As someone who’s lived in the Northeast for almost my entire life, I haven’t frequented Chick-fil-a much in the beginning of my life. The closest Chick-fil-a would be in Nashua, almost an hour south. So to say it wouldn’t be worth it, an inconvenience to travel south just for that, would be an understatement. While in Indiana at school, I had Chick-fil-a probably close to three times a week, as it was included in my meal plan. Along with my meal plan was also food halls, Jersey Mikes, Panera, and Qdoba.
The hype around this one specific chicken restaurant is insane, especially where I’m from. I won’t lie, I was also on this hype train, especially regarding the magnificent CFA sauce. Now that I’ve had CFA, as well as tens of chicken sandwiches and house-made sauces, I can say there’s better. I want to make the world aware that CFA is overpriced as well as overrated. So, here are five chicken sandwiches/sauces that are overall better than the former.
Popeyes
Popeyes was also not a fast food chain around where I grew up. In fact, most of these sandwiches are from the midwest or south. Unlike a couple of the restaurants on my mind, Popeyes is also chicken-centric, meaning they don’t serve red meat. The chicken itself is very chewy with a great corn-flake-like crisp. The one negative of the sandwich is that the “spicy” version is made by just a sauce. There’s no spice to the actual chicken.
My recommendation: Spicy Chicken Sandwich
Dave’s Hot Chicken
If you’re a fiend for the heat, you’ll feel right at home with Dave’s Hot Chicken. It’s unique on this list, simply because all of the other sandwiches are not dry rubbed. You get a choice of how how you want the chicken, so if spice isn’t your thing, you’ll feel at home. Topped with a helping of coleslaw and pickles, this sandwich has it all. I would prefer to buy the straight up chicken tenders, but if you want a handheld, that’s available too.
My recommendation: #1 meal with an extra tender, all hot heat level
Burger King
I know this is going to be quite an unpopular opinion, but Burger King has stepped their game up. Known as one of the “big two” with McDonalds, chicken has been on the menu for a long time at BK. However, they nailed it with their Ch’King sandwich. Do not be fooled, however, because the Ch’King is very different from the Royal Crispy Chicken sandwich and others. Its price is also much more worth it.
My recommendation: Spicy Ch’King Sandwich or Chicken Fries
Arby’s
This is going to be an even more unpopular opinion than Burger King. I used to be on the Arby’s hate train, just by association with it. My friends disliked it, so I did too, until I realized that I hadn’t tried it myself. When I first went to Arby’s, I got the chicken sandwich which actually turned me away. It was when I tried the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich from Arby’s that made me fall in love. Also, don’t forget the curly fries.
My recommendation: Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich (with curly fries instead of normal fries)
Hardee’s
I’ve actually only tried Hardee’s once, which might invalidate my opinion. However, it was so amazing, that it would crack this list. The Nashville Hot Hand Breaded Sandwich is the best thing I had in an entire day of eating out, which says a lot. Although it did light my mouth on fire, I wouldn’t change that taste for anything in the world. The fries are nothing to die for, but the sandwich is.
My recommendation: Nashville Hot Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich
Now, don’t get me wrong when I say all of this. Chick-fil-a is still very good chicken, very good food, but I do think there are better alternatives. For the price point they’re using, there’s definitely better. Don’t forget as well that these are merely chicken sandwiches. I think overall there is better chicken tenders (Raising Cane’s) or sub sandwiches with chicken (Jersey Mike’s). Sauces also vary at all of these places too, and I might make a tier list of sauces. However, CFA is not the best fast food chicken restaurant, and it’s a hill I’m willing to die on.
Today’s cover photo is one of my favorite places on Earth, the White Mountain Range in New Hampshire.