The roast beef icon also serves good chicken sandwiches.

If you remember my review of the Crispy Chicken Bacon and Swiss Sandwich from Arby’s, you know it made a great impression on me. The chicken filet is tender, juicy and well seasoned, topped with delicious thick-cut peppered bacon, Swiss cheese and honey mustard. On a good day, with everything fresh and cooked just right… it’s one of the few chicken sandwiches that can approach the same level of satisfaction as my beloved Chick-fil-A. If you have an Arby’s close to you, drop by and try it.

And, if you like the Crispy Chicken Bacon and Swiss, you’re probably also going to like this Chicken Cordon Bleu. There’s two differences: the bacon is replaced by slices of ham, and the honey mustard is replaced by mayonnaise. The chicken filet, Swiss cheese and bun remain the same. Although the two items share the same base ingredients, the different ’secondary’ meats and sauces do a good job of creating fairly distinct sandwiches. In the end, the chicken breast filet is juicy and delicious on both, and I think ‘total’ satisfaction depends on your preference of bacon or ham.

I would say the taste and texture of Arby’s ham puts it in the same ‘class’ of meat as their roast beef. You won’t mistake it for a top quality freshly baked honey ham, but it’s on par with many packaged processed meats at the supermarket. The Swiss cheese has a smooth subtle flavor and provides a healthy amount of real cheese goodness. The chicken breast is moist and flavorful inside, with a light crunchy breading outside. A hunk of real breast meat with natural layers that tear away with each bite.

I rate the Ham/Swiss combination slightly lower than the Bacon/Swiss, because I feel Arby’s peppered bacon makes a bigger, better impact than their ham. That being said, the ham tastes fine. It has a decent flavor, slightly sweet, it’s tender and sliced very thin. The classic combination of Ham and Swiss is usually a winner, and it doesn’t disappoint here. The mayonnaise is certainly not a problem, but after several times eating the Cordon Bleu I decided to try ordering it with honey mustard instead, and they were happy to oblige. It was excellent — an improvement in my opinion.

On the whole, from store to store, I’ve found Arby’s quality control and consistency to be above average compared to industry competition, but you’re still more likely to get a bad sandwich there than a place like Chick-fil-A. Of course Arby’s has a bigger menu to maintain, including over 20 different sandwiches. Chick-fil-A has only 3 sandwiches. Considering the exceptional success and high quality of CFA, it makes a person wonder if some fast-food menus are too crowded, with the focus and resources of the companies spread too thin. Oh well, that’s another topic for another time.

The Chicken Cordon Bleu from Arby’s is a very good sandwich. Arby’s is best known for their Roast Beef sandwiches, but their current line of chicken products are worthy of sharing space alongside offerings from traditional chicken kings like Chick-fil-A, KFC, Popeyes and Church’s. Depending on what part of the country you’re located, Arby’s may also offer a “Grilled” version of this sandwich with less fat and calories.

Price: $3.19 / Website: Arbys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Arby’s, Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich (Crispy).

Calories - 590
Calories from Fat - 232
Total Fat - 25 grams
Carbs - 48 grams
Saturated Fat - 5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 76 milligrams
Sodium - 1986 milligrams
Protein - 37 grams

Chick-fil-A is best known for one thing — the classic chicken sandwich.

But, have you tried the other Chick-fil-A sandwich? Chargrilled Chicken? Don’t feel bad if you said no. I’ve met people that have eaten at Chick-fil-A for 20 years, and never ordered anything except the classic. Not because something is wrong with the other CFA food, they simply love that original sandwich so much they can’t imagine eating anything else. And while that breaded, pressure cooked version remains the most popular and famous item on the menu, it’s chargrilled cousin is a worthy alternative with a unique taste and character of it’s own. Currently available in 2 varieties, the standard “Chargrilled Chicken” and the “Chargrilled Chicken Club” which adds Provolone cheese and smoked applewood bacon. Let’s take a look at the Club.

The first thing you’ll notice is the big black carton, instead of the classic’s foil envelope. Once you open the lid, you’re greeted by a wholesome looking golden wheat bun. It’s hearty bread, the type your mom wanted you to eat as a child, instead of always using white bread. A couple large whole leaves of lettuce are overflowing the carton, as if happy to be released from their packaging prison. There’s a plump little corner of grilled chicken breast visible, peeking out from underneath. The edge of a bacon slice is snuggled up next to the chicken, with a hint of melted cheese between. It’s not the classic CFA sandwich people are used to, but don’t be afraid… it’s still good.

