New Study Reveals the No. 1 Chicken Sandwich Chain in America
In 2019, Popeyes and Chick-fil-A launched the spicy chicken sandwich wars that spawned chicken shortages across the United States.
Six years later, Yelp revealed that searches for “chicken sandwiches” have increased by 125 percent. The popular restaurant review platform compiled the top 20 chicken sandwich chains across the country to dive into the growing trend.
"Move over, burgers – America’s love affair with chicken sandwiches is hotter than ever," Yelp said in a press release. "Whether it’s a fiery Nashville-style filet, a buttermilk-brined classic, or a saucy chicken finger, these crispy creations have taken center stage on menus across the country."
The No. 1 chicken sandwich chain in the country isn't going to surprise anyone, but much of the top 10 will likely induce a few questionable faces. For the purposes of the study, Yelp considers a chain as any restaurant with more than 100 “historical” locations across multiple states.
Chick-fil-A landed the top spot, but McDonald's remains arguably the most popular go-to for a chicken sandwich across the country. The Golden Arches, though, only made it to No. 9 on the list, but could see a rise in popularity once again when it reintroduces the snack wrap on July 10.
Here's the full list from Food & Wine:
- Chick-fil-A
- Dave’s Hot Chicken
- Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
- Shake Shack
- Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
- Habit Burger & Grill
- Denny’s
- Wingstop
- McDonald’s
- Zaxby’s
- Jack in the Box
- Dairy Queen
- Slim Chickens
- Burger King
- Wendy’s
- Sonic Drive-In
- Bojangles
- KFC
- Arby’s
- Church’s Chicken
“One of the interesting findings is that, while national brands like McDonald’s and Popeye’s appear everywhere, certain regional favorites have built incredibly loyal followings,” Tara Lewis, Yelp’s vice president of community expansion told Food & Wine.
“Zaxby’s sees popularity in the South and Midwest, reflecting deep roots and loyal following in the region. It all comes down to consumers wanting to stay loyal to a brand that consistently delivers great products and innovates its recipes, making them want to come back for more.”