The 12 Best Fast Food Chicken Sandwiches, Ranked and Reviewed by a Food Editor

• What’s on It: shredded lettuce, mayo
• Cost: $5
• Pros: tangy mayo, filling
• Cons: no pickles, chicken wasn’t crispy

While I appreciated the exceptionally tangy mayo on the Original Chicken Sandwich, the chicken itself was rather bland. This Burger King sandwich was very soft, not crispy—sort of like the chicken patties I remember having in my middle school cafeteria. But that’s not to say it wasn’t enjoyable; it was also pretty hefty, thanks to the bread. Pickles would’ve gone a long way here.

I also tried the Crispy Chicken ($5.59), which came on a sesame seed bun with breaded chicken, lettuce, tomato and mayo. This one was sort of herby, making the mayo taste like a tame ranch dressing. But the lettuce was sad and the chicken was bland (albeit crispy).

• What’s on It: mayo, pickles, lettuce, tomato
• Cost: $5
• Pros: soft bread, balanced components
• Cons: chicken could be crunchier and better seasoned

The Classic Mother Cruncher boasted a pillowy soft bun and tender, juicy chicken that could’ve been crunchier. (This one also gave cafeteria chicken patty or frozen chicken nugget.) The pickles were meh and the lettuce and tomato looked a bit pallid. This one wasn’t inedible by any means—just one-note across the board.

• What’s on It: lettuce, tomato, mayo, pickles
• Cost: $6
• Pros: sour pickles, filling
• Cons: dry, thin chicken, not as well-seasoned as the spicy version

I’ve been ordering the spicy iteration at Wendy’s for years, so I had high hopes for the Classic Chicken Sandwich. But unfortunately, the chicken was thin and under seasoned. It wasn’t very juicy and didn’t seem freshly made. The crunchy, sour pickles redeemed it a bit, but the spicy one still reigns supreme in my book. (Also, why doesn’t that one get pickles?)

• What’s on It: lettuce, tomato, mayo
• Cost: $6
• Pros: large piece of juicy, tender chicken
• Cons: mayo could be tangier, sandwich could be better seasoned

It’s 2025—Arby’s does much more than roast beef and deli sandwiches nowadays. As for the chain’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich, the chicken was hefty and very juicy. I found it to be similar to the McDonald’s Deluxe McCrispy (more on that later), but it was kind of bland. I wished the mayo was tangier for a punchier bite.

• What’s on It: lettuce, tomato, mayo
• Cost: $6
• Pros: crispy, large piece of chicken
• Cons: tomato was too thick, messily assembled

Between the standard McCrispy and the Deluxe, the latter had fresher, crispier, better-quality chicken. The mayo was delightfully tart, but I thought the tomatoes were kind of overkill. (Maybe it was just how my sandwich was constructed; it was messy and lopsided.) I also tasted the regular McCrispy, which was cheaper at $4.89 a pop and came with nothing but crinkle-cut pickles. I’ll give this McDonald’s pick points for its no-frills charm and soft bun, but the chicken was soggy.

• What’s on It: mayo, pickles
• Cost: $6
• Pros: large piece of chicken, sour pickles
• Cons: messily assembled, chicken seemed old

This KFC sandwich was massive, but the chicken looked a bit pale and tasted old to me. Its size was a double-edged sword, as it made for a poorly constructed handheld and an awkward eating experience. (Plus, all the mayo was slathered in one spot and the pickles were piled on top of each other.) However, I appreciated the double-breaded crust on the chicken and the pleasantly sour pickles. I felt the breading and toppings would’ve been better suited for a crispy fish sandwich though, in case the Colonel ever feels like branching out.

• What’s on It: dill pickle chips
• Cost: $5
• Pros: crunchy, juicy chicken
• Cons: a touch bland

I’ve never really understood the fuss about Chick-fil-A…and this sammy didn’t change my mind. The O.G. Chicken Sandwich felt soggy on the outside and came with only two pickle chips on top. Yes, the chicken was crunchy, juicy and generously sized, but it could’ve been more robustly seasoned. Don’t get me wrong, it was solid. But despite its appetizing appearance, I found it to be a bit underwhelming. That peach milkshake though? Worth the buzz.  

• What’s on It: lettuce, Cane’s Sauce
• Cost: $8
• Pros: large portion, chicken was very fresh
• Cons: difficult to eat, would be better balanced with pickles, could be more robustly seasoned

Raising Cane’s cult-favorite chicken fingers are hand-battered to order, so the poultry is basically guaranteed to turn out fresh and crispy. That said, I found this sandwich (which includes three chicken fingers) to be harder to eat than sandwiches with a single piece or patty of chicken, and it could’ve been more boldly seasoned. The sweet, ketchup-y Cane’s Sauce pulled a lot of weight in the flavor department, but I felt sour pickles would’ve made it more balanced.

• What’s on It: lettuce, pickles, buttermilk herb mayo
• Cost: $8.50
• Pros: sour pickles, mayo was herbaceous and flavorful, bun was soft and fresh, chicken was tender and crisp
• Cons: small for the price

The Chicken Shack is the most expensive sammy on my list, and it’s mostly worth the price. Although it was comparatively small versus some of its competitors, the Shake Shack chicken was juicy and crispy, the pickles were exceptionally acidic and the ranch-like herby mayo beautifully elevated each bite. I also loved the soft-as-clouds potato bun.

• What’s on It: pickles, lettuce, mayo
• Cost: $6
• Pros: large for the price, well-seasoned breading, chicken was very crisp and fresh
• Cons: toppings could be more evenly applied

Sonic continues to surprise me. (Seriously—the Groovy Fries, which placed second in my ranking of fast food fries, are not to be missed.) The Crispy Chicken Sandwich came with a very wide piece of chicken that overflowed on all sides of the brioche bun. Despite its width, it wasn’t excessively thick or juicy. I loved the very crispy breading; its flavor was slightly sweet and oniony.

• What’s on It: pickles, mayo
• Cost: $5.50
• Pros: great size and quality for the price, balanced flavor, chicken was very fresh, crisp and juicy
• Cons: pickles were a bit thick

Popeye’s started the chicken sandwich wars, and from where I’m sitting, most franchises are trying—and failing—to dethrone it. While I’m partial to the spicy variety, the Classic Chicken Sandwich had the same buttery bun, flawlessly sour pickle chips (which were, admittedly, a smidge thick) and juicy, impossibly crunchy, battered-to-order chicken. The breading was deeply flavorful, but the sammy as a whole was arguably greasier than some of the from-frozen ones on this list, so it may not be your fave if that’s a turn-off for you.

• What’s on It: umami mayo
• Cost: $6
• Pros: very fresh chicken, breading was robustly seasoned, umami mayo was super savory and flavorful
• Cons: none

Yup, this Filipino chain is well worth the hype. The Original Chicken Sandwich was beyond juicy, fresh and generously seasoned. Paired with nothing but savory umami mayo, the chicken’s black pepper-heavy breading shone through every bite. I wouldn’t have been opposed to pickles, lettuce or slaw, but I had zero complaints about this stunner. That said, I didn’t enjoy the fries at all, so I’d get this with adobo rice next time around.