after tinkering with his new chicken supply, Cathy devised a
method for cooking the chicken with peanut oil in a commercial pressure cooker. The result was
a fast-cooking piece of meat that remained juicy and tender. The businessman also enlisted the help
of customers to taste various versions of chicken breading, changing the seasonings and proportions
until he finally landed on the perfect combination of 20 spices, which is still used today.
Cathy settled on the perfect fried chicken recipe and served it between two buttered
buns — which was revolutionary at the time — and topped it with sliced pickles.
After that, he officially opened up the first Chick-Fil-A location in 1967,
beginning its journey to becoming a household name.
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