Popeyes v. Chick-fil-A: Who has the better original chicken sandwich?
What is a sandwich? According to Webster’s, it is “two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in-between.” It’s such a simple concept and yet it has has rocked the entire food industry over the past few weeks.
Last Friday, I was sent on a mission to find the truth about the new rivalry between Chick-Fil-A and Popeye’s. My goal was to find the best chicken sandwich out there, based on the factors of price, taste and overall presentation.
As a Chick-fil-A enthusiast, the bold claim of Popeyes having a better chicken sandwich piqued my interest. Could it be true that a restaurant on the back-burner can triumph over the legacy of Chick-Fil-A?
The fight for the best chicken sandwich broke out over social media, creating a source of entertainment for foodies. Since both restaurants have their own Twitter accounts, followers have kept up with the banter between them, providing an inside scoop into the rivalry.
On Aug. 19, Popeye’s responded to Chick-fil-A’s tweet regarding the people’s love for the original chicken sandwich combo with “…y’all good?” Popeye’s is enjoying the limelight while taking advantage of the free publicity.
In order to settle the debate, I conducted a scientifically-based test. Upon arrival at Popeyes, I noticed a sign on the door which read, “Sandwiches will return at 6 p.m.” The 23-person line buzzed with excitement as time passed. Outside, more than 18 cars waited in the drive-thru. All of the commotion was confirmation that this change of menu was causing drastic shifts in the chicken sandwich leaderboards.
After getting both sandwiches, I placed them side by side. At first glance, it was clear that the Popeye’s sandwich had a bigger piece of chicken which was double-breaded, with thicker pickles and looked more flavorful. The Chick-fil-A sandwich sat lower on the table, the chicken patty sinking into the bun, with thinner pickles and a lack of appeal.
It’s also important to note the respective sauces. The Popeyes’ sandwich came with a classic mayonnaise spread, while the Chick-fil-a sandwich arrived dry, letting you pick your sauce of choice, usually the Chick-fil-A sauce.
I evaluated the sandwiches on a 1-10 scale below:
Popeyes Chick Fil A
Price: $3.99 Price: $3.05
Taste: 9/10 Taste: 7/10
Presentation: 9/10 Presentation: 6/10
While I dug into the sandwiches, a member of the Azusa Pacific community sat next to me. Alvin Balatbat, a senior data systems administrator, expressed true enthusiasm in favor of the Popeye’s sandwich.
“The last two weeks have been more difficult for these workers, than me doing all of the scheduling at APU,” he said.
Since their chicken sandwich was released, Popeyes employees have dealt with long lines and hordes of angry customers. Curiosity has clearly piqued the interest of numerous fast food lovers, as Popeyes has run out of their chicken sandwich just two weeks after releasing the new item. However, Kat Thompson of Thrillist believe Popeyes is creating suspense without actually being out of the product to outduel Chick-fil-A.
So, what have we learned from this experience?
- Chicken sandwiches are great.
- Chick-fil-A and Popeye’s are also great.
- A friendly rivalry between companies is good for the companies and the public.
- The ongoing battle for the tastiest sandwich is far from over.
Finally, as a loyal Chick-fil-A fan, it takes me a lot to say that overall, Popeye’s chicken sandwich triumphs.