It seems that wraps are slowly but surely taking over the world of fast food. The trend McDonald’s started, by wrapping a chicken strip with lettuce, cheese and sauce inside a warm flour tortilla, has been followed by similar items from KFC, Wendy’s and Sonic. Recently Burger King joined the game too, but instead of using chicken they’re offering a breakfast wrap with egg, bacon, cheese and hash browns.

A few days ago, John reviewed the Cheesy Bacon Wrapper from Burger King, and last month I reviewed McDonald’s Chipotle BBQ Snack Wrap. A couple weeks ago I also reviewed a side order of the same Red Beans and Rice used in this new item.

Now there’s another player in this war of the wraps, as Popeyes has just entered the contest with their brand new “Loaded Chicken Wrap”. After eating it the past two nights in a row, I’m comfortable saying they have a winner on their hands. Featuring a spicy chicken strip, red beans and rice, wrapped inside a cheddar cheese tortilla. This wrap tastes great, and it’s filling, with more food than a snack wrap from McDonald’s.

Don’t adjust your monitor, the tortilla is indeed yellow. Despite the color, it doesn’t actually have a very strong cheese flavor, and I was hoping for a bit more cheddar goodness. That’s my only real complaint. The chicken is juicy, tender and flavorful, with a crisp breading on the outside. It has a slightly spicy kick, and the strip itself is a good size. The red beans and rice are very good, a great compliment for the chicken, and make this wrap surprisingly hearty and satisfying for being relatively small.

On both occasions, there was plenty of red beans and rice surrounding the chicken, creating a noticeably bigger, thicker wrap than some of the competitors offer. They’re wonderful as-is, without any sauce, but I found that adding Popeyes hot sauce (which comes in small packets) pushed these over the top into mouthwatering territory.

The new Loaded Chicken Wrap from Popeyes is excellent. Not just another wrap, but something with a unique flavor and combination of ingredients. Like the Chipotle BBQ wrap from McDonald’s, I enjoyed every bite and wanted more. They’re both great, and I’d have trouble picking one over the other, though Popeyes has an edge in size.

Price: $1.49 / Website: Popeyes.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Popeyes, Loaded Chicken Wrap.

The company has not yet published the nutrition information for this new item. Fast Food Critic makes a point of including the nutrition facts with every food review, and will update this once the facts become available.

What is a boneless chicken wing? It’s not a wing at all, but a chunk of breast meat. So why do they call them wings? I suppose because traditional wings (actual wing pieces from a chicken, that also include the bone) have become such a popular item over the past few years, it’s more fashionable than calling them nuggets or something else. They even cut and shape them to look like real, natural wings. Personally I find it odd, but most people I’ve talked to don’t share my fascination with it, so I will move on.

These chunks of chicken are marinated in KFC’s own blend of seasoning, then lightly breaded and deep fried. The meat inside is almost always tender and juicy, and I’ve rarely had any wings I would consider to be dry. After their cooked, they get smothered in sauce. In this case, it’s Fiery Buffalo, a tangy and spicy flavor with a medium amount of heat. KFC says — “it’s a blend of 7 different peppers with a hint of vinegar”.

If you’ve eaten spicy buffalo wings at other restaurants, there’s no real surprises here, but I should warn those who haven’t experienced such a sauce before, that the first couple bites can be a little shocking. If your taste buds were asleep, they will definitely be awoken after you’ve eaten your first wing. There’s also an aftertaste that can linger for hours, and sometimes even numb your mouth to other flavors.

The chicken itself tastes good, with the same flavor and character as the strips used on the snacker sandwiches. However, this sauce can be overpowering at times, and not a good choice for those who want a pure and natural chicken eating experience. And like so many other items in the fast food world, there can be a difference from store to store, as to how strong or thick the sauce is. I believe the source is the same, so the variation is likely due to the period of time it’s kept sitting around.

