Review: Popeyes Chicken Sandwich

With its roots in the deep south of Louisiana, Popeyes has been serving southern-fried chicken to its customers for nearly 50 years. Their Bonafide Chicken has been their top-selling menu item for as long as they’ve offered it. That is until Popeye’s introduced its chicken sandwich that broke the internet and caused “chicken fights” between franchises everywhere. 

There is a huge market of customers who crave a flavorful sandwich but prefer not to eat burgers, so the chicken sandwich is in high demand at fast food and casual dining restaurants worldwide. Popeyes recognized that with its world-famous buttermilk batter recipe and with the high demand for sandwiches, they were in an excellent position to be a dominant player in the chicken sandwich game. 

What Inspired Popeyes’ Chicken Sandwich?

Well, if you’ve been around the internet at all in the last six months, you’ll remember the huge rival between The Popeyes Chicken Sandwich and the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, and for good reason – they are served with the same ingredients. Now we can say that’s just coincidence, but I think it was on purpose – the simpler the better! 

There’s nothing revolutionary about the new Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich, but because of the similarities, customers and fans had a hay day all over social media, comparing and critiquing sandwiches between franchises. In the end, this worked out well for all the top players as sales for Popeyes’, Chick-Fil a’s, and Wendy’s chicken sandwiches all shot up.

What Are My Chicken Sandwich Options?

Popeye’s offers two versions of their Chicken Sandwich – Classic and Spicy. Both are served with a crispy chicken breast, pickle slices, and creamy mayonnaise, between a lightly-buttered Brioche bun. The Classic version is served with creamy mayo. The Spicy version is served with a spicy mayo that has a savory Cajun kick to it. Not to distract from the chicken’s crispy perfection, the spice is in the sauce, not in the chicken batter. 

Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Review

Popeyes’ Classic Chicken Sandwich is a juicy all-white chicken breast fillet coated in Popeyes’ signature Louisiana blend of seasonings and drenched in a buttermilk breading. Served with creamy mayonnaise and slices of crunchy tangy pickles, it’s sandwiched between a buttery brioche bun. Maybe it sounds simple, but does it live up to the hype it’s created?

1.      Taste and Texture [5/5]

I’ve always been a fan of Popeyes Bonafide Chicken, and the fact that I can now enjoy this crispy chicken as a sandwich on the go is a huge plus for me. It’s not as messy either, as it comes wrapped in wax paper to catch any drips; and then it’s served hot inside a paper wrapper lined with foil, so if you want to keep your sandwich fresh during a commute, you sure can. 

This buttermilk-battered chicken filet is particularly delicious. The meat is surprisingly juicy, but not greasy. The breading is crispy and thick – thick enough to hold the moisture in the chicken breast, but not too thick that it overwhelms your mouth and overpowers the chicken. The breading is perfectly-seasoned with their Louisiana blend. It gives it a peppery paprika flavor with a touch of cumin. Its crispiness is probably the best part. If a piece of crisp falls off your sandwich, it’s like an extra treat- you know, like the small crispy fries you find at the bottom of an order of fries. 

I love the simplicity of the mayonnaise, though I prefer the spicy version because I like heat to my sandwiches. I also love the pickle slices as I love the fresh, crispy bite that veggies and fresh toppings add to a sandwich. There are no other veggies or sauces served with this sandwich. However, you could ask for a side of any of Popeyes signature dipping sauces including Sweet Heat, Bayou Buffalo, Blackened Ranch,  Mardi Gras Mustard, Ranch, or BBQ. I like the Sweet Heat and the Mardi Gras Mustard. 

2. Are they Healthy? [2/5]

If we are comparing chicken sandwiches (which, let’s be honest, we all are), Popeyes version has 700 calories as compared to Chick-fil-A’s chicken sandwich with 440 calories. Wendy’s chicken sandwich with 330 calories. If you’re counting carbs or calories, it’s not the healthiest meal choice, but I’m one for sacrificing a calorie count for a good sandwich. 

In case you have dietary or allergy restrictions, it’s good to note that Popeyes Classic Chicken Sandwich contains soybean, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, milk, and MSG.

3. Are they Worth it? [5/5]

The price of Popeyes Classic Chicken Sandwich is comparable to other franchises – right around $4. The portion size is generous, and the thickness of the buttermilk-battered breast is bigger than its competitors. Its cajun spice blend in the batter gives it the perfect southern flavor, and the meat is juicy. I appreciate that the sandwich isn’t greasy, and when I’m finished eating it, I feel full, not heavy. It’s a simple, tasty sandwich for a great price.

Final Verdict

I enjoy Popeyes Chicken Sandwich. It’s filling, flavorful, juicy, and fresh. The bread is perfectly soft and lightly buttered, and the price is just right. For an afternoon or early evening meal on the go, this is a top favorite. Add a sweet tea and a side of Sweet and Spicy Red Beans and Rice, and you’ll be one happy southern-fried chicken customer. 

Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Nutrition

These are the basic nutritional values for the Classic Chicken Sandwich. For a full list of nutrition information, you can visit here our Popeyes nutrition page. For allergen information, you can visit here.

Calories: 700
Fat: 42 g
Carbs: 50 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 28 g
Cholesterol: 88 mg
Sodium: 1,460 mg

What do you think?

Does Popeyes’ Chicken Sandwich live up to all the hype it’s received the last few months? Is it the chicken sandwich to top all chicken sandwiches? Or does it have some catching up to do? We’d love to hear your favorite dipping sauce too. Leave us a comment below!