In a chicken-tender battle between Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s, the rooster chain could possibly be thought of the heavyweight.
Chick-fil-A’s tenders have been a mainstay of its menu for years, and the chain has a military of devoted followers, lots of whom are Gen Z, a key market that fast-food and casual-dining chains are focusing on.
However McDonald’s is popping out swinging. It launched its new McCrispy Strips on Might 5, marking the primary time rooster strips have been on the menu for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic.
I made a decision to match the chains’ rooster tender meals to see if McDonald’s is a severe contender within the chicken-tender battle — and if it’d even lure some Chick-fil-A followers away.
This is how rooster tender meals from McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A evaluate when it comes to style and worth.
McDonald’s just lately launched rooster strips as a part of its McCrispy line of merchandise, which additionally consists of the chain’s rooster sandwich.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
In a comparability of Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s rooster sandwiches, I ranked the McDonald’s model greater than Chick-fil-A, so I used to be desirous to see if the burger chain’s rooster strips might additionally beat out the legacy rooster chain.
I ordered a four-piece rooster strip meal, which got here with a medium order of fries, a medium drink, and two sauces. I selected the chain’s creamy chili sauce, which was launched alongside the rooster strips for pairing.
For my drink, I ordered a Eating regimen Coke from each chains.
The price of my meal at McDonald’s got here to $16.59, excluding tax and costs.
The rooster strips got here in a cardboard carton.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The rooster strips have been giant and evenly coated in crispy breading. In contrast to different chains’ rooster tenders, these ones would not precisely be described as flaky. They’re extra just like a really lengthy rooster nugget.
The rooster strips differ barely from the chain’s buttermilk crispy tenders, which have been discontinued in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic.
Till now, rooster tenders have didn’t return to menus, regardless of followers’ pleas to deliver them again.
Every chew was evenly coated in well-seasoned, peppery breading. The strips paired excellently with the creamy chili dipping sauce.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The chain’s new creamy chili sauce was created to go along with the brand new rooster strips, and so they paired properly.
The sauce tasted just like a Sriracha aioli and added simply the correct quantity of spice with out being too overwhelming. The creamy dipping sauce clung to each crevice of the rooster strip, making certain most taste.
The meat contained in the tender was a little bit missing, nonetheless.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
In a grasp rating of 11 fast-food rooster tenders, I ranked McDonald’s rooster tenders greater than Chick-fil-A’s. Nevertheless, upon a second attempt, I wasn’t so positive.
The rooster tenders have been barely thinner and had much less shreddable rooster than I remembered from my first style check, suggesting the standard could possibly be topic to alter primarily based on the batch you get. Nevertheless, I nonetheless actually loved them.
The meal additionally got here with fries and a drink.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
Although some may argue that every one Eating regimen Cokes style the identical, I disagree. I am an enormous fan of McDonald’s Eating regimen Coke, which comes with simply the correct quantity of ice and is all the time completely refreshing.
The fries additionally impressed me — they have been salty and crispy, and in addition paired properly with the creamy chili dipping sauce.
I additionally ordered a four-piece rooster tender meal from Chick-fil-A.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
Chick-fil-A has been promoting its beloved rooster tenders since 1989, although it did not launch the chain’s signature sauce till the early 2000s.
The meal value $19.89, excluding tax and costs. It got here with a medium drink, a medium order of waffle fries, and three sauces.
The rooster tenders have been evenly fried, however coated with unfastened, flaky items of breading.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
At first look, these tenders have been noticeably thicker than the McDonald’s rooster strips.
Additionally they had a lighter, extra golden colour to them moderately than the almost-brown colour of the fried rooster strips from McDonald’s.
The rooster strips paired properly with the chain’s signature sauce.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The sauce was creamy and tangy, however did not have the identical kick because the chili sauce from McDonald’s.
The rooster tenders actually impressed me.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
They have been crunchy but crammed with thick, juicy shreds of rooster meat. I used to be stunned to search out I truly most well-liked the rooster tenders from Chick-fil-A over those from McDonald’s.
The seasoning was peppery, just like the breading on the McDonald’s strips, however it had a barely briny taste, including much more taste. The rooster tenders have been additionally a lot thicker, making the meal barely extra filling.
The meal got here with crispy waffle fries.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The waffle fries have been crispy but pillowy — the potato inside appeared fluffier than the potato in McDonald’s fries, which have been extra closely fried.
They have been additionally an excellent automobile for the Chick-fil-A sauce — I used to be in a position to virtually scoop it up with the fries, which was mouthwatering.
I needed to give the win to Chick-fil-A, although I nonetheless thought McDonald’s supplied wonderful worth.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
I most well-liked Chick-fil-A’s thick and juicy rooster tenders to McDonald’s’s extra closely fried, crispy tenders.
I additionally favored the fluffy waffle fries within the Chick-fil-A meal greater than the crunchy fries from McDonald’s. They have been a greater automobile for the chain’s signature sauce.
Nevertheless — stunning, I do know — I truly most well-liked the creamy chili sauce from McDonald’s. It packed extra taste than the Chick-fil-A sauce, because of the slight kick from the chili peppers, however it was nonetheless creamy sufficient to evenly coat the rooster strips.
When it got here right down to worth, I assumed McDonald’s received. The Chick-fil-A meal was over $3 dearer than the McDonald’s meal. When it comes to worth, it had the rooster chain beat.
When it comes to taste, although, I needed to give the win to Chick-fil-A’s thick, flavorful, and briny tenders.