The Chicken Sandwich

[Ezee E]

I'm not sure how this thread will work.

Ideally, we figure out the best chicken sandwich around.

But first... we need some parameters people. WHAT makes a chicken sandwich legit?

RANKING:

MARVEL Tier
Burger King - 90%
KFC Chicken Sandwich - 80%
McDonald's Spicy - 65%
Popeye's Classic - 60%
KFC Spicy Chicken Sandwich - "Fine."
McDonald's Crispy Chicken Deluxe - 50%
DQ - "Decent."
Wendy's Spicy Jalapeno Popper Sandwich - Lazy redneck worthless fucks
McDonald's Crispy Chicken - "F fucking Minus."

INDEPENDENT
Rebel Chicken - 96% (Denver)
Boxcar Betty's - "Right tops." (Ch-cities)
Tumbleweed - "It's the best thing there" (The North)
Hop and Grind - 75% (The Northeast)
Red Cow - 72% (Up North Somewhere)
San Antonio Airport - 65% (San Antonio, TX)
Birdcall - 59% (Denver)

HOME MADE
Duke's Chick-La-Gay --- "Ate so fast that a pic couldn't be done."

[Ezee E]

To establish ourselves a proper rating for chicken sandwich, I think a few items need to be rated.

And like movie ratings, I'm sure these could be all over the place, but for a model of consistency, we'll simply go with 1-4.

CRUNCH FACTOR - obvious, and this may be where Chik-Fil-A is at its weakest. I think fried chicken has to have a solid crunch factor. To the point where you dig in the wrapper or box for any leftover fried breading.

CHICKEN FLAVOR - We may have to separate spicy from regular as I feel like you only go for one or the other. Spicy can go in a many different directions. BUT once you get past the crunch, you go for what you paid for.

ALTERNATE - PROPER SPICE : Obvious enough. And heck, this can go for it's own rating too. But, there's certainly a difference between a spice that is actually lip-smacking good, doesn't do shit, and makes you cry for mom. Sure, the spiciest around might be funny to talk about, but after a while, it's not even enjoyable. There's a balance.

The Bread - While not a deciding factor for what makes the best, it's certainly the John Stockton to chicken sandwiches, right? Properly serving up the proper chicken. This should also include any condiments of pickles, coleslaw, etc.... Although I'm sure the argument could be made that there shouldn't be anything added.... But we'll see what we can do.

Anything else as far as ratings go???

[Ezee E]

Next, we'll separate into tiers of:

MARVEL (Mainstream) : Readily available in multiple states.

INDEPENDENT: Likely only in one state, and just a few.

HOME MADE: Fuck it, make your own. Rate it, show us. Invite us over, god damnit (dammit).




Rate some chicken people!!!

[Dukefrukem]

i have video evidence of the chicken sandwich challenge (that likely only Eric saw). Others here need to also comply.

[Scar]

Oy, I watched that.

[Scar]

I retract my Oy due to duke’s newborn sleep deprivation.

[Dukefrukem]

THe weird thing lately is my newborn hasn't been the problem at night. It's been my 18 month old who is waking up between 1-3am. She's been an angel up until this week.

[Dukefrukem]

Sorry Scar. I remember you now.

[Ezee E]

I've been doing various "random review" on my Instagram over the last few months. Will add any and EVERY chicken sandwich I buy.

[Idioteque Stalker]

In the interest of data collection, I tried the spicy chicken sandwich from Zaxby's. It was very tasty but -- and I know this may seem like a strange criticism -- the piece of chicken was too big. Eating that thing requires a measured tactical approach. Certainly not a bad sandwich by any means, but I prefer a more casual eating experience.

[DFA1979]

I need to go find a chicken sandwich place that I haven't eaten at. Also do tenderloins count? Cause there is one place in town that gives you ones as big as a plate and they are delicious.

[Scar]

Unless they pounded out a whole chicken breast, then it would be on the larger size...

[Scar]

Chicken tenderloin? Typically that just the tender part of the chicken breast trimmed out. The ones big as a plate sound like pork pounded out.

[DFA1979]

Chicken tenderloin? Typically that just the tender part of the chicken breast trimmed out. The ones big as a plate sound like pork pounded out.

That's what I figured.

[Mal]

I had a chicken sandwich last night from Hop and Grind, a local joint on my street.
hopandgrind.com (Duke, they have a location in Peabody if you're ever that way)

I had only had a pork burger before from them a number of years ago- they're known for their variety of burgers, so I hoped the chicken sandwich would be satisfying. Overall not a lot of seasoning on the crispy chicken patty, but the dressed up sandwich was tasty. Sweet pickles, crispy onions, bacon, sauce, American and cheddar. I got a double patty because I was HUNGRY, but struggled to finish half of it. The leftover sandwich tasty for my breakfast. I picked up before I took a picture, so the bun has a dent. I regret not putting it on a plate. For $11.50 with plain fries, a good deal. But frankly, I think the lack of seasoning made me wish for more. 7/10.