The wheat bun is fantastic and has a wonderfully hearty taste and texture. It might not be my choice for everyday eating, but it’s great for a change of pace. It’s lightly toasted, but lacks the buttered treatment of the classic’s bun. The chicken breast filet is naked and grilled, instead of being breaded and pressure cooked. As usual, CFA has used their bag of magical seasonings and marinade to give this bird a terrific flavor, slightly similar to the classic but different enough to be unique. The grilled chicken is very tasty, but I have to be totally honest… it’s not as juicy or delicious as the breaded filet on the classic. In short, I would describe the flavor as being Chick-fil-A “lite”.

The most intriguing things about this sandwich are the smoked applewood bacon and Provolone cheese. Despite the obvious attraction of such tasty things, they’re simply unheard of among eaters of the classic. I’m hoping that might change, because I’d like to see these toppings made available on the classic sandwich. I really enjoyed the extra depth they added to the grilled version. There’s just enough of each to create an excellent balance of rich, mellow flavors. The bacon is thin and tender, without being slimy. It’s almost like ham, as opposed to the crispy strips found on many fast-food sandwiches. And even though it’s a strip too, it’s wound up and cooked into a circular shape. I’m not sure how they do it so neatly, but it looks cool and tastes great.

In addition to the lettuce, there’s a few slices of tomato and dill pickles. The veggies are fresh and taste good. There is no sauce or other condiments on the sandwich, but it comes with a packet of barbecue sauce on the side. One thing that I find unusual, even humorous, is the size and amount of lettuce leaves included. The first time I tried this sandwich a long time ago, I assumed they gave me a double portion. But I’ve eaten it many times between then and this review, and it’s usually the same. I feel like there’s enough lettuce to build a small salad, and I end up removing about half of it. That’s not really a complaint, just a curious observation I wanted to share.

The Chargrilled Chicken Club from Chick-fil-A is a very good sandwich with a nice variety of flavors and ingredients. It’s not the same finger-licking love-fest I have with the classic, simply because I don’t like the grilled chicken as much as the breaded, pressure cooked bird. That’s the bottom line, and the reason this doesn’t get as high of score. However, this version has less fat and calories, includes extra veggies, and gets credit for being the healthier choice. The problem with making the best chicken sandwich on the market, is that even your own company’s alternatives are faced with trying to match it’s quality and success. Still, I feel certain that Chick-fil-A, CFA fans, and founder Truett Cathy would agree with me… it’s a good problem to have.

Price: $4.19 / Website: Chick-fil-A.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Chick-fil-A, Chargrilled Chicken Club.

Calories - 370
Calories from Fat - 100
Total Fat - 11 grams
Carbs - 34 grams
Saturated Fat - 5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 75 milligrams
Sodium - 1590 milligrams
Protein - 35 grams

Popeyes has introduced a limited time special called the “Big Easy Chicken Bowl” featuring red beans and rice, pulled chicken, Cajun gravy and shredded cheese. Hot sauce and sour cream are available upon request. The bowl’s price is $3.49 and no indication how long it will be around. Popeyes’ other most recent special, the Loaded Chicken Wrap, was excellent, and that item earned a review score of “A” here at FFC. Sadly it’s no longer available. Hopefully it will return soon, either on the regular menu, or making another limited time appearance, assuming their marketing department found it was a sales success.

Back in May, FastFoodCritic reported news of Chick-fil-A making a few upgrades to their already awesome lineup. It’s a trait of CFA not shared by nearly enough other chains within the fast food industry. Constantly striving to improve tomorrow’s menu, even when today’s is very successful. Chick-fil-A recognizes there’s always room for improvement, and that speaks volumes for a restaurant that has, in my eyes, done most everything right. One item tweaked with an upgrade, the Chick-N-Strips.

As we told you previously, the new Chick-fil-A Chick-N-Strips are 50% larger than the chain’s former version. Made from what is arguably the best part of the breast, the tenderloin, freshly marinated, hand-breaded and pressure cooked in peanut oil. These strips are full of flavor and undoubtedly some of the most tender and juicy you’ll find in fast food land. The breading is light and slightly crisp in spots, but not crunchy. It’s like a thin skin. It compliments the chicken, showcases it, without intruding.