The Boneless Fiery Buffalo Wings from KFC are very good, but I personally cannot eat more than a few at a time because the sauce tends to dominate the chicken, as well as anything else I eat that day. If you like walking on the wild side, you’re in luck. Those folks with a taste for lighter, milder flavors should proceed with extreme caution.

Price: $6.19 (10 piece) / Website: KFC.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Boneless Fiery Buffalo Wings from KFC (10 piece).

Calories - 840
Calories from Fat - 360
Total Fat - 40 grams
Carbs - 66 grams
Saturated Fat - 7 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 130 milligrams
Sodium - 4520 milligrams
Protein - 56 grams

Domino’s Pizza has launched a line of Oven Baked Sandwiches, in what the company is calling a “historic” expansion of it’s menu, becoming the first major quick-serve restaurant chain in America to deliver such items. The new sandwiches are baked in real ovens (not ‘toasted’), priced at $4.99 each, and come in four varieties.

Philly Cheese Steak - Steak, American and provolone cheeses, with fresh onions, green peppers and mushrooms.

Chicken Bacon Ranch - Seasoned all-white meat chicken breast, bacon, creamy ranch dressing and provolone cheese.

Chicken Parmesan - Seasoned all-white meat chicken breast, tomato basil marinara, parmesan-asiago and provolone cheeses.

Italian - Slices of pepperoni, Genoa salami, ham, provolone cheese, banana peppers, fresh green peppers and onions.

“As of today, we are the largest sandwich delivery company in the nation,” said Patrick Doyle, president of Domino’s USA. “This launch springboards Domino’s into the lunch business by providing a product that is high quality, priced right and aimed at convenience-minded people without a lot of time. Of course, sandwiches are also available any time our stores are open.

“Some of our sandwich competitors use units that look like microwaves or toaster ovens to try and warm a few of their subs. We have high-end ovens in our stores that cost $30,000 and bake our sandwiches at 450 degrees. It gives us a huge quality advantage they can’t match,” Doyle added. “People fed up with brown-bagging or driving to pick up something cold, can save some time and gas by ordering a hot Domino’s sandwich for delivery to their home or office.”

The new sandwiches debut this week at approximately 4,000 select locations, with all Domino’s stores expected to offer them beginning on September 22. The company plans to begin marketing over the next couple weeks, via television and web.

Between breakfast at McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, and Burger King, when the choice is up to me, I usually go for Burger King. Don’t get me wrong though, I still enjoy the McDonald’s McGriddle and I usually spend the extra money to add bacon to the sausage version. (It is definitely worth it.) I also like the sausage egg and cheese on a croissant from Dunkin Donuts. I just find myself going to Burger King more often for breakfast. I can remember the first time I had the ‘Enormous Omelet Sandwich’. I bit into it and said out loud ‘Oh My God this is amazing’. The Cheesy Bacon Wrapper is yet another item on BK’s breakfast menu that leaves me wanting another.

It features egg, cheese sauce, American cheese, hash browns, and bacon wrapped in a tortilla. The wrap is perfect for those who do a lot of eating while driving. I am one of those people, and have found some breakfast items too messy or hard to handle while trying to drive at the same time. The wrap though wasn’t messy aside from a slight cheese sauce drippage at the end, but that wasn’t too bad.

The first bite gives you a nice surprise with the added ingredient of the hash browns. Usually, you’ll just enjoy your hash brown as a side item, but added to the wrap is a nice touch. Another difference for this wrap was the cheese sauce. This article calls it a ’smokey cheese sauce’ but I found it to be sweet. It balances well with the saltiness of the bacon and other ingredients. Together with the bacon, American cheese, egg, and tortilla, it all works well, making a nice breakfast snack.

The only issue I have is the distribution of ingredients. On both of my experiences, there were problems. The first time it didn’t have a lot of American cheese at the beginning, but too much at the end. The second time (pictured here) gave me bacon at the end instead of throughout the entire wrap. This definitely takes some points off the grade, but overall the wrap was a positive experience.

