Additional Coverage:
- Top 10 Fast-Food Chicken Chains in America (cheapism.com)
The battle for fast-food chicken supremacy has been a fierce one, with chains across the nation constantly vying for a piece of the poultry pie. From crispy sandwiches to juicy tenders, everyone’s in the game, but who’s truly winning over the taste buds of America? A new study sheds light on customer favorites, and the results might just surprise you.
Affordable Seating recently delved into nearly 10,000 Yelp reviews from 50 major fast-food establishments across the ten largest U.S. cities. By specifically filtering for mentions of “chicken,” researchers aimed to uncover how customers genuinely rate the offerings, moving beyond brand loyalty to actual product satisfaction.
While you might expect the usual suspects like Popeyes or KFC to dominate the top spots, prepare for some unexpected contenders to ruffle a few feathers.
Here are the best fast-food chicken chains in the U.S., according to customers:
10. Checkers / Rally’s
- Locations in Sample: 46
- Chicken-Related Reviews: 185
- Average Rating: 2.84
Checkers, or Rally’s depending on your location, is often celebrated for its unpretentious, flavor-packed fare. Their chicken, noted for its assertive seasoning – perhaps a touch heavy on the paprika – delivers a hot, affordable, and satisfying experience. With 185 chicken-related Yelp reviews, the chain just made it into the top ten with an average rating of 2.84, managing to outrank well-known chicken giants like Wingstop, Popeyes, and McDonald’s.
9. Arby’s
- Locations in Sample: 44
- Chicken-Related Reviews: 93
- Average Rating: 2.88
While Arby’s built its reputation on roast beef, its chicken offerings are quietly making a name for themselves. Customers are indeed ordering and reviewing the chicken, pushing Arby’s to a surprising ninth place. Their chicken sandwich, while not flashy, earns praise for its structural integrity – a low bar, perhaps, but one many competitors fail to clear, making Arby’s a surprisingly competent player in the chicken arena.
8. El Pollo Loco
- Locations in Sample: 32
- Chicken-Related Reviews: 27
- Average Rating: 2.91
El Pollo Loco stands apart from typical fast-food chicken joints, focusing on grilled, citrus-marinated chicken and flavorful rice bowls rather than fried options. This unique approach resonates strongly with its fans, who appreciate the home-cooked taste. Despite only 27 chicken-related reviews meeting the study’s criteria, the passion of its loyal customer base was enough to secure a respectable ranking, outperforming chains with significantly more mentions.
7. Zaxby’s
- Locations in Sample: 22
- Chicken-Related Reviews: 323
- Average Rating: 3.01
Zaxby’s, with its menu centered on chicken fingers, sauced wings, and substantial sandwiches featuring its beloved Zax Sauce, often sparks lively debate among diners. Some hail it as a Southern fried chicken essential, while others remain unconvinced.
A consistent highlight for many reviewers is the chicken’s texture – praised for being minimally processed and maintaining a satisfying crunch. An average rating of just over 3 indicates a solid, if sometimes polarizing, performance.
6. Del Taco
- Locations in Sample: 19
- Chicken-Related Reviews: 64
- Average Rating: 3.05
While Del Taco might not be the first place that comes to mind for chicken, its chicken soft tacos and “epic burritos” clearly have their fans. The generous application of cheese and sauce certainly plays a role in their appeal. With 64 chicken-related reviews contributing to the data, the chain achieved a solid average rating of 3.05.
5. Raising Cane’s
- Locations in Sample: 75
- Chicken-Related Reviews: 2,808
- Average Rating: 3.31
Raising Cane’s prides itself on doing one thing exceptionally well: chicken fingers. Its focused menu, offering various combinations of fingers, fries, toast, coleslaw, and its signature sauce, has garnered a massive following. Despite logging the highest number of chicken-related reviews in the study – a remarkable 2,808 – its average rating of just over 3.3, while good, suggests that even dedicated chicken specialists face tough competition.
4. Bojangles
- Locations in Sample: 8
- Chicken-Related Reviews: 77
- Average Rating: 3.37
For decades, Bojangles has delivered a consistent Southern comfort experience: fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, and signature sides. Their bone-in chicken, known for its thick, peppery crust, is a favorite, though many particularly praise the Cajun Filet Biscuit. While the study included a smaller number of reviews for Bojangles, its solid score reflects its reputation as a dependable, highly-regarded regional favorite, especially in the South.
3. Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers
- Locations in Sample: 48
- Chicken-Related Reviews: 165
- Average Rating: 3.47
Freddy’s is widely recognized for its paper-thin steakburgers and delectable frozen custard. However, its chicken strips have emerged as a surprising “sleeper hit” among customers. Described as crunchy yet remarkably tender and well-seasoned, these strips, served with fries and toast, garnered steady positive reviews, proving that a diversified menu can indeed hide some culinary gems.
2. Shake Shack
- Locations in Sample: 47
- Chicken-Related Reviews: 1,831
- Average Rating: 3.65
It might seem unusual for a burger chain, originally a hot dog cart, to rank so highly for its chicken, but Shake Shack’s commitment to quality shines through. Their chicken sandwich is consistently praised for being thick, juicy, and genuinely flavorful. While the premium price point is noted, many reviewers consider the indulgence well worth it, cementing Shake Shack’s place among the top chicken contenders.
1. Chick-fil-A
- Locations in Sample: 50
- Chicken-Related Reviews: 1,948
- Average Rating: 3.73
This top spot will likely come as no surprise to anyone who has navigated a Chick-fil-A drive-thru on a busy day. The chain commands exceptional customer loyalty, largely thanks to its iconic classic chicken sandwich – a simple yet perfectly executed fried chicken filet on a bun with pickles.
Consistently cooked to perfection with a crispy exterior and tender interior, and holding together impeccably, its appeal lies in its reliable quality and straightforward deliciousness. For many, Chick-fil-A delivers exactly what they expect, every time.
More Fast-Food News
In other local fast-food news, keeping a crowd fed on a budget just got easier, with several chains rolling out new family meal deals this October. Chicken finger enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that Raising Cane’s is set to open six new locations by the end of the month, expanding its reach across the country. And for those who love to dip, Wendy’s has made its “Tendys” a permanent menu fixture, accompanied by six new sauces and larger dipping cups, promising even more dippable delight.
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- Top 10 Fast-Food Chicken Chains in America (cheapism.com)