Moeller's Favorite Spicy Chicken Sandwich

There has been a recent evolution in the chicken sandwich wars of late. With McDonald’s tossing their hat in ring, I thought it might be interesting to see what Moeller students’ favorite spicy chicken sandwich is. Wendy’s, Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, and McDonalds were offered as options on our Moeller Crusader survey to find out how they differed, and asked students which appealed most to them.

1. Wendy’s

First off, I tried Wendy’s spicy chicken sandwich. This sandwich is the OG of its class, as it was debuted in 1995 and was the first of its kind in the fast-food world. Fans enjoyed the immediate spicy kick of the chicken and the compliment of the mayo, lettuce, and tomato. Nestled between a toasted bun, it satisfied the hungry masses for decades.

But the sandwich has changed since then.

The sandwich I received was lacking in some of the categories that originally made it prominent. The chicken was crispy, of course, but a little dry. It was definitely spicy, which was immediately apparent from the orange tint in the breading once removing the foil wrapping. The sandwich is not as fancy as it used to be, for today, the toppings were a limp serving of green lettuce, a disembodied tomato, and just a dash of mayo, all prepared on a brioche bun.

All in all, Wendy’s go at the chicken sandwich can no longer hold up with its competitors, but at $4.99, it still is a solid sandwich.

2. Popeye’s

When people think “chicken sandwich,” one of the first things that they think of is Popeye’s. Although not the first to the market, they brought along the chicken sandwich craze of late, propelling a new battle for the title of best chicken sandwich. And although they’ve debatably obtained that title, they have yet to obtain the title of best spicy chicken sandwich.

Popeye’s spicy chicken sandwich appears identical to the regular, served in a paper bag lined with foil on its inside. The only difference to the regular is the “Cajun spread” that is used instead of mayo. This adds the element of spice to the sandwich and, in my opinion, complements that classic thick, juicy, crispy piece of chicken very well. Furthermore, addition flavor is added by two delicately placed pickles that add a tart sprit to every crunch filled bite, all prepared on a toasted brioche bun.

Although the sandwich was lacking in “spice” because it only came from the smear of “Cajun spread,” at $4, it is an impressive combination of flavors that would satisfy any customer suitably.

3. Chick-fil-A

By now, Chick-fil-A is synonymous with chicken. This of course, means they have a spicy chicken sandwich of their own.

After removing Chick-fil-A’s sandwich from its bag, which was similar to the packaging of Popeye’s, it was immediately apparent that it was a regular chicken sandwich. The chicken carried an orange hue that differed it from the regular chicken but was not as obvious as that of Wendy’s. It was thick and juicy, and, although less crisp and crunchy than the previous two, it was well paired with pickles and a soft bun, which differs from the brioche bun offered on the others.

Overall, Chick-fil-A’s spicy chicken sandwich is a great choice at $4.19. Hitting all the right notes, it is refreshing take at the classic chicken sandwich.

4. McDonalds

A newcomer to the chicken sandwich wars, McDonalds is now offering a class, spicy, and deluxe chicken sandwich. As this is a discussion surrounding the spicy offering from these competitors, I took a look at it.

The sandwich was packaged in a foil-lined paper bag, similar to that of its competitors. The sandwich itself was not particularly appealing at first glance. The chicken resembled a thin puck, and the buttery bun contributed to what seemed like a poor attempt copying Chick-fil-A’s. Upon biting into the sandwich, I noticed that the chicken was in fact crispy. Yet it was very mildly seasoned and lacked the tenderness of its competitors. The “original spicy sauce” was my favorite part, supplying the spice in this equation—and a surprisingly potent kick at that—but it was not enough to overcome the downfalls of the sandwich.

McDonald’s spicy chicken sandwich’s downfall is ultimately its bun. With a satiny finish and split top that give it a fresh-from-the-bakery look, I was surprised by the overwhelming sweetness that overpowered the entire entrée. At the end of the day, McDonald’s offering would not be my first choice.

Alas, if none of these options speak to your stomach, there are other places to consider. Jack McCullough (’21) considers Burger King to be the king of the spicy chicken sandwich. He said that even he was surprised by how good it was, saying, “Burger King’s [spicy chicken sandwich] is so good…I didn’t believe it either until I tried it.” Moeller basketball player Logan Duncomb (‘21) chooses to stand by Popeyes as his favorite. “I was born in New Orleans and it’s simply the best,” said Duncomb.

Of course, everyone has their preferences, but by obtaining more votes by Moeller students than any of the others, it is clear that Chick-fil-A is the home of Moeller’s favorite spicy chicken sandwich.