The chicken sandwich, otherwise known as a chicken burger outside of the US, has a complicated history. Chick-fil-A claims to be the creator of the chicken sandwich, but there might be more to the story. We know that fried chicken comes from English and Scottish immigrants who settled in the United States. Due to the lack of resources West African Slaves had at the time, chicken became very popular as it was readily available. They made the chicken taste better with spices and seasonings. The original owner of Chick-fil-A, Truett Cathy, claimed to be the creator of the chicken sandwich in 1964, but there is evidence that Truett’s claim is false. There is proof of chicken sandwich recipes and food chains before 1964. For example, an advertisement from craft food in 1938 features a recipe for a “Chicken sandwich supreme”. Overall, the history of the chicken sandwich is complicated, but how do modern chicken sandwiches compare? A colleague and I recently decided to visit six fast-food restaurants and evaluate their chicken sandwiches.
McDonald’s McChicken
McDonald’s McChicken sandwich costs $3.59 and comes wrapped in the signature fast-food paper. McDonald’s sandwich was, by far, the most inexpensive out of all of the options. When I received the sandwich, it was lukewarm and seemed to be sitting for a bit before being served. Overall, the presentation of the sandwich was pretty standard with only a little lettuce spilling out. There was a good amount of mayo, but it was unevenly distributed throughout the sandwich. The chicken patty itself was a bit dry, but it had some crispiness. The chicken’s flavor was very simple and good, nothing out of the ordinary.
3 out of 5
Burger King’s Original Chicken Sandwich
Burger King’s Original Chicken Sandwich costs $7.79, and it has more of an oval shape compared to the others. I received the sandwich warm and fresh. Overall the sandwich presentation was good, but there was an intense amount of mayo. The chicken patty itself was very flavorful and juicy, but the bun was very dry and unpleasant to eat. I believe that the flavor elevates this sandwich to another level.
3.5 out of 5
Sonic’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich
Sonic’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich costs $7.67, and it comes wrapped in the signature fast-food paper just like McDonald’s. Overall the sandwich is very standard; the bread was soft; there was a little crunch, and there was an even layer of mayo. The flavor of the sandwich was better than McDonald’s, but it was a little salty. Unlike the others, Sonic’s sandwich contains both lettuce and pickles.
3.5 out of 5
Slim Chicken’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich
Slim Chicken’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich costs $6.89, and it was, by far, the best sandwich. Although the meal took the longest to arrive, it was piping hot. The sandwich was crispy, juicy, and overall delicious. It included an even layer of mayo, lettuce, and pickles. The seasoning itself was very flavorful with hints of spiciness.
5 out of 5
Wendy’s Classic Chicken Sandwich
Wendy’s Classic Chicken Sandwich costs $7.99, and it was, by far, the worst sandwich. When the sandwich arrived, it was messy and covered in mayo. The sandwich came with tomatoes, lettuce, and pickles that were chaotically placed around. The only redeeming qualities were the bread and the seasonings. The bread was soft and the seasoning was flavorful. Unfortunately, the mayo ruined the sandwich.
1.5 out of 5
Culver’s Crispy Chicken
Culver’s Crispy Chicken costs $8.39, and unlike the others, it was placed in a box. The meal came with fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and pickles. Unlike the other sandwiches, Culver’s does not come with mayo, and you have to ask for it to be put on. Due to the lack of mayo, the chicken patty was dry, but the overall seasoning was very good.
4 out of 5
Chicken sandwich recipes have changed a lot since they were first invented. We’ve added all types of seasonings and toppings to enhance the flavor of the chicken. All the food chains I tried had an interesting interpretation of the classic chicken sandwich, but I shouldn’t be the one to tell you that. Go out, try, and, rate different chicken sandwiches around your area.
