Wednesday, August 19, 2020, marked the one-year anniversary of Popeyes' popular Chicken Sandwich.The sandwich took the world by storm last year from the minute it hit the menu, and the hysteria has yet to die down 365 days later. A man was stabbed to death Monday at a Maryland Popeyes after he apparently cut a line for the restaurant's re-released chicken sandwich and … Write to Raisa Bruner at raisa.bruner@time.com. Ultimately, it’s a simple sandwich; there are only four ingredients. You can @ me. ©2020 Group Nine Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. We put it to the test. If 2019 could be summed up in a sandwich, it would be one made of fried chicken. Did our copycat Popeyes chicken sandwich … The initial bite? Pound the chicken. Both of these sandwiches are fried breaded chicken breasts. After all, it’s not every day that a corporation comes up with a winning product that has garnered pretty much universal acclaim; even the New Yorker gave it a head nod. By signing up you are agreeing to our. It's consistently fresh (yes, I will wait for a new batch of spicy), has a well-seasoned batter, and is always juicy. The pickles were crisp and tart -- enough acidity to cut through the heaviness of the fried chicken and the creamy mayo-based sauce -- without feeling particularly overwhelming. “It’s a moment. The Best Keto Fried Chicken Sandwich. (As for other fast food launches of late — Chick-fil-A who?) KFC Beyond Fried Chicken: KFC is testing a … Partly it is lore: after Popeyes debuted the menu item August, it promptly sold out and inspired a viral, supportive fervor online, exceeding even the most popular of Starbucks seasonal drink releases. Meet the iconic game-changing Popeyes Chicken Sandwich. Bun. But, hey, I'm a pickle fiend and I want a taste of pickles with every bite of chicken. Popeyes is throwing their hat in the fried chicken sandwich ring and consequently dunking on every other fast food fried chicken purveyor out there. The acid in the buttermilk tenderizes the chicken … For those of you ready to riot, let us explain why Popeye’s comes in a close second to the Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich. Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Review: It Was Worth the Hype | Time You know what you’re getting into with a fried chicken sandwich; there will be a squishy bun, some crunchy, salty fried chicken and hopefully something tangy — pickles or a sauce — to balance out all that umami with a little bit of bite. Chick-fil-A responded with its own tweets touting its chicken sandwiches. At first glance it may not look like much, however, since it’s pretty much monochromatic; the orange-y bun, shiny and soft, blends in with the crispy golden brown exterior of the fried chicken within, while maybe a few green pickles and a smudge of sauce peeks out. The chicken sandwich comes in either classic or spicy. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, We Tried the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich and It Lived Up to the Hype. Courtesy of Popeyes. Popeyes, you glorious geniuses you, why didn't you bless the world with this sooner? All Rights Reserved. That's some expensive chicken. They’re similar in price: Popeyes is $3.99; Chick-fil-A is $4.29. I tried chicken sandwiches from eight major fast-food chains, including Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, and KFC. Heavenly. I couldn't help but think where has this been my entire life? We know,” Alarcon admitted. Fried chicken lovers have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Popeyes' beloved fried chicken sandwich for countless months now, and, fortunately, it's finally set to … We all know the storied saga by now: In August, Popeyes announced the addition of two fried chicken sandwiches, Chick-fil-A instigated a feud on Twitter, Popeyes clapped back, and all fried chicken hell broke loose.A fire lit across the internet, and demand for the sandwich skyrocketed across the country, often to the detriment of employees. But these. Right now, you can get a free Popeyes classic or spicy chicken sandwich when you order through the app or online and spend a minimum of $10. Thick, crunchy garlic dill pickles are a must and we created an easy spicy mayo that glues everything together in the best way. Rank: 2. Chick-fil-A, Wendy's and Popeyes are beefing over who has the best chicken sandwich An official Twitter fued has hilariously broken out between these popular restaurants. On Sunday, Popeyes brought back their sandwich to franchises nationwide to the great relief of its legion of salivating fans, and on Monday evening TIME stopped by a special taste test event to give the sandwich a try, in both the spicy and classic flavors. And it's a tiny miracle. Clearly, Popeyes' new chicken sandwich offering is meant to compete with Chick-fil-A's signature sandwich. It’s that perfect piece of Popeyes.”