Ordering chicken tenders at a fast food restaurant is generally a safe choice that's likely to
result in a scrumptious ending.
But not all of them taste the same, so we've gone ahead and ranked tenders from around
the country, from the worst you can get to the best of the bunch.
Champs Chicken is a convenient spot for fast food chicken.
But that convenience will cost you.
The prices are reasonable, but the quality is abhorrent.
First off, the soggy texture of these tenders are liable to gross you out.
If you're brave enough to sink your teeth in, you'll find that the inside tastes like
old chicken that's lived most of its life underneath a heat lamp.
If you somehow make the mistake of settling for your local Champs Chicken because of its
convenient location, you'll soon realize that these deep-fried, fowl abominations are more
likely to end up in the trash can than your tummy.
Sonic has a lot of tasty choices on its menu, but the Crispy Tenders are not one of them.
What looks like a yummy meal is actually a full-blown nightmare.
The first issue is inconsistency.
From bite to bite, the texture varies from too soft to so hard that it'll be like you're
eating dirt with pebbles mixed in.
Second, the breading is simply disgusting.
It has a chalkiness that will annoyingly invade every nook and cranny of your mouth.
If you're ever forced to eat these foul things, be sure you load up on dipping sauces to help
you survive the ordeal.
Even if you order something fishy, you're very likely to end up regretting a visit to
Long John Silver's.
And if you order the chicken tenders there, you definitely won't be happy.
These tenders are made with the same signature batter that the fish is made with.
The oiliness that's so off-putting with many of the chain's menu items is also a problem
with the chicken.
Long John Silver's deserves a bit of credit for offering chicken tenders that taste completely
different than anything sold by their competition, but it's not unique in a good way.
By the end of your first tender, you'll realize that you might as well have gone with any
of the seafood options.
Carl's Jr.'s Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders aren't quite good enough to be worthy of a
full-throated recommendation, but there are a few people who will be happy with them.
The questionable issue is their fierce aftertaste.
Everything else is fine, but the aftertaste has a very strong buttermilk flavor that is
oddly sour, so sour that it might just make you pucker.
If you were a fan of the Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Tenders from McDonald's and you're
desperate for something similar, these tenders from Carl's Jr. could fit the bill.
The McDonald's version was better, but since they've vanished from their menu, you can't
get your fingers on them unless you're capable of turning back the hands of time.
The most accurate word to describe Arby's Chicken Tenders is "meh."
Their texture is fine — not great, not terrible.
Flavor-wise, there's just not much there.
They're not particularly bad, but they don't really taste like anything, which is obviously
suboptimal.
Sometimes you can salvage flavorless tenders with dipping sauces.
While Arby's has some great sauces, none of them are appropriate for chicken tenders.
Their tender-friendly sauces include Honey Mustard, Tangy Barbeque, Ranch, and Buffalo.
The flavor quality of these ranges from subpar to mediocre, so there's simply no easy way
to add the necessary pizzazz to these tenders.
"Feels like an Arby's night."
Chicken Express has been in business since 1988, and most of its 250-plus locations are
in Texas.
Its chicken tenders are called, appropriately enough, Express Tenders.
As their name implies, these tenders are made quickly.
When you receive them, they're still piping hot.
The quality probably won't blow you away, but the consistency from tender to tender
is satisfying.
If you loved your last piece of chicken, you'll love your next piece.
On top of that, they're crispy and the meat is moist.
While the quality isn't through the roof, you can make up for that with quantity.
If you're feeding a hungry group, the 30 Express Tenders family meal is just what the poultry-loving
doctor ordered.
Along with all the tenders, you get two large sides and 16 glorious ounces of their yummy
gravy.
Ordering chicken tenders at Bojangles isn't as simple as it sounds.
If you go into this endeavor unprepared, you could very well end up disappointed.
You don't want to make the mistake of ordering the Homestyle Tenders, which are painfully
plain.
The tenders you want are called Chicken Supremes.
That may be an odd name for chicken tenders, but that's what you're up against when you
go to Bojangles.
While the Homestyle Tenders are bland, the Chicken Supremes have enough spice to catch
your attention, and their never-frozen chicken is extremely juicy.
Even if you have a cowardly palate and you don't like spicy foods at all, you should
be okay with these.
On a scale of one to ten, with one being mild and ten being super spicy, these bad boys
are about a three.
"It's Bo Time."
Church's Chicken is home to three above-average options for chicken tenders.
First is the spicy Texas Tenders, which are spicier and more flavorful than Bojangles'
Chicken Supremes.
Then there's the original Texas Tenders, which have a mild amount of spice, as well as breading
and meat that are packed with tastiness.
But the third kind can be difficult to find.
They're called Honey-Butter Biscuit Tenders, and they're really good.
Church's has amazing biscuits that are supercharged with honey butter.
These tenders are made with the batter of those biscuits, and the result is as delicious
as it sounds.
When you're trying to choose which of these tenders to stuff in your face, you really
can't go wrong.