Some brands of strips and nuggets have thick breading helping to mask lower quality chicken meat. Suffice to say much of the flavor in those items comes from breading and not bird. CFA’s chicken is high quality, and there’s no need for a heavy coating. The focus here is on good chicken and the perfect balance of seasoning.

Whatever changes were made to the recipe itself are obviously very subtle. I’ve had the previous chicken strips and the new version doesn’t taste much different, but they are definitely bigger, and still just as delicious. You can purchase them as 3 or 4-piece entrees, and 1 or 2-piece servings as part of a kid’s meal. If you’re having a party you can order 3 sizes of “Trays” in advance, with enough strips to feed 25 people.

While these chicken strips are among the tastiest I’ve had, they are not perfect. They’re a little on the greasy side, and will leave your hands messy. You’ll notice evidence of their oily nature in the box they come in (see above). And since the breading is lighter than many other strips and nuggets, it has a tendency to slide off the chicken easier. I’m being persnickety there but it’s just a couple honest observations. With chicken this good, such minor issues are easy to ignore as you grab another napkin.

Along with the bigger strips, they have also introduced a new smoky mustard dipping sauce, simply called “Chick-fil-A Sauce”. Tasting it the first time I immediately noticed the mustard flavor, but it had a little extra something too. After reading the ingredients it appears to be a hybrid of honey mustard and barbecue. That would explain it. The combo works, and it’s very nice match for the chicken strips. If that new sauce doesn’t sound like something you’d like, no need to worry because CFA has a wide selection of dipping sauces, including Barbecue, Buttermilk Ranch, Buffalo and more.

There’s so many restaurants focusing on new creations and crazy flavor combinations to grab our attention, it’s nice to see a company aiming to make improvements to the standard favorites. In this case, bigger is better, when it’s more of the same great chicken we’re accustomed to. Making high quality fast food is something Chick-fil-A does better than most, and the Chick-N-Strips and Sauce continue the legacy.

Price: $3.89 (4 piece) / Website: Chick-fil-A.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Chick-fil-A, Chick-N-Strips (4 piece).

Calories - 470
Calories from Fat - 210
Total Fat - 23 grams
Carbs - 22 grams
Saturated Fat - 4.5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 125 milligrams
Sodium - 1390 milligrams
Protein - 44 grams

I finally got my hands on Wendy’s *New* Flavor Dipped Chicken Sandwich. Wendy’s website and advertising have been updated, and this item should now be available nationwide at most locations. There are two versions: BBQ and Buffalo. For this review I’ve chosen the BBQ flavor sandwich and eaten it twice over the past few days.

Let’s get straight to this… it’s a pretty good sandwich. The chicken is tasty, moist and tender, feels natural instead of being over processed. It’s not Chick-fil-A quality, but still a nice piece of chicken. It’s in fact, the same “Homestyle” filet used in the Wendy’s sandwich sold by the same name. It’s breaded with a light crispy coating, seasoned with black pepper. Any piece of processed chicken meat tastes better covered with sauce, but this filet is good enough to stand on it’s own, and that shows.

They take a homestyle filet and dip the whole thing in sauce, like a giant chicken wing. Wendy’s BBQ sauce tasted OK, with a decent amount of tangy sweetness, but it was too weak. More impressive was the way the sauce clings to the chicken filet, providing even distribution of flavor for the entire sandwich. The breading on the chicken seemed to absorb the sauce, ensuring that each bite would provide a small burst of barbecue. As a sauce lover, especially BBQ, I like this “dipping” system. Forget about spreading or pouring it on… just dip the whole damn thing in sauce! YEAH!

There’s less sauce than you might think. Most of the bumps and clumps you see in the photos are the breading underneath, showing thru the outer layer of sauce. It’s also not as messy as it looks. The sauce is thick, and sticks to the sandwich. There’s not many drips, and you won’t end up with a puddle of sauce on your shirt, if you’re careful. Be prepared though, you’ll still going to need a couple napkins with it.

Sitting on top the dipped chicken filet are several thin circles of raw onion and a few pickles. I had minor worries about how these toppings were going to get along with the BBQ sauce, but it turns out everything was fine. It’s a fitting combination. Both were applied in limited quantity, and were just noticeable enough to add a final bit of extra seasoning. They are the same onions and pickles used on their hamburgers.

