Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past couple weeks, you’ve probably seen and heard the advertisements for McDonald’s new “Southern Style” chicken sandwich and biscuit. You might have even tried it already. And if you’re a fan of Chick-Fil-A, you are probably thinking that Ronald McDonald found a way to infiltrate the CFA headquarters and sneak away with the secret recipe, because the new sandwich from McDonald’s is so similar it could be the long-lost brother of the legenday Chick-Fil-A sandwich. How did this happen? What does CFA think about it? That’s what I wanted to know, so during my recent conversation with CFA’s Corporate PR man, Mark Baldwin, I gathered up enough courage to ask him.

FFC: Let’s get right to it — McDonald’s copied Chick-Fil-A. I know it. You know it. McDonald’s knows it. Everybody knows it. — How does that make you feel?

CFA: We are flattered that McDonald’s is enamored enough with our products to be willing to clearly imitate our original Chick-fil-A Sandwich and Biscuit. Based on the reactions we’ve seen from customers thus far, they are making good choices and realize the superiority of Chick-fil-A’s products and people.

FFC: Have you tried their new sandwich? What did you think about it?

CFA: Yes, we all have tried the Southern Style chicken biscuit and sandwich and, to be honest, they did a good job copying our products. It will probably do well on Sundays (when Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed)!

FFC: It seems McDonald’s was very thorough when replicating the CFA sandwich.

CFA: There are, however, some key differences in the two products. Since Truett Cathy created the first chicken sandwich in the early 1960’s, Chick-fil-A has been preparing each sandwich fresh daily at the restaurant. We hand bread our chicken sandwich and breakfast filets in the store, while our competitors have frozen, pre-breaded chicken shipped to their restaurants. We even make our biscuits from scratch every morning.

FFC: They seem to have done a good job in duplicating the seasoning and flavor. Did they hire a team of food spies to steal the secret recipe? Maybe they tied up and kidnapped Truett Cathy (CEO) and forced him to spill the beans? (laughing)

CFA: No, they didn’t tie Truett up to get the recipe, but two of their Atlanta franchisees finally realized the impact Chick-fil-A was making, and convinced their corporate folks to try a chicken sandwich. You might be interested in this article that explains McDonald’s entry into the chicken sandwich market.

FFC: Very interesting stuff. Mark, I want to thank you and Chick-Fil-A for being gracious enough to visit with me today. I realize the circumstances are a bit unusual. In closing, is their anything new and exciting coming up for CFA?

CFA: We will be releasing some pretty significant news ourselves next week — basically, 180 degrees different from the Chicken Sandwich and Biscuit hype. You may want to fast over the weekend, because there will be plenty to try!

My thanks again to Mark for the candid converstaion.

I love Chick-Fil-A, and I’ve been eating at McDonald’s since I was a kid. It’s an odd feeling for me, to see one copy the other. They say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. So considering that McDonald’s is the #1 fast-food chain in the world, and they are copying somebody else, this would seem to confirm my belief that Chick-Fil-A is, and has been for many years, the best chicken sandwich in fast-food.

How do I think the new offering from McDonald’s compares? I’ve tried it once, and it was a very good sandwich. I’m going to have it again soon, and bring some friends along with me. I will follow-up with my review, plus the opinions from my guests.

I remember trying KFC Snackers a couple years ago, and it seems like they have gotten bigger since then. I could be wrong about that, but either way — I was happy to see the size of the current version, that was delivered to me via the drive-thru.

They only cost 99 cents, and they’re called “Snackers”. Even the name is warning me it’s only a “snack” and not a full-size sandwich. I was expecting only 2 or 3 bites, but after two good size mouthfuls, the sandwich was barely half eaten. That made me happy. There’s nothing better than finding a real bargain, especially when it’s edible.

These little sandwiches are indeed are bargain, not just because they are larger than expected, but because they actually have a nice piece of chicken inside, and they taste good. The chicken strip was just as tender and flavorful as any other chicken item on their menu. It’s a natural hunk of meat too, with character, texture and the occasional flaw. Better than some pressed and formed glob made of chicken mush. It’s not a breast filet though, instead KFC calls it “all white meat”. That’s fine. There’s lots of good white meat on chicken besides the breast. For that matter, there’s a lot of good dark meat too, but most people are obsessed with breasts. (no joke intended)

I had two different flavors: Fiery Buffalo and Ultimate Cheese. The only difference in the two sandwiches is the sauce. They both use the same chicken, lettuce and bun. There’s not much lettuce but it’s crisp, fresh and torn into large pieces, as opposed to shredded. The bun is lightly toasted, rectangle shaped like a dinner roll, and sprinkled with sesame seeds. There’s really nothing special about the bun, but it tastes fine, it’s the perfect size and it’s better than I expected on such a cheap sandwich.

