There's just something about a fast food chicken sandwich that sparks cravings and gets our mouths watering, and we're not the only ones who love them. Some have proven so popular, they have their own fan pages – and people have launched campaigns to bring discontinued and limited-edition items back for good. The 2019 launch of Popeyes' Chicken Sandwich had emotions running so high that it sparked what became known as the 'chicken sandwich wars', with each chain battling to serve the best. To settle the debate once and for all, we’ve ranked the top fast food chicken sandwiches through the decades, counting down to the best of all time.

25. McChicken Sandwich

The McChicken Sandwich originally launched in 1980, and was met with a lukewarm reception; McChicken Nuggets, released a year later, proved much more popular. However, its relaunch in 1988 was far more successful, and it’s been a classic menu choice ever since. Consisting of crispy coated chicken with ‘sandwich sauce’ and lettuce in a soft seeded bun, it’s a simple yet effective chicken sandwich.

24. Sonic Slinger,

Launched in 2021, the Sonic Slinger is a staple menu item at popular US drive-thru chain Sonic. A crispy chicken fillet with lettuce, pickles and mayo served up in a brioche bun, the Slinger is simple, but packed full of flavour. It’s also consistently named as one of the healthiest chicken burgers on the market.

23. Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Burger King

Burger King became the first major fast food chain to launch a grilled chicken sandwich in 1990 – six months before Wendy’s, and four years before McDonald’s. Known as the BK Broiler in the States, it was one of the most successful fast food launches ever, although it was discontinued in 2019 after several recipe and name changes. Now available in Cyprus and the Caribbean, it consists of flame-grilled chicken, lettuce, tomatoes and mayo (or honey and mustard sauce), all served in a seven-inch sesame bun.

22. Gochujang Chicken Sandwich, Shake Shack

This Korean-style chicken sandwich, first served in South Korean branches of Shake Shack, launched as a limited edition in the US in 2021. Following huge success, it then appeared in UK branches, before arriving on Hong Kong menus in 2022. It featured a crispy chicken breast glazed with gochujang (a Korean paste made with red chilli peppers, sticky rice, fermented soybeans and salt), topped with toasted sesame seeds and slathered in a white kimchi slaw. Now Shake Shack’s burger menu always features a limited-edition chicken burger, but it’s yet to be seen whether the much-loved Gochujang Chicken Sandwich will make a comeback.

21. Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Wendy’s

Consisting of herb-marinated chicken breast topped with mayo, crisp lettuce and tomato, all slipped inside a toasted bun, Wendy's Grilled Chicken Sandwich launched in 1990 and quickly became a popular menu item. It's a healthier choice than a fried chicken burger, so it came as a surprise when Wendy’s removed it from its US menus in April 2023, replacing it with the Grilled Chicken Ranch Wrap. There are already petitions to bring it back in the USA, but it’s still available in the UK.

20. Double Down Burger, KFC

All chicken and no bun, the Double Down left fans in a frenzy in March 2023 when rumours suggested it was returning to the UK after a 10-year hiatus. Sadly for Brits, it actually reappeared on US menus for a limited time instead. Originally launched in 2010, the Double Down sandwiches bacon, cheese and BBQ sauce between two pieces of crispy fried chicken. It generated 'more buzz than any test market item in KFC history', and the UK KFC website teases that the burger will ‘be back soon’.

19. Cluck Sandwich, Jack in the Box

Cult American burger joint Jack in the Box has the highest search volume of any US fast food chain not already in the UK, with Brits desperate to try one of its iconic sandwiches. Jack in the Box joined the so-called 'chicken sandwich wars' with the December 2020 launch of its Cluck Sandwich: a crispy chicken fillet slathered in the chain's 'Mystery Sauce', served in a brioche bun with pickle slices.

18. Chicken Sandwich, Jollibee

Filipino fast food chain Jollibee is so well-loved that people queued for seven hours when its flagship UK store opened in Leicester Square, London, in May 2021. Its Chicken Sandwich – double hand-breaded crunchy breast fillet, lettuce and garlic mayo in a toasted brioche bun –launched in September 2021, and chicken burger fans say it’s one of the best they’ve ever tasted.

17. McCrispy, McDonald’s

The McCrispy became the first permanent chicken sandwich addition to McDonald's menu in 15 years when it launched in October 2022, landing in various markets including the US, UK and Canada. It consists of a crunchy chicken breast fillet, marinated in black pepper and cayenne, and served simply in an artisan sourdough bun with iceberg lettuce and black pepper mayo. The McCrispy, which replaced the much-loved Chicken Legend, launched with a star-studded advert featuring British celebrities Maya Jama and Keith Lemon, but received mixed reviews from fans on Twitter.

#KarensDiner #Dublin #Restaurant