The 12 Best Fast Food Chicken Sandwiches, Ranked and Reviewed by a Food Editor
Being a drive-thru regular myself, I set out to find the best fast food chicken sandwich overall by tasting 14 different handhelds from 12 popular chains in and around Philadelphia. Here, you'll find my honest reviews and original photos of each, plus an overall ranking from worst to best. Read on for my top and bottom picks.
(Note: Prices may vary based on location or region. The prices below are rounded to the nearest half-dollar.)
The Best Fast Food Desserts You Can Order Right Now, Ranked by a Food Editor
Each sandwich was ordered in-store or at the drive-thru (rather than for pickup or delivery) in an effort to ensure maximum freshness. The sandwiches were photographed and tasted immediately. For testing fairness, I only tried crispy chicken sandwiches (as opposed to grilled) that were permanent menu items. If a chain offered original and spicy iterations of a chicken sandwich, I only tested the original options for consistency. Finally, I evaluated and ranked each sandwich based on taste, texture, presentation/appearance and cost, factoring in the quality and size to determine if it was fairly priced.
You'll also note that each item received a star rating out of five. Here's a breakdown of what each rating means:
1 star: bad, no redeeming qualities
2 stars: fine, but nothing noteworthy
3 stars: decent, but could be improved
4 stars: good, minimal improvements could be made
5 stars: excellent, next to no improvements could be made
2 stars
Taryn Pire
What's on It: shredded lettuce, mayo
Cost: $5
Pros: tangy mayo, filling
Cons: no pickles, chicken wasn't crispy
While I appreciated the exceptionally tangy mayo on the Original Chicken Sandwich, the chicken itself was rather bland. This Burger King sandwich was very soft, not crispy—sort of like the chicken patties I remember having in my middle school cafeteria. But that's not to say it wasn't enjoyable; it was also pretty hefty, thanks to the bread. Pickles would've gone a long way here.
I also tried the Crispy Chicken ($5.59), which came on a sesame seed bun with breaded chicken, lettuce, tomato and mayo. This one was sort of herby, making the mayo taste like a tame ranch dressing. But the lettuce was sad and the chicken was bland (albeit crispy).
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2 stars
Taryn Pire
What's on It: mayo, pickles, lettuce, tomato
Cost: $5
Pros: soft bread, balanced components
Cons: chicken could be crunchier and better seasoned
The Classic Mother Cruncher boasted a pillowy soft bun and tender, juicy chicken that could've been crunchier. (This one also gave cafeteria chicken patty or frozen chicken nugget.) The pickles were meh and the lettuce and tomato looked a bit pallid. This one wasn't inedible by any means—just one-note across the board.
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2 stars
Taryn Pire
What's on It: lettuce, tomato, mayo, pickles
Cost: $6
Pros: sour pickles, filling
Cons: dry, thin chicken, not as well-seasoned as the spicy version
I've been ordering the spicy iteration at Wendy's for years, so I had high hopes for the Classic Chicken Sandwich. But unfortunately, the chicken was thin and under seasoned. It wasn't very juicy and didn't seem freshly made. The crunchy, sour pickles redeemed it a bit, but the spicy one still reigns supreme in my book. (Also, why doesn't that one get pickles?)
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3 stars
Taryn Pire
What's on It: lettuce, tomato, mayo
Cost: $6
Pros: large piece of juicy, tender chicken
Cons: mayo could be tangier, sandwich could be better seasoned
It's 2025—Arby's does much more than roast beef and deli sandwiches nowadays. As for the chain's Crispy Chicken Sandwich, the chicken was hefty and very juicy. I found it to be similar to the McDonald's Deluxe McCrispy (more on that later), but it was kind of bland. I wished the mayo was tangier for a punchier bite.
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3 stars
Taryn Pire
What's on It: lettuce, tomato, mayo
Cost: $6
Pros: crispy, large piece of chicken
Cons: tomato was too thick, messily assembled
Between the standard McCrispy and the Deluxe, the latter had fresher, crispier, better-quality chicken. The mayo was delightfully tart, but I thought the tomatoes were kind of overkill. (Maybe it was just how my sandwich was constructed; it was messy and lopsided.) I also tasted the regular McCrispy, which was cheaper at $4.89 a pop and came with nothing but crinkle-cut pickles. I'll give this McDonald's pick points for its no-frills charm and soft bun, but the chicken was soggy.