The bun resembles a large dinner roll, and the top almost looks as if you could tear it apart into sections. It’s thick but squishes down to a perfect chicken/sauce/bread ratio once picked up and bitten. It’s dusted with corn on the outside, and the inside does a nice job absorbing the small excess of barbecue sauce from the chicken.

The BBQ Flavor Dipped Chicken Sandwich from Wendy’s is good, but not great. It doesn’t make me forget other chicken sandwiches, but it’s solid overall. Tasty chicken, decent barbecue sauce, and a nice bun. Plus, “dipping” is a winner. I was happy with how the sauce coated and penetrated the breading, chicken and bun, creating a moist and flavorful sandwich from beginning to end, without drowning it. Two sure ways to improve it would be lowering the price, and using a better barbecue sauce.

Price: $4.39 / Website: Wendys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B-

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Wendy’s, Flavor Dipped Chicken Sandwich, BBQ.

Calories - 450
Calories from Fat - 110
Total Fat - 12 grams
Carbs - 60 grams
Saturated Fat - 2 grams
Trans Fat - 0 gram
Cholesterol - 40 milligrams
Sodium - 1430 milligrams
Protein - 25 grams

For over a year now, this sandwich has eluded me. None of the Wendy’s locations in my city have ever offered this item on the menu. Wendy’s website and PR info doesn’t mention it, and neither does their list of limited-time and ‘regional’ items. It would seem that officially, this sandwich doesn’t exist. But I’ve found a few references on the Internet going back to early last year, all positive feedback. I want this sandwich!

FFC’s new contributor Philip Given has spotted the “Flavor Dipped” chicken sandwich listed as “new” on the drive-thru menu at a Wendy’s in Pennsylvania, offering “Buffalo” or “BBQ”, and he sent the picture above to taunt me with his sandwich superiority. The restaurant was closed, but Philip will follow up with a hands-on report soon.

What about you? Have any FFC readers seen or eaten this sandwich?

I’ve never been big on the roast beef sandwiches at Arby’s. Nothing personal against Arby’s, roast beef just isn’t really my thing. Put some chicken nuggets in front of me and that’s another story. They’re a simple, tasty item, sure to please most fast food eaters. Another factor in their favor… it’s hard to mess up a chicken nugget.

Arby’s recently introduced their Popcorn Chicken Shakers. It’s basically breaded and fried morsels of chicken served in a cup. Dump your favorite sauce inside… place the lid on and shake it up. There’s barbeque sauce and buffalo sauce to choose from, but you can ask for honey mustard instead, which is usually reserved for the chicken strips. I prefer the barbeque sauce. I’ve had the popcorn chicken a number of times now, and only once did I actually do the shake-up routine. I guess Arby’s was trying to create a fun new way of enjoying their bite-sized portable food with the whole “shaker” thing but honestly, why bother? I’m a dunker. I’m not into the shaking… and besides that, I want to have more control over the amount of sauce on each nugget.

Sizing the cup to fit your vehicle’s cup holder (photo above) was a stroke of genius. Ok, maybe that’s a bit of a superlative but it sure comes in handy when you are grubbing on the go. The nuggets have a nice strong crust and each morsel is a good size for being classified as ‘popcorn’. They’re a little on the dry side but you won’t notice once you add sauce. I think the dryness comes from having a fairly thick breading. I also feel the breading leaves a bit of aftertaste. The chicken tastes fine, and isn’t overly greasy, which is a plus, but if you were making a list of nuggets that taste great even without sauce, these probably wouldn’t be on it. Trust me, add your favorite sauce!

If you’ve tried KFC’s popcorn chicken, you’ve likely spent time scavenging through fried crust to find the meaty morsels. Not so with Arby’s variety. It’s more like an array of different sized nuggets but all are decent sized. You’ll get about 8-10 nuggets in a regular order ($2.99), whereas you’ll get more tiny bits with the KFC version.

Arby’s popcorn chicken is tasty and filling. Coming in regular and large sizes, it’s a welcome addition to the menu. It’s good to see Arby’s continuing to branch out beyond roast beef. Within the past year or so, their toasted subs and new chicken choices have made me a fan. If you’re on-the-go and need a quick snack, I recommend giving the popcorn chicken shakers a try. The real question - to shake or not to shake?

Price: $2.99 (regular) / Website: Arbys.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Arby’s, Popcorn Chicken (regular order).