At $1.49 each, or $4.49 for a value meal which comes with 2 wraps, coffee, and hash browns, I would totally get this again. It is definitely worth trying at least once with such an affordable price. If that’s all you get, you may still feel hungry afterwards so consider it more of a snack then your entire breakfast. I give this wrap a B plus. It would have received higher if the distribution was more even throughout the wrapper.

Price: $1.49 / Website: BurgerKing.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Burger King Cheesy Bacon Wrapper.

Calories - 390
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 24 grams
Carbs - 29 grams
Saturated Fat - 8 grams
Trans Fat - 1.5 grams
Cholesterol - 150 milligrams
Sodium - 1080 milligrams
Protein - 14 grams

“Arby’s makes me angry. I’ve seen posters and advertisements for new cheddar curly fries everywhere in my town. I love the old curly fries but was pumped about a new flavor. It’s not a new flavor. They just give you a small cup of cheese to dip. The fries are the exact same curly fries. This is stupid. They make it sound like new fries but it’s nothing but a cup of cheese they already put on sandwiches, served on the side. This is false advertising. You should warn people about it. I’m mad at Arby’s and this really sucks.” – Matt S. from Garfield Heights, Ohio.

Matt, your message hits close to home because I encountered the same situation two years ago. This is not a new item, but it comes and goes from the Arby’s menu. Anyway, I went there expecting the fries themselves to be cheddar flavored. When I opened my bag to find the standard curly fries with a tiny container of warm cheese, it was a surprise. Indeed they simply added a plastic cup of melted cheddar and renamed the product. I don’t believe it’s false advertising, just a bit confusing.

Arby’s is great, but this particluar product campaign misses the mark in my opinion. Thanks for writing. Now FFC readers will be better informed.

The “Chick-fil-A College Kickoff” will take place on Saturday, August 30th at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, and will be nationally televised on the ABC network. The game features the University of Alabama versus Clemson University. On the following Monday, September 1st, the company will give away a Free 3-piece order of their new-improved chicken strips to any customer that shows up wearing attire with a team logo. It doesn’t have to be a college team. It can be any team from a pee-wee league, all the way up to the NFL. Just show up at any Chick-fil-A location wearing a jersey, hat, t-shirt or other accessory with a team logo, and claim your free food.

As I reported back in May, the new strips are bigger than the previous version, and the company has also released a new smokey mustard dipping sauce to compliment them. What I didn’t know back then, is the recipe itself has also been changed, using a marinade that’s said to resemble a mesquite-type flavoring. You can expect a full review of the chicken strips and dipping sauce here at FFC in the near future.

Beginning today, “STAR WARS: The Clone Wars” bobble-head toys will be included in McDonald’s Happy Meals. Based on the new CG-animated movie from Lucasfilm Animation, this collection of 18 toys includes classic characters from the Star Wars universe, and all-new characters from “The Clone Wars”. The Happy Meal boxes and food packaging will also feature exclusive artwork and designs from the film.

I’ve created a photomontage of all 18 toys for your viewing pleasure.

Each bobble-head character is sitting atop one of the vehicles from Star Wars, and they all have a unique playable feature. Wind them up, then sit back as they roll, walk, talk or glow. In the past, such items have become collectibles, and these are surely going to continue that trend. So grab your kids a Happy Meal from McDonald’s, or if you’re childless and a big geek like me — just say the kids are waiting at home.

After living in and around Philadelphia for the past 8 years, I still do not consider myself a ‘cheesesteak expert’. I’ve visited quite a number of cheesesteak places, but still have to visit a lot more. It seems like all my friends and family members each have their favorite place, whether it’s Jim’s, Pat’s, Geno’s, Tony Luke’s, Delassandro’s, or Steve’s. Of course, there are LOTS of other places where people claim have the best cheesesteak. Of all the places I’ve been, so far my favorite is Tony Luke’s. I always get the ‘provolone with’ which is steak, provolone cheese, and fried onions on a roll.

