The Snack Wrap is formally again after years of anticipation.
McDonald’s Snack Wraps returned to nationwide menus on July 10 after virtually a decade of followers begging for his or her comeback.
The wraps, that are a fan-favorite amongst McDonald’s clients, disappeared from many menus in 2016 earlier than being formally discontinued by the chain in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to downsize menus.
Since then, different chains, from Burger King to Popeyes, have launched their very own hen wraps to fill the void for purchasers nonetheless hungry for the beloved Snack Wraps.
And now, it is an all-out hen wrap battle.
Upon the discharge of McDonald’s new Snack Wraps, Popeyes — which launched its personal lineup of wraps in June — marketed a promotion to offer away a hen wrap with any buy of $5 or extra till July 13.
Each chains’ wraps have the same value level. However which chain is poised to win the wrap wars?
I attempted McDonald’s and Popeyes’ lineup of hen wraps to find out which one was most price snacking on. This is how they in contrast.
The Snack Wraps featured a thick tortilla.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
Each the spicy and ranch Snack Wraps are made with McDonald’s new hen tenders, shredded lettuce, and shredded cheese.
The ranch model appeared on McDonald’s authentic lineup of Snack Wraps.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
This time, nonetheless, it is made with the chain’s new hen tenders, which launched in Could.
The ranch sauce was wealthy and flavorful, and coated each inch of the hen tender, tortilla, and toppings.
The ranch wrap tasted gentle, however nonetheless had a considerable quantity of taste.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The creamy ranch balanced out the fresh-tasting lettuce and the crispy hen tender, whereas the tortilla held all of it collectively for simple snacking on the go.
The spicy Snack Wrap is made with a brand new spicy-pepper sauce.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
That is the most recent iteration of the Snack Wrap. When Snack Wraps first left the menu in 2016, they have been accessible with a ranch or honey-mustard sauce.
Once I opened this wrap, a fairly beneficiant quantity of sauce was slathered on the hen tenders, shredded cheese, and shredded lettuce.
The hen tender was crispy, whereas the lettuce added freshness.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
I used to be impressed by the dimensions of those wraps. Regardless of being snack-sized, I discovered one of many wraps filling sufficient for a fast and straightforward lunch.
The spicy sauce did pack a punch — it did not depart my mouth tingling from the warmth, but it surely had sufficient kick to justify the spicy identify.
That stated, I want there had been extra sauce. Some bites have been utterly dry and lacked any of the spicy, savory sauce.
I might see why the McDonald’s Snack Wraps are so standard.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
For a fast, moderately wholesome lunch, these wraps ship. Crispy hen, daring flavors, and a budget-friendly value — no surprise followers have been demanding their comeback for years.
I attempted Popeyes’ lineup of wraps to see if they may maintain a candle to the enduring Snack Wraps.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The wraps are priced at $3.99, excluding tax. They’re accessible in three totally different flavors: basic, spicy, and honey mustard.
Popeyes would not have customized wrappings for every form of wrap. As an alternative, the totally different flavors have been written in pen on the paper wrapping.
Just like the Snack Wraps, these hen wraps are available a tortilla. Nonetheless, I most popular the one used at McDonald’s.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
Whereas the McDonald’s tortilla was thick and held the wraps collectively completely, the wraps I obtained from Popeyes have been made a bit extra haphazardly.
I used to be frightened that if I have been actually on the go, they may disintegrate.
The basic hen wrap from Popeyes is made with mayonnaise.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The wrap is made with one in every of Popeyes’ hen tenders, mayonnaise, shredded cheese, lettuce, and pickles.
The basic wrap’s taste profile, because of the mayonnaise and crunchy pickle slices, considerably jogged my memory of the chain’s well-known hen sandwich.
The wrap might have used a contact extra taste.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
Whereas I believed the hen tender was crunchy and juicy, and I liked the addition of the pickles, the mayonnaise lacked taste in comparison with McDonald’s ranch-smothered wrap.
Popeyes additionally has a honey-mustard model.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
McDonald’s used to promote a honey-mustard model of its Snack Wrap, however that taste did not make its means again onto menus this time round.
I liked the marginally spicy taste of the honey-mustard wrap.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
The pickles and tangy honey mustard packed plenty of taste into this wrap, whereas the hen tender was thick and filling.
I’d like to see McDonald’s deliver again a honey mustard model of its Snack Wrap to check the 2.
General, I most popular Popeyes’ spicy hen wrap to McDonald’s Snack Wrap. However the tortilla let me down.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
Whereas the McDonald’s tortilla was thick and had a wheaty taste, the Popeyes tortilla tasted noticeably dry and bland.
Nonetheless, when it got here to the opposite components of the spicy wraps — from the lettuce to the quantity of sauce — I believed Popeyes far surpassed McDonald’s.
The spicy sauce utterly coated each inch of the wrap.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
It packed sufficient warmth to be each flavorful and manageable, and the pickles added the proper steadiness of texture.
Out of all 5 wraps I attempted from each chains, that is the one I am dying to order once more.
The hen wraps from Popeyes did measure as much as the Snack Wraps, however fell quick in a couple of areas.
Erin McDowell/Enterprise Insider
Whereas I am nonetheless dreaming about Popeyes’ spicy hen wrap, the chain total fell quick in comparison with McDonald’s when it comes to worth and the standard of the tortilla used within the wraps.
Popeyes’ hen wraps price $1 greater than the Snack Wraps, however they’re fairly comparable when it comes to measurement and elements.
I preferred the addition of pickles within the Popeyes wraps and the sheer quantity of sauce used within the spicy wrap, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to justify the upper price ticket.
Whereas I am going to undoubtedly order each chains’ hen wraps once more, I walked away considering that the Snack Wrap is iconic for a purpose. Different chains’ makes an attempt to duplicate its magic are in for an uphill battle.