Calories - 363
Calories from Fat - 147
Total Fat - 16 grams
Carbs - 27 grams
Saturated Fat - 3 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 54 milligrams
Sodium - 930 milligrams
Protein - 24 grams

NOTE: These nutrition facts are for the popcorn chicken alone, without sauce. Each flavor of sauce has different nutritional values, and depending on the amount used (1 or 2 packets, etc.) can vary quite a bit.

A lot of things have changed in the world of fast food when it comes to chicken strips and nuggets. Gone are the depressing days when all we had to choose from were overly processed pieces of mystery meat that left us wondering exactly what part of the chicken we were eating. Today there’s quite a few solid choices available.

Even McDonald’s, the creator of those infamous MSM (mechanically separated meat) nuggets have introduced “Chicken Selects Premium“, strips cut from 100% breast filets. And while they may fall a bit short of greatness, they’re still pretty good, and most definitely a step-up from McNuggets. So who’s making the ‘great’ ones?

If you’re wondering about the fries in the photo, they’re awesome!

For one, Popeyes. In my opinion, the chicken strips from Popeyes are the most natural tasting on the market. That doesn’t necessarily make them the best, but it surely puts them near the top. Whenever I’m eating these strips, I almost feel like I’m enjoying regular bone-in pieces of fried chicken. From the crisp crackling crust, to the tender juicy meat, they have a wonderfully unprocessed texture and flavor about them.

They also vary widely in size and shape, with each strip looking different than the rest. While many fast food chicken strips are cut and shaped to appear part of a clone-like family, the strips from Popeyes look unique. It’s as if somebody back in the kitchen is pulling off hunks of meat from the bone, with no concern about appearance.

Popeyes offers two varieties of chicken strips — “Classic Mild” or “New Orleans Spicy”. Both are delicious, with the spicy version offering a little extra kick created by a layer of spices coating the meat, hidden underneath the batter. I’ve tried to capture of photo of that orangish ring of flavor. Look at the arrows in the shot below and you’ll see it.

The Chicken Strips from Popeyes are excellent. Tasty, moist and tender chicken pieces coated with a flaky crunchy shell. Great alone, and terrific with Popeyes’ Cajun gravy or your favorite dipping sauce. I’m not ready to proclaim them the best in the industry, but they certainly rank high on the list. If you’re a fan of Popeyes’ regular fried chicken, you’re going to like these too. If you’ve never eaten there before, this is a good time to venture out and find the nearest location. You won’t be disappointed.

Price: $4.49 (3 strips and regular side) / Website: Popeyes.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Popeyes, 3 chicken strips (spicy).

Calories - 405
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 16 grams
Carbs - 31 grams
Saturated Fat - 6.75 grams
Trans Fat - 0.75 grams
Cholesterol - 82 milligrams
Sodium - 2145 milligrams
Protein - 33 grams

Back in August, Fast Food Critic reported the news that Dominos was releasing their own line of Oven Baked Sandwiches. After reading in that article the Dominos people discussing their competitors, I hoped these new items would be prepared just as quickly as sandwiches you’d receive at Subway or Quiznos. However, in the back of my mind I had a feeling they weren’t quite going to be ‘fast’ food. Of the four choices available, the Chicken Bacon Ranch sounded like the best suited for my taste.

The sign in Domino’s window said they’re made with artisan bread, melted cheese (provolone), premium meats, and loaded with flavor. After reading that, I still didn’t have high expectations for the sandwiches, probably because I’ve never been blown away by their pizzas. I like them, but if I had a choice between Domino’s and my local pizza place, I’d usually go to the local pizza joint. When I first went to order my sandwich, they told me it’d be ready in 8 minutes. After 10 minutes of waiting, (it was also 10 minutes the second time at a different location) I had the sandwich in my hands and was headed back to work. Immediately, the smell of bacon was filling my car. It smelled great, and I couldn’t wait to see if it had the taste to back it up.

The first time I ate the sandwich, it was amazing. The bread was perfectly toasted. The outside had a light crust, with just enough buttery oil. The crust wasn’t toasted so much that it was tough to bite into. It was the perfect level of toasting. The inside of the bread was nice and soft, with some of the juices from the meat soaking into the bread. I wouldn’t call the chicken they used “premium”, but I was still impressed with how juicy it was. The bacon was flavorful and not too salty. The provolone cheese had been melted perfectly, getting a little brown around the edges. They didn’t overload the sandwich with ranch sauce. It had just enough to notice it without taking over.