Fiery Buffalo - My lips had not fully closed from the first bite and my taste-buds were already popping from the flavor. They dip the chicken strip in Fiery Buffalo sauce and it’s completely coated. It was mildly hot for the first couple bites, and then my mouth adjusted and things finished smooth. It’s a lively sauce, and gives this little sandwich a nice size punch. If you like hot and spicy wings, you’re going to like this sandwich.

Ultimate Cheese - Instead of dipping the entire strip in Fiery Buffalo sauce they pour on a cheese sauce. They say it’s a blend of Cheddar and Swiss, and it was fairly cheesy tasting, but there wasn’t much of it. I’m not a big fan of cheese “sauce” or liquid-cheese in general, but this was OK. You get a lot more sauce (and flavor) on the other version. I’m bewildered and amused by the “Ultimate” tag. It’s a tiny bit of cheese on a small 99 cent sandwich. There’s nothing ‘ultimate’ about it — but it’s still good.

The KFC Snackers are tasty, cheap and filling. Those looking for a light meal or snack will be satisfied, and those with a bigger appetite can pick-up 2 or 3, because the low 99 cent price makes them affordable even for the most budget minded. With items like this from KFC, and the Double Decker Taco from Taco Bell, the parent company of both (Yum! Brands Inc.) should be feeling pretty confident with their dollar menu(s).

Fast Food Critic Score:4.5 stars out of 5.

Nutrition Facts - KFC, Snacker Sandwich, Fiery Buffalo.

Calories - 260
Calories from Fat - 80
Total Fat - 8 grams
Carbs - 31 grams
Saturated Fat - 1.5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 25 milligrams
Sodium - 860 milligrams

Nutrition Facts - KFC, Snacker Sandwich, Ultimate Cheese.

Calories - 280
Calories from Fat - 100
Total Fat - 11 grams
Carbs - 30 grams
Saturated Fat - 2.5 grams
Trans Fat - 0.5 grams
Cholesterol - 25 milligrams
Sodium - 780 milligrams

In case you haven’t heard, McDonald’s has introduced a new “Southern Style” chicken sandwich that is remarkably similar to the Chick-Fil-A sandwich. They also have a breakfast version, and they are offering customers a chance to try them both for free, with the purchase of any medium or large beverage. The event will take place on May 15th, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. customers will receive a Free Chicken Biscuit, and then from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. a Free Chicken Sandwich.

It’s no secret I love the Chick-Fil-A sandwich and named it Editor’s Choice, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the McDonald’s version compares. I will be standing in line with the rest of you on the 15th. The only thing better than food – FREE food.

Chicken — Bread — Pickle.

So simple. So basic. Yet so brilliantly executed in quality and taste, three ingredients combine to make what is arguably the best Chicken Sandwich in the Fast Food World. I’m talking about the classic chicken sandwich from Chick-Fil-A.

How can a sandwich that looks so plain, be so special? It’s all about the chicken my friends. I’m talking about chicken that’s so moist and tender, seasoned so perfectly, your mouth will water and you’ll slap your knee proclaiming… “Damn, that’s good chicken!” …I’m talking about chicken that’s so tasty and delicious, you won’t care that your team is losing the big game, as long as there’s another bite left to enjoy.

In case you can’t tell — I love this sandwich. Though, I suppose it would be more accurate to say I love this chicken, that happens to have a bun and pickles attached. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fine bun. The perfect size and density to compliment the chicken, without swallowing it up. Lightly buttered, freshly baked and fluffy.

The dill pickle chips taste good, about like any other good pickle, but the surprise is the delightful contrast of flavor they provide to the chicken. I had never eaten pickles on chicken before Chick-Fil-A, and for a long time I would actually remove them. The truth is I’m not a big pickle fan. I don’t dislike them, but they are not something I desire on my burgers or sandwiches. But one day, after years of picking-off the pickles, I found myself so hungry that I ripped into my chick-fil-a sandwich without thinking, and then it hit me! They actually tasted good. The rest is history, and now I eat the pickles.

