I’m going to get right to the point: spicy chicken is just the best. Not that anything you’re about to read will revolutionize the food industry, but spicy chicken, whether it be in the form of a crispy sandwich, grilled sandwich, tenders, a wrap … it’s all great.
I just wanted to make it known how much I love spicy chicken. Moving on, my good friend Brad Schlossman requested a duel between KFC’s Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich vs. Wendy’s spicy chicken sandwich. I got you, Brad, and thank you for the recommendation.
These were two very respectable sandwiches.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that KFC is starting to become underrated. And I’ve been part of the crowd who hasn’t been the kindest to it. Its bone-in chicken isn’t the greatest and is easily outdone by the Popeyes of the world, but its sandwiches and tenders are quite solid.
This sandwich was no exception. I’m generally a fan of Nashville Hot, it’s smoky, spicy and there’s a hint of sweet. Pair that with a crispy chicken patty and finish it with mayo and pickles, and you’ve got a nice product in front of you. KFC’s chicken for the sandwiches is similar to Popeyes, but much smaller. The meat isn’t quite as juicy, but the breading is similar and delightfully crispy.
Wendy’s is one of the great American fast food icons. Both the chicken and burgers are very good. I haven’t had one in a couple years, but the Baconator is a potential Mount Rushmore fast food item for me. So much bacon. So much beef. It’s wonderful.
No Baconator for me in this meal, but the spicy chicken sandwich definitely sufficed. A spicy, crispy chicken patty is topped with lettuce, tomato and mayo and placed on a bun. Simple and delicious. This chicken was surprisingly juicier and was closeish in the level of crisp, though it had a more generic breading. For whatever reason, this combo was really tasty — lettuce, tomato, mayo, spicy chicken.
This is a tough one. Both sandwiches are good in different ways. KFC had the edge in texture and that Nashville sauce was nice, but the Wendy’s sandwich had a juicier piece of chicken and the mayo was a better fit on that sandwich.
Overall, I scored KFC’s a 7.2 and Wendy’s a flat 7. It was very close and both sandwiches were tasty. They weren’t up to the elite level like a Popeyes or Brew Bird, but both sandwiches were respectable and I’d never be dissatisfied with either.
Thanks for tuning in and if you’re new, welcome to Thrills With JMills. I hope you stay awhile, I’ve got big dreams for this thing.
Shoutout again to Schlossman for the recommendation. If that won’t make you want a big, juicy chicken sandwich, I don’t know what will.
Another blog coming Friday. Much love and take care.
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