Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, a love for Wendy’s was almost a prerequisite to call yourself an Ohioan. Dave Thomas, the founder of the restaurant, started his chain in the late 1960s in downtown Columbus. A fun fact about Wendy’s is that the original location on East Broad Street lasted until 2007, and many of us mourned its loss as a cultural and historical treasure when it closed.
Thankfully, you can easily find a Wendy’s not just across America, but across the globe. I’m not a frequent fast food eater, but when I do have it, Wendy’s is my nostalgic pick, as I remember loving the nuggets and breaded chicken sandwiches as a child. The good news is that as a chicken lover, Wendy’s has introduced several options over the last handful of years, totaling 15 on the menu that now features chicken as a primary ingredient. I set out to try all of them and discover what my new favorites might be, as I paid homage to the Wendy’s I was raised on.
15. Crispy Chicken Sandwich
I have to say upfront, the Crispy Chicken Sandwich was the least visually appealing of all of the options, which is a big reason why it’s lower on this list. Its three ingredients are simple: just a breaded chicken patty, shredded lettuce, and mayonnaise. Perhaps because there’s not much to show off, it looked a little limp and smushed. Additionally, on the sandwich I received, the lettuce was almost entirely missing (not that I’m complaining much, given the ongoing Cyclospora outbreak), so I barely had one primary component.
This sandwich was really just chicken, mayo, and bread, which was pretty boring visually and in taste. If you’re a picky eater, you might appreciate the simplicity. However, because of the other more interesting (and better tasting) options on Wendy’s chicken menu, this would be a pass for me in the future. The Crispy Chicken Sandwich has 340 calories, 17 grams of fat, and 15 grams of protein, and rings up around $7 — which I find a bit expensive for such a small sandwich.
14. Apple Pecan Salad
I must disclose a personal bias: I have never liked blue cheese, and I never will. Unfortunately, that is an overwhelming component of the Apple Pecan Salad. Even if you try to eat around it, it still makes the entire salad smell and taste like blue cheese — even the chicken. Now, if you know how to love blue cheese, this salad may be perfect for you! It also comes with grilled chicken, apple slices, dried cranberries, and side packets of roasted pecans and pomegranate vinaigrette dressing, atop a bed of mixed lettuce…