While driving to work recently, I noticed a billboard for the Subway Philly Cheesesteak, so I decided this would be my first review for FFC. Subway claims: “The Big Philly Cheesesteak is every meat lover’s dream. With lots of steak smothered in melted cheese, it’s easy to see why this classic is the taste that Philly is so proud of.”

Lots of steak it does not have, and it certainly is not smothered in melted cheese. When I tried the cheesesteak for the first time, I wondered if I’d be able to order mine with whiz. Typically, you’ll find American Cheese, Provolone Cheese, or Cheese Whiz on a Philly Cheesesteak. I don’t usually order the whiz, but I was curious to see if that would be an option since many of my friends do. Sadly, it was not an option.

I decided that I would order my Subway cheesesteak with the same ingredients, or as close as I could get to a cheesesteak I’d normally buy. I got the provolone cheese, and had to go with red onions, because they don’t offer fried, sweet onions. They heated my steak on a paper dish in a microwave, then put that on top of the cheese and onions. I did not get my sandwich toasted because I never get them toasted when I’m in the city. I can’t even remember having that option at other cheesesteak shops.

What little steak was on the sandwich, actually tasted pretty good. It was juicy, but not greasy. It was very soft, and thinly sliced. Whatever they used for flavoring the steak was awesome. It was a bit salty, but was just enough where it wasn’t overload. The red onions were at times a bit overwhelming and I found myself asking where the cheese was because the onions and steak overpowered the provolone. The Italian bread was even pretty decent. In past Subway experiences the bread has been rather stale, however both times I’ve tried this sandwich the bread was OK.

Why it’s not a ‘Philly’ Cheesesteak - It wasn’t very greasy, which I tend to enjoy. I like when it soaks into the bread. I had to use red onions instead of fried. There was not enough cheese. (of course I could have paid an extra 60-cents for more) There was not enough meat. The six inch was a bit smaller than ones I’ve had elsewhere.

At a price of $4.99 for a six-inch and $8.49 for a foot-long, it’s an expensive sandwich. I’d prefer to stick with the 5-dollar foot-longs they’re offering. I give this a score of C, because that’s what it was, average. If the price was a bit lower, or they put more meat and cheese on the sandwich, perhaps it would earn a better grade.

Price: $4.99 - $8.49 / Website: Subway.com

Fast Food Critic Score: C

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Subway Big Philly Cheesesteak (six-inch).

Calories - 520
Calories from Fat - 170
Total Fat - 19 grams
Carbs - 50 grams
Saturated Fat - 10 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 100 milligrams
Sodium - 1390 milligrams
Protein - 40 grams

People do stupid things. That’s not a surprise. But sometimes their stupidity hurts innocent folks, such is the case with this Burger King employee who decided to take a bath in BK’s kitchen sink, and film the stunt for the whole world to see. The result of that strange behavior was the entire staff getting fired, including the manager who had 20 years on the job, and no involvement or beforehand knowledge of his plans.

The bather, Timothy Tackett (nicknamed “Mr. Unstable”) has already been featured on his town’s local news, popular nationwide TV show Inside Edition, and this morning is scheduled to appear on NBC’s Today Show. He has become an overnight celebrity, promoting his ‘music’ career, while apologizing for the stunt. Meanwhile, the former manager of the Burger King store is sitting home unemployed. That’s just wrong.

More info and videos on this bizarre story at TV Channel 2 in Dayton, Ohio.

Up to this point, FFC has been a one-man show, however it’s time I bring in some help. Not only because I’ve gained 20 pounds over the last 5 months from eating and reviewing so much food, but also because I want to give readers more content, and a different perspective on things. I’m happy and proud to announce John Cauley is coming on board to participate in this fast food adventure. Please join me in welcoming him.

John works nights as a radio personality at WZZO-FM in Allentown, PA. He also works behind the scenes at the station, writing and producing commercials, and is involved with various creative services. He’s been a fast food eater since college, and is always eager to try the latest products, and not shy about giving his opinion on them. Since graduating a few years ago, he’s cut back on the amount of fast food he consumes, but still hits a drive-thru at least once a week. He first review is coming soon.