. Chicken. It's so good that a California-based restaurant, Sweet Dixie Chicken, passed off Popeyes chicken as its own. How Popeyes took that simple combination and turned it into a craze is one of the twists of 2019. When Popeyes abruptly sold out of its highly sought-after spicy chicken sandwich in August, hungry fans demanded to know when the viral phenomenon would … We love Popeyes chicken sandwiches. They’re slightly sweet and eggy and have a nice sheen on top. Popeyes might have run out of sandwiches (at least in some locations), but you can still get your hands on one — from the comfort of your home, no less. The spicy version leaves a warm thrill behind — it’s not hot, per se, but it is noticeably warm — while the classic is sweeter, and particularly balanced by the pickles. Chick-fil-A came in third place because while we loved the batter's flavor and seasoning, but the chicken didn't taste as authentic because the chain doesn't offer meat on the bone. Due to its massive demand from loyal and new customers, the Popeyes chicken sandwich has always been sold out. Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich. The sandwich, the myth, the legend: The Popeyes chicken sandwich puts all other fast-food options to shame. Careful not to drool. The Popeyes Sandwich is that person you meet in your prime that has everything you want: the appeal, the … And partly it is decadence: we generally think of fast food as quick, affordable, greasy and often underwhelming. Throw in some tart pickle chips and a creamy, savory Cajun sauce and boom: the Popeyes chicken sandwich is born. (Source: Twitter/@PopeyesChicken) Now take everything good you know about Popeyes chicken and put it between two glorious, soft, sweet buns. Allow the chicken to marinade. Great with a keto bun such as Smart Baking Company; Popeye’s chicken copycat; Packed full of flavor with Louisiana style spices; How To Make Keto Fried Chicken-Step By Step. As a gaggle of reporters awaited our fresh sandwiches, the Popeyes team mingled happily. Meanwhile, chicken sandwich newcomer Popeyes vanquished Wendy's, capturing 69% of the vote, to set up the final round we all expected. And on close inspection, we decided it really does hold up. Tips for The Best Popeyes Chicken Sandwich. It’s larger than your typical fast food burger, measuring five or more inches in diameter, with heft and height. Every ingredient had purpose; the balance was perfect. Popeyes’ customers think highly of the new chicken sandwich, and the online craze about the crispy, juicy chicken is just increasing the hype. We tried fried chicken from Popeyes, Church's, Chick-fil-A, and KFC to see who makes it the best. Popeyes' new fried chicken sandwich, seen here, has triggered an online debate about which fast-food chain serves the best sandwich. Is Popeyes Fried Chicken Sandwich Worth the Hype. Sweet-tasting buns with crunchy, meaty portions of chicken. Make each filet uniform by pouding the chicken to about ½-inch thick. But what really matters? The chicken came out hot, juicy, and well-seasoned. Comedians Rhett & Link try the Popeye's chicken sandwich during their interview with host Jimmy Fallon on October 29, 2019. Who Should Be TIME’s Person of the Year for 2020? Honestly, not really. I, of course, got spicy because tongue-tingling food is the best food, and let me tell you, it was everything I ever dreamed of when I first heard the words "Popeyes chicken sandwich.". For a whopping 43 million dollars. “The bread, the way we buttered the bun with the same topping we use on our biscuits, the seasonings — are [all] consistent with everything else we do. A tender all-white meat chicken breast fillet, marinated in an authentic blend of Louisiana seasonings, hand breaded in our all new buttermilk coating. The reason Popeyes was selling out of the sandwich left and right is because it's truly the best fried chicken sandwich in fast food right now. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email and subscribe here for our YouTube channel to get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun. The only minor thing I would say -- and this is a personal preference -- is that I would've liked a couple more pickles. Warm, toasted buttery brioche bun. Well, first off, everyone already knows that Popeyes makes some of the best fast food fried chicken out there. Starting out with 3 chicken breast you want to shape them if you are using them for a sandwich. Because you’re too busy eating it! Both have two pickle slices. One sandwich was both better and cheaper. What’s most surprising was how much, well, chicken is in the chicken sandwich. What better way to celebrate 500,000 subscribers than making a fried chicken sandwich that rivals the Popeyes chicken sandwich. Make no mistake about it, Popeyes' chicken