[Dukefrukem]

I had a chicken sandwich last night from Hop and Grind, a local joint on my street.
hopandgrind.com (Duke, they have a location in Peabody if you're ever that way)

I had only had a pork burger before from them a number of years ago- they're known for their variety of burgers, so I hoped the chicken sandwich would be satisfying. Overall not a lot of seasoning on the crispy chicken patty, but the dressed up sandwich was tasty. Sweet pickles, crispy onions, bacon, sauce, American and cheddar. I got a double patty because I was HUNGRY, but struggled to finish half of it. The leftover sandwich tasty for my breakfast. I picked up before I took a picture, so the bun has a dent. I regret not putting it on a plate. For $11.50 with plain fries, a good deal. But frankly, I think the lack of seasoning made me wish for more. 7/10.

Thats enough for me to go try it!

[Skitch]

Thats enough for me to go try it!

It does look good as hell. I love onion straws

[Ezee E]

MCDONALD'S SPICY CHICKEN
Class: Marvel

CRUNCH - 2.5
There is a crunch. You won't hear it from across the room, but it isn't a soggy one.

CHICKEN FLAVOR - 3
It may just be one of the better things that McDonald's has??

Alternate - 3
The spicy mayo actually compliments really well. Like, I would dip fries and mcnuggets into it if there was the option.

Bread - 3.5
McDonald's chosen to go the brioche route lately, and it's the right fit here.

Damn... I'm going to look like such a loser having McDonald's go first, but so be it.

TOTAL: 10.5/16 = 65%

[Skitch]

That sandwich zac had looks incredible. Looks can be deceiving I guess

[Ezee E]

BIRDCALL



Class: Indie (less than a dozen in Denver). You order from a kiosk, you see your name on a LED screen with a countdown, and it appears in a box ready to go when the countdown is over.

CRUNCH: 2.5
Very similar to McDonald's, this was the Nashville Hot Chicken and I think it was fried just a little too long.

CHICKEN FLAVOR: 2.5
Again, not very juicy, overly cooked. Bad day at Birdcall. I've had better.

Alternate - 2.5
A little bit spicy? Certainly no Nashville.

Bread - 2
Pretty standard.

This place either has gone down the tubes or it was just a bad day. They also have a Southern Chicken that has coleslaw and pimento cheese, and a few others. I'm going to chalk it up as just a bad day, but you're only as good as your last chicken sandwich.

TOTAL: 9.5 - 59%

[Ezee E]

SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT (I forgot the name of the restaurant)

Class: Indie (maybe?)



CRUNCH: 2.5 - Sure, it was fine. Crispy enough.

CHICKEN FLAVOR - 2.5 - Similar. Easily forgettable.

Alternate - 3. Coleslaw was good, and it was almost a more BBQ flavor breading on the chicken.

Bread - 2.5 - You know the story by now.

I'd admire anyone that could eat this sandwich as presented. Two GIANT(shall we say Texas-sized?) strips on the bread. I removed one of them and ate it that way, and saved the other strip for after. San Antonio seems like a city that you need to know the secrets of the town to truly enjoy it. The architecture around the city is cool, but in the heart of it all, around the Alamo, is OVERLY touristy.

I've decided that Margaritaville restaurants remove the soul of any city within an entire quarter-square mile.

Note, it's just what Margaritaville does to a place. The restaurant itself isn't all that bad from what I remembered 10 years ago. I went to Vegas, much poorer at the time, ordered their nachos, and they were so damn big, that they more or less fed me throughout the trip.

TOTAL: 10.5/16

[Wryan]

I've decided that Margaritaville restaurants remove the soul of any city within an entire quarter-square mile.

Au contraire! I got the absolute best jerk chicken of my whole damn life at the Margaritaville at the airport in Jamaica of all places. It took like 25 minutes of prep at a place that was certainly not busy at the time. It was worth every second.

[Skitch]

People have been raving about these McDonalds new chicken and I'm like GTF outta here bullshit. Thanks for diving on that so I dont have to get food poisoning again

[Ezee E]

People have been raving about these McDonalds new chicken and I'm like GTF outta here bullshit. Thanks for diving on that so I dont have to get food poisoning again

I'm lucky (I guess) to have a McDonald's by me that is consistently good. Never seems to have dull fries or food that feels like it was made a while ago. They remodeled a few years ago and are exceptionally clean too. But it ain't no bullshit.

[Spun Lepton]

Well, I didn't take a picture of it, but I, too, ordered a chicken sandwich for delivery.

Red Cow's Tennessee Hot Chicken Sammich

Tier: Independent

Crunch -- 5/10. While once obviously very crispy, I think the fact that this was delivery damaged the crunch factor. I hesitate to judge it too much on this factor, because right out of the kitchen at the restaurant, it would be a different experience.

Chicken Flavor -- 9/10. Tender and moist. Red Cow has an amazing track record for sammies and burgers.

Spice 7/10 -- The choices were "Minnesota Nice," and "Tennessee Hot," and I got Tennessee Hot. Honestly? It could have been spicier. Lots of places in Minnesota still hold back on the spice when you ask for spicy. I think a lot of whiney Minnesotans have ruined that for those of us who can actually handle it.

Bread 8/10 -- Red Cow's buns are quite good. And they toast them, as they should.

Overall -- 8/10, although I suspect when the pandemic has slowed down and I go to the restaurant to order it again, the score will go up.