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3 stars
Taryn Pire
What's on It: mayo, pickles
Cost: $6
Pros: large piece of chicken, sour pickles
Cons: messily assembled, chicken seemed old
This KFC sandwich was massive, but the chicken looked a bit pale and tasted old to me. Its size was a double-edged sword, as it made for a poorly constructed handheld and an awkward eating experience. (Plus, all the mayo was slathered in one spot and the pickles were piled on top of each other.) However, I appreciated the double-breaded crust on the chicken and the pleasantly sour pickles. I felt the breading and toppings would've been better suited for a crispy fish sandwich though, in case the Colonel ever feels like branching out.
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4 stars
Taryn Pire
What's on It: dill pickle chips
Cost: $5
Pros: crunchy, juicy chicken
Cons: a touch bland
I've never really understood the fuss about Chick-fil-A…and this sammy didn't change my mind. The O.G. Chicken Sandwich felt soggy on the outside and came with only two pickle chips on top. Yes, the chicken was crunchy, juicy and generously sized, but it could've been more robustly seasoned. Don't get me wrong, it was solid. But despite its appetizing appearance, I found it to be a bit underwhelming. That peach milkshake though? Worth the buzz.
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4 stars
Taryn Pire
What's on It: lettuce, Cane's Sauce
Cost: $8
Pros: large portion, chicken was very fresh
Cons: difficult to eat, would be better balanced with pickles, could be more robustly seasoned
Raising Cane's cult-favorite chicken fingers are hand-battered to order, so the poultry is basically guaranteed to turn out fresh and crispy. That said, I found this sandwich (which includes three chicken fingers) to be harder to eat than sandwiches with a single piece or patty of chicken, and it could've been more boldly seasoned. The sweet, ketchup-y Cane's Sauce pulled a lot of weight in the flavor department, but I felt sour pickles would've made it more balanced.
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5 stars
Taryn Pire
What's on It: lettuce, pickles, buttermilk herb mayo
Cost: $8.50
Pros: sour pickles, mayo was herbaceous and flavorful, bun was soft and fresh, chicken was tender and crisp
Cons: small for the price
The Chicken Shack is the most expensive sammy on my list, and it's mostly worth the price. Although it was comparatively small versus some of its competitors, the Shake Shack chicken was juicy and crispy, the pickles were exceptionally acidic and the ranch-like herby mayo beautifully elevated each bite. I also loved the soft-as-clouds potato bun.
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5 stars
Taryn Pire
What's on It: pickles, lettuce, mayo
Cost: $6
Pros: large for the price, well-seasoned breading, chicken was very crisp and fresh
Cons: toppings could be more evenly applied
Sonic continues to surprise me. (Seriously—the Groovy Fries, which placed second in my ranking of fast food fries, are not to be missed.) The Crispy Chicken Sandwich came with a very wide piece of chicken that overflowed on all sides of the brioche bun. Despite its width, it wasn't excessively thick or juicy. I loved the very crispy breading; its flavor was slightly sweet and oniony.
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5 stars
Taryn Pire
What's on It: pickles, mayo
Cost: $5.50
Pros: great size and quality for the price, balanced flavor, chicken was very fresh, crisp and juicy
Cons: pickles were a bit thick
Popeye's started the chicken sandwich wars, and from where I'm sitting, most franchises are trying—and failing—to dethrone it. While I'm partial to the spicy variety, the Classic Chicken Sandwich had the same buttery bun, flawlessly sour pickle chips (which were, admittedly, a smidge thick) and juicy, impossibly crunchy, battered-to-order chicken. The breading was deeply flavorful, but the sammy as a whole was arguably greasier than some of the from-frozen ones on this list, so it may not be your fave if that's a turn-off for you.
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5 stars
Taryn Pire
What's on It: umami mayo
Cost: $6
Pros: very fresh chicken, breading was robustly seasoned, umami mayo was super savory and flavorful
Cons: none
Yup, this Filipino chain is well worth the hype. The Original Chicken Sandwich was beyond juicy, fresh and generously seasoned. Paired with nothing but savory umami mayo, the chicken's black pepper-heavy breading shone through every bite. I wouldn't have been opposed to pickles, lettuce or slaw, but I had zero complaints about this stunner. That said, I didn't enjoy the fries at all, so I'd get this with adobo rice next time around.
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