sandwich has already achieved cult status and seems to be the biggest fast food news story of 2019. “When you talk about the Popeyes sandwich, I call it the best version of ourselves,” Alarcon told TIME, thanks to the fact it pulls from its other popular dishes in flavoring this tone, too. For now, Popeyes is prepared to serve as many sandwiches as eaters can order, especially while the hype lasts. The classic version sports regular chicken with creamy mayonnaise, whereas the spicy version calls for spicy chicken (duh) paired with a flavorful Cajun sauce. Way better but similar. Husband thought they were amazing and mechanic stopped by to work on our car and I gave him one and he said it was the best chicken sandwich … The recipes for Popeyes' signature chicken and other offerings are so important and vital to the success of the restaurant, that after Copeland died, they had to buy them from his family. Discover our menu and order delivery or pick up from a Popeyes near you. I’m glad I didn’t know about them when i was pregnant with my kids or it would have been crazy! Both are on buttery, toasty buns. KFC was the clear loser — their chicken was dry and their batter was bland. Here's How to Have That Conversation With Your Family. First off, you need to know that the sandwich is big. You can taste not just the satisfyingly crunchy fried exterior but also the white meat within, fragrant and tender enough to bite through every time. Will Coronavirus's Disruption of Big Ag Have Lasting Change? Brioche buns are the closest to the ones from Popeye’s. Number of pickles aside, I devoured the entire sandwich in three minutes and had to really contemplate if I needed another one or not. The instantly-famous Popeyes Chicken Sandwich has managed to make quite a stir out of a humble dish. When Popeyes debuted its new crispy chicken sandwich on August 12, 2019, the company was not prepared for the eruption of social media video posts comparing the new sandwich to Chick-fil-A’s classic chicken sandwich. But was the sandwich really worth all that press? You’ll be happy to know that although the sandwich is substantial, it’s the optimal height to bite into without difficulty. The new Popeyes chicken sandwich, right, with chicken sandwiches from Shake Shack (left) and Chick-Fil-A (top). Also present at the tasting: Popeyes’ Head Chef Amy Alarcon, along with Popeyes’ President of Americas, Felipe Athayde, and Head of Marketing North America, Bruno Cardinali. Popeyes is throwing their hat in the fried chicken sandwich ring and consequently dunking on every other fast food fried chicken purveyor out there. Save on the cover price & free e-Gift card for Giftees! But this sandwich, while it will be served up quickly and cheaply at just $3.99 a pop, is not at all greasy or underwhelming. Get access to exclusive coupons. “The best thing anyone says when they try the sandwich for the first time is nothing. The Popeye’s chicken sandwich has a very large chicken breast as the main focus, so be on the lookout for chicken breasts on the thicker side. The buns held up nicely and did a good job of absorbing the grease of the chicken without actually tasting particularly greasy. The sound of silence for a moment is the best response,” she said. Popeyes has perfected the art of fried chicken. And I don't blame them; I have never felt let down by an order of spicy chicken from Popeyes with a mandatory biscuit and honey. Popeyes' sandwiches come pre-sauced (you get a chipotle sauce if you get the spicy and mayo if you get the classic) while Chick-fil-A's come bare, though many add their own sauce. (That said, if the long lines continue, you may want to just hop over to Shake Shack or Wendy’s, which have perfectly good options, too.). Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know now on politics, health and more, © 2020 TIME USA, LLC. The newly launched fried chicken sandwich, the first to hit the chicken chain's national menu, is wowing eaters everywhere, including us. It's served them well, however. Plus, the sandwich fits in to both the broader tradition of fried chicken — a beloved comfort food around the country — and the specific traditions and flavor profiles of Popeyes itself. That’s largely thanks to Popeyes, which released its highly-anticipated chicken sandwich in … It's Time to Rethink Thanksgiving. Vote Now, Melania Trump's Christmas Decorations Gave the Internet the Most Wonderful Memes of the Year, Republicans Attack Joe Biden’s Budget Chief Pick Over Tweets, You can unsubscribe at any time. It’s one of the most popular fast-food menu items around. And at $4 a sandwich, it's not only a steal but easily the best fried chicken sandwich available at fast food restaurants right now. Then you smell it: warm and floury (and, if you opt for the spicy version, with a hint of something more).