If you already know, then you know. If you don’t, then you want to know. So — the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich vs. the Popeye’s chicken sandwich. The original chicken sandwich or the “new boy on the block?”
We could argue all day long about the fries, the customer service or the options. I mean, the Chick-fil-A sauce and waffle fries are undeniable, as well as Popeye’s Cajun flair, but we are going to focus on the main player, the one who has taken over the internet and made you wonder why Popeye’s drive-thru has been backed up at all hours: the chicken sandwich. We are going to break it down into three main ingredients to a perfect chicken sandwich.
1. The Bun
2. The Chicken
3. The Pickles
If you’ve ever owned any amount of DCB, you’ve most likely had the original Chick-fil-A sandwich, the one we all know and love. It has the soft, yet toasted and buttery bun. It has the juicy chicken filet battered in the unique, yet nostalgic seasoned breading. Lastly, it is dressed with the two classic wavy dill-cut pickle chips. Simple, classic and familiar.
Popeye’s threw us a curveball on Aug. 12 as they released a sandwich almost identical to Chick-fil-A’s, but did they do it better?
I think there is no true argument with the bun. They are basically identical. Both good. Now what changes up are the chicken and the pickles. Flavor-wise, there is no comparison. Popeye’s stuck with their classic Cajun seasoning and classic fried chicken crunch that holds no resemblance to the classic Chick-fil-A flavor. So, when it comes to the breading, I think it comes down to personal preference. However, Popeye’s chicken filet is double the thickness of Chick-fil-A’s. When you receive the bag holding your Popeye’s chicken sandwich, it is clear who falls a little flat.
Now, the pickles. Popeye’s pickles are what makes this even more special. They did not go with the flimsy, dill pickle chip out of a bulk jar. Oh no. The pickle they use tastes like a pickle out of a wide-mouth Mason jar that was hand-picked by your grandma at her farmhouse. These pickles hold a vibrant color, a thick cut and a satisfying crunch.
So, who takes home the award for the best chicken sandwich? I don’t think we will ever come to an agreement. All I will say is, the Popeye’s sandwich is good. Personally, Popeye’s chicken size and pickles have Chick-fil-A beat. But I will agree, there is something so good about that Chick-fil-A flavor that keeps you coming back. One thing we can all agree on is that we have all had that after-church chicken sandwich craving. I will leave you with one thing: Popeye’s is open on Sundays.
