I tried the McDonald's answer to Chick-fil-A next to the real thing, and the winner is obvious
Whose fried-chicken sandwich will emerge as the chicken supreme?Hollis Johnson
In parts of the country, you can't mention a chicken sandwich without invoking praise for Chick-fil-A.
Its sandwich has reigned supreme for a while, and McDonald's is taking notice.
The iconic fast-food burger chain overhauled its chicken sandwich with a new buttermilk recipe that has received some positive feedback.
I grew up in New Hampshire and went to college in Boston — which has famously banned Chick-fil-A — so I've never truly tried a Chick-fil-A sandwich.
Luckily, the much-anticipated new location in New York City sent us a sample ahead of the opening on October 3, so I decided to put the two chicken-sandwich rivals to the ultimate test.
View As: One Page Slides
So here they are, safe, sound, and steaming hot in their respective packages.
Hollis Johnson
McDonald's clearly pushes the descriptions of the food a bit more, while Chick-fil-A relies simply on its name to get the idea of tender crispy chicken across.
Hollis Johnson
Let the chicken championship commence!
Hollis Johnson
The McDonald's offering has cooled a bit in its cardboard box, while Chick-fil-A's insulated baggie keeps the sandwich steaming hot, even after being delivered to our offices.
Hollis Johnson
Out of the package, McDonald's has an early advantage: The sandwich is prettier. Bright green lettuce and a substantial tomato slice peek out from under a fancy bun, while Chick-fil-A's chicken sits humbly on a bed of tiny pickle slices between an average bun.
Hollis Johnson
Buns off for a closer inspection. Chick-fil-A's sandwich, on the left, is slightly smaller than the one from McDonald's — and the chicken sure looks different.
Hollis Johnson
Way different. Chick-fil-A's breading looks more natural; McDonald's almost looks as though it's trying too hard to be fried chicken.
Hollis Johnson
Chick-fil-A isn't breaded all that much. It's really just enough to get the idea of fried chicken across — nothing super crispy.
Hollis Johnson
McDonald's, on the other hand, is ultra-crispy-looking. It's in the name, after all: Buttermilk Crispy Chicken. The breading is darker, more noticeably textured. Also, that piece of lettuce is huge, right?
Hollis Johnson
Bun quality is key here. The McDonald's bun looks amazing, but it's easily smushed and tastes slightly sweet. There's definitely a lot of sugar in that. Chick-fil-A's bun is a modest, sturdy, Plain Jane bun — nothing more, nothing less.
Hollis Johnson
I've done all the pre-taste inspections I can. They seem to be equals up to this point, although McDonald's looks more appetizing.
Hollis Johnson
I take a bite of McDonald's, and I know what to expect. The chicken is adequately good, with decent seasoning and lots of crunch. It managed to do a good job with the chicken-recipe revamp ...
Hollis Johnson
... but almost always too much mayonnaise. Why must these sandwiches drown in gallons of mayo? The sweetish bun and the slightly tart buttermilk seasoning are a nice combo, but the overload of mayonnaise is a little gross. But we're not talking gourmet here — we're talking McDonald's, right?
Hollis Johnson
A bite into Chick-fil-A, and suddenly I see the light. This sandwich is completely deserving of the fervent praise it gets. The chicken is thick and juicy — compare this to the thickness of McDonald's — and the pickles add a perfectly piquant hint of vinegar. Nothing but bun, chicken, and pickles here, and it's glorious.
Hollis Johnson
In my mind, the winner is clear. Chick-fil-A's simple approach to the chicken sandwich eclipses the McDonald's attempts to make its look nice. The simple taste and visible quality easily crown Chick-fil-A the champion of this chicken showdown.
Hollis Johnson
Read the original article on Business Insider. Copyright 2016. Follow Business Insider on Twitter.
- Sep. 7, 2016, 8:23 AM
- 55,944
In parts of the country, you can't mention a chicken sandwich without invoking praise for Chick-fil-A.
Its sandwich has reigned supreme for a while, and McDonald's is taking notice.
The iconic fast-food burger chain overhauled its chicken sandwich with a new buttermilk recipe that has received some positive feedback.
I grew up in New Hampshire and went to college in Boston — which has famously banned Chick-fil-A — so I've never truly tried a Chick-fil-A sandwich.
Luckily, the much-anticipated new location in New York City sent us a sample ahead of the opening on October 3, so I decided to put the two chicken-sandwich rivals to the ultimate test.
View As: One Page Slides
So here they are, safe, sound, and steaming hot in their respective packages.
Hollis Johnson
McDonald's clearly pushes the descriptions of the food a bit more, while Chick-fil-A relies simply on its name to get the idea of tender crispy chicken across.
Hollis Johnson
Let the chicken championship commence!
Hollis Johnson
The McDonald's offering has cooled a bit in its cardboard box, while Chick-fil-A's insulated baggie keeps the sandwich steaming hot, even after being delivered to our offices.
Hollis Johnson
Out of the package, McDonald's has an early advantage: The sandwich is prettier. Bright green lettuce and a substantial tomato slice peek out from under a fancy bun, while Chick-fil-A's chicken sits humbly on a bed of tiny pickle slices between an average bun.
Hollis Johnson
Buns off for a closer inspection. Chick-fil-A's sandwich, on the left, is slightly smaller than the one from McDonald's — and the chicken sure looks different.
Hollis Johnson
Way different. Chick-fil-A's breading looks more natural; McDonald's almost looks as though it's trying too hard to be fried chicken.
Hollis Johnson
Chick-fil-A isn't breaded all that much. It's really just enough to get the idea of fried chicken across — nothing super crispy.
Hollis Johnson
McDonald's, on the other hand, is ultra-crispy-looking. It's in the name, after all: Buttermilk Crispy Chicken. The breading is darker, more noticeably textured. Also, that piece of lettuce is huge, right?
Hollis Johnson
Bun quality is key here. The McDonald's bun looks amazing, but it's easily smushed and tastes slightly sweet. There's definitely a lot of sugar in that. Chick-fil-A's bun is a modest, sturdy, Plain Jane bun — nothing more, nothing less.
Hollis Johnson
I've done all the pre-taste inspections I can. They seem to be equals up to this point, although McDonald's looks more appetizing.
Hollis Johnson
I take a bite of McDonald's, and I know what to expect. The chicken is adequately good, with decent seasoning and lots of crunch. It managed to do a good job with the chicken-recipe revamp ...
Hollis Johnson
... but almost always too much mayonnaise. Why must these sandwiches drown in gallons of mayo? The sweetish bun and the slightly tart buttermilk seasoning are a nice combo, but the overload of mayonnaise is a little gross. But we're not talking gourmet here — we're talking McDonald's, right?
Hollis Johnson
A bite into Chick-fil-A, and suddenly I see the light. This sandwich is completely deserving of the fervent praise it gets. The chicken is thick and juicy — compare this to the thickness of McDonald's — and the pickles add a perfectly piquant hint of vinegar. Nothing but bun, chicken, and pickles here, and it's glorious.
Hollis Johnson
In my mind, the winner is clear. Chick-fil-A's simple approach to the chicken sandwich eclipses the McDonald's attempts to make its look nice. The simple taste and visible quality easily crown Chick-fil-A the champion of this chicken showdown.
Hollis Johnson
Read the original article on Business Insider. Copyright 2016. Follow Business Insider on Twitter.