The main attraction is the wonderful chicken breast filet, a big meaty natural hunk of REAL chicken. Starting with choice cuts, each one is breaded by hand and seasoned using CFA’s secret recipe. They are pressure cooked in refined peanut oil, which not only makes them taste good, it makes them healthier. The bread and pickle serve as perfect compliments to highlight and showcase this great piece of meat. It’s been the same delicious high quality experience all these years, from way back when I was kid, to the sandwich I’ve just finished eating for this review. The Chick-Fil-A simply tastes better, and more natural than most other chicken sandwiches on the market.

The breading on Chick-Fil-A’s is not very crisp or crunchy, nor was it designed to be. It’s soft, light and seems to fuse itself to the breast meat and become-one with the chicken. It’s all part of what makes the Chick-Fil-A so tender and juicy. If you’re the type person who only likes crunchy coated chicken you might be disappointed to hear that, but don’t despair. I think most crunchy lovers will be pleasantly surprised.

The Classic Chicken Sandwich from Chick-Fil-A is simple, pure and scrumptious. This is a shining example of less-is-more. There’s no cheese and no bacon strips. No lettuce or tomato. It’s not very exciting to look at. It’s actually rather plain and dull. But this is not about being fancy, the number of ingredients, or a spicy new sauce. This is about high-quality simple food, prepared and served with care. It’s something that Chick-Fil-A does better than most, and they’ve been doing it for a long time.

Fast Food Critic Score:5 stars.
I’m pleased to present this product the FFC Editor’s Choice Award. This special award was created to recognize those products and services which have achieved the highest levels of quality, value, consistency and overall excellence within the fast food industry.

Nutrition Facts - Chick-Fil-A, Classic Chicken Sandwich.

Calories - 410
Calories from Fat - 150
Total Fat - 16 grams
Carbs - 38 grams
Saturated Fat - 3.5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 60 milligrams
Sodium - 1300 milligrams

On today’s menu, the Crispy Chicken Bacon and Swiss Sandwich from Arby’s.

I wasn’t sure what to expect since Arby’s is primarily known for their Roast Beef sandwiches, and my past experience with their chicken products was hit and miss. But I’m pleased to say they hit the nail right on the head with this one.

The heart of the sandwich is pure white-meat chicken breast filet, and 100% natural. It’s not a very large sandwich to begin with, but it’s a nice size chunk of chicken. And it was cooked just right, with a thin crispy crust and a tender moist center. The crust has a light coating of black pepper. As soon as I took a bite, I rejoiced in the wonderful texture of natural chicken meat flaking away in layers. No formed or pressed mystery-meat inside. This is a very tasty piece of chicken for a fast food place, and dare I say a little similar to a Chick-Fil-A, which is a big compliment in my opinion.

Sitting atop the chicken are two thick pieces of peppered bacon. They are cooked well-done, crispy and delicious. The bacon adds as much flavor to the sandwich as the chicken. Bacon lovers will be very happy, though some hard-core eaters might find themselves wishing for a 3rd strip. Next is a slice of Swiss cheese, which unlike many fast food cheese products, actually tastes like real cheese. It’s a great anchor of subtle mild cheese flavor for the smokey spicy bacon and chicken.

Finish off with a little honey mustard for a smooth kick, and pack it all into a warm toasted sesame seed bun that’s just the right thickness to compliment the goodies inside without muting their flavor. The lack of lettuce or other veggies results in a rather plain looking sandwich, but that won’t matter once you take your first bite.

It gets even better. This sandwich contains zero grams of trans fat. With so many health experts screaming about how bad it is, and the food world making a push to get away from it, this is a welcome sign from Arby’s, and the fast food industry.

I should state that I’m a big fan of Chick-Fil-A. In my mind, it’s been the Gold Standard for years. To find another sandwich I enjoy this much is rare, but today it happened.

The $4 price tag is not cheap in the world of fast food, but it’s worth every penny. And you won’t need to eat a whole bag of these to be satisfied. Next time you want a fast food meal, look past all those $1 menus and treat yourself to something better.

The Crispy Chicken Bacon and Swiss Sandwich from Arby’s is delicious. It has a wonderful combination of flavors, and each component is tasty on it’s own. It’s made from high quality ingredients, a cut above the average. I loved it. I wish I had another.

Fast Food Critic Score:4.5 out of 5 stars.

Nutrition Facts - Arby’s Crispy Chicken Bacon and Swiss Sandwich.

Calories - 624
Calories from Fat - 264
Total Fat - 29 grams
Carbs - 52 grams
Saturated Fat - 7 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 68 milligrams
Sodium - 1320 milligrams