If your sweet tooth is acting up, go with the Honey-Butter Biscuit ones if they're available.
If not, opt for the original or spicy Texas Tenders depending on your level of bravery,
and then just get a few biscuits on the side.
When selecting a fast food destination, Culver's is always a wise choice.
Their Original Chicken Tenders are quite tasty, although they won't necessarily knock your
socks off.
The best part is the actual poultry.
It's amazingly juicy and overflowing with flavor.
Culver's also has a delectable array of dipping sauces that include honey mustard, ranch,
and barbecue.
The one big underwhelming quality is the breading.
Compared to other chicken tenders, it's minimalistic and doesn't add much to the overall flavor.
If the flavor of the chicken is the number one thing you look for in tenders, go ahead
and make your way to Culver's.
"Anyone who's had our chicken knows it's plump and juicy."
Golden Chick might not be very well-known, but it has a long and storied history with
chicken tenders.
After opening their first location in Texas in 1967, they introduced their Golden Tenders
in 1985.
Fast-forward a few decades later and they taste exactly the same as they did when they
were first added to the menu.
Believe it or not, there simply hasn't been any slippage in quality at all over that time.
If you adore chicken tenders that are super crispy and blessed with a ton of breading,
you will worship what you can find at Golden Chick.
The only slight issue is that their chicken is just average when it comes to juiciness
and moistness.
"One taste and you're golden."
You can find three types of chicken tenders at KFC if you look hard enough, but there's
really only one that you should buy.
Avoid the Nashville Hot Tenders, which have a reddish glow that makes you think you're
in for a fun and spicy time, but that's just not the case.
Instead, they taste mostly like paprika with a dash of cayenne pepper.
You'll be disgusted from your first bite.
It's also best to steer clear of the Original Recipe Tenders.
In theory, they should be scrumptious.
But in reality, they're a mushy mess that's liable to fall apart in your hands.
So the top KFC tender is the Extra Crispy.
The chicken in the middle is merely average, but the breading is spectacular.
You could eat them in their entirety, but if you order them to just pick off the breading,
no one should think you're crazy.
The chicken tenders at Krispy Krunchy Chicken should make both Champs Chicken and Bojangles
jealous.
Whereas Champs' tenders are garbage, Krispy Krunchy's are delicious.
And while Bojangles is known for its Cajun seasoning, it's actually Krispy Krunchy that's
mastered the use of Cajun seasoning on chicken tenders.
Krispy Krunchy's Cajun Tenders deliver the Cajun goodness in a way that you'll appreciate
to the depths of your soul.
Each bite unleashes another round of spicy, delicious fireworks.
You won't be stunned to learn that Krispy Krunchy Chicken was founded in Louisiana,
as only a real Louisianan would be able to master Cajun food at this level.
It's since made its way across the country, with more than 2,500 locations across 47 states.
If you want to buy chicken wings from a chain restaurant, you simply can't do any better
than Wingstop.
And their chicken tenders are also pretty amazing, as the exterior is crunchy and the
interior explodes with juices.
When ordering tenders at Wingstop, there are a number of flavors to choose from, ranging
from the super-spicy Atomic to the sweet and delightful Hawaiian.
You can order your tenders plain, but don't do that unless you want everyone to know that
you're a square.
As good as these tenders taste, the reality of the matter is that the wings are even better.
Having said that, if you're on the go and you need a boneless feast, the tenders are
absolutely up for the job.
Popeyes is the top fast food chicken chain in the country, so it only makes sense that
they would have the best fast food chicken tenders, and frankly, it's not even close.
There are three varieties of their Handcrafted Tenders, and all three are marvelous examples
of culinary artistry.
The mild tenders are anything but dull.
The breading alone is terrific, and when you reach the meat, you'll be met with juiciness
so unrelenting that you might need a bib.
To heighten the intensity, opt for the spicy Handcrafted Tenders, which are oh-so scrumptious.
Most fast food chains are scared to turn up the heat, but Popeyes isn't.
Ultimately, the depth of the flavors is what you'll really be attracted to.
And finally, there's the blackened tenders, which are unbelievably flavorful, with an
aroma that will steal your heart.
Dip them in the Blackened Ranch sauce and you'll be in chicken tender heaven with a
full grin extending from ear to ear.
"Tastes like chicken."
If chicken tenders aren't crispy and crunchy, they're usually repulsive.
The one major exception to that rule is Chick-fil-A's Chick-n-Strips, which are relatively soft
but mind-blowingly delicious.
They're cooked inside of a vat of peanut oil, and when that magical process is complete,
the resulting tenders are so good that there's no way you can eat just one.
The major strength of the Chick-n-Strips is their freshness.
Put one of these tenders in your mouth and you'll swear that the chicken must've been
clucking just a few minutes prior.
Definitely eat them while they're still hot, because if you let them cool off, much of
the magic will be lost forever.
Another feature in Chick-fil-A's favor is their unparalleled assortment of dipping sauces.
From the signature sauce to Polynesian to everything else in between, you literally
can't make a bad choice.
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