I felt that everything was perfectly balanced. I feared one of the flavors was going to overpower the others, but that wasn’t the case. They all blended together nicely. I’m not sure if you can tell from the picture, but half of my sandwich had good distribution of ingredients and the other did not. However, I still enjoyed the badly distributed side because each bite had plenty of cheese and sauce, and tasted great. Once I got to the end of my sandwich, I needed some dipping sauce for the crusty part left over.

After the first sandwich, I was ready to give the Chicken Bacon Ranch a score of “A”, but I had to try it at least one more time at another location. Sadly, the second time didn’t live up to the first experience. There was barely any chicken. I didn’t mind so much the distribution errors, but at least I received a good amount of chicken with the first one. The bacon was just as good on the second sandwich, as was the sauce, cheese, and bread. Also, I received a cup of ranch dipping sauce, which I had not received on the first occasion. That extra sauce improved the remaining crust.

Overall, the second sandwich was like having one of their pizzas - not awesome but still good enough for a solid “B”, and together with the “A” from the first round, deserving of a “B+” average. You have to keep in mind these sandwiches take a little time to make, so I recommend ordering ahead if you can, and be sure you receive the side order of dipping sauce. Once I got past that waiting period, I totally enjoyed these sandwiches. In the future, if I have time to order ahead, and the choices are Domino’s, Subway, or Quiznos, I’m going with Domino’s new Oven Baked Sandwich.

Price: $4.99 / Website: Dominos.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Domino’s Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich.

Calories - 890
Calories from Fat - 400
Total Fat - 45 grams
Carbs - 72 grams
Saturated Fat - 16 grams
Trans Fat - 1 gram
Cholesterol - 115 milligrams
Sodium - 2210 milligrams
Protein - 49 grams

I’ll tell FFC readers upfront, there’s no mystery or uncertainty with this one. The Gold Rush Chicken Sandwich from Roy’s is flat out delicious. Sorry if that makes this review boring, but I don’t have many bad things to say about it. Lucky for me I guess, because the Roy Rogers Corporate Headquarters is literally right around the corner from the store where I had lunch. I’m safe from any corporate goons that may be monitoring what is said about their franchises. No worries suits, you’ve got a winner here.

If you aren’t familiar with Roy Rogers Restaurants, their menu is primarily burgers, roast beef sandwiches, and fried chicken. A fix-ins’ bar is available at each location, meaning your eat-in order comes with the basic items, and you’re able to pile on as many or as little extra toppings as you like. Lettuce, tomato, raw onion, pickles, and an array of standard condiments will be at your disposal. Go ahead, help yourself.

Today I decided to go for a chicken sandwich that has rarely ever disappointed me. I’ve ordered the Gold Rush chicken sandwich so many times that it’s become like comfort food to me. This is one sandwich that can be enjoyed as-is. No extra condiments or LTO needed. The Gold Rush is a slightly fried, barely breaded chicken patty topped with Monterey Jack cheese, bacon and sweet barbeque sauce. Roy’s calls it a “sweet barbeque sauce” but honestly, there really isn’t anything “barbeque” about it. I’ve always considered it some sort of honey, and I figured that’s where the Gold Rush name came from. Whatever it is, it’s what makes this sandwich so good, and I say the more sauce the better. Make sure to stock up on extra napkins because this operation can get messy. As you can see from the pictures, my order was loaded with it.

The chicken is tender, juicy and not overly breaded. There isn’t a fried chicken type skin on the Gold Rush, which is good because it really isn’t needed. The bacon has just the right texture, it’s very flavorful, and makes a great compliment to the chicken. In fact, I normally don’t care much for bacon on chicken sandwiches but it works with the Gold Rush. The Monterey Jack cheese is subtle but tasty. The bun is nothing special, but all the ingredients work together to create a stellar chicken sandwich. Match the Gold Rush with a Big Round Up (supersize) holster of fries and beverage, and you’ve got yourself pure satisfaction. My combo, (#5 by the way) came out to $6.79 total, with $4.09 being for the sandwich alone. A little steep, but it’s worth every penny.

I know some of you may be thinking there’s no such thing as a flawless meal. Well, if you really want me to be nit-picky, I’ll give it a shot. As I said before, I’ve ordered the Gold Rush from Roy’s many times. The only occasions where it hasn’t been up to par is when my sandwich had too little of the sweet honey sauce, and once in a while the bacon was a little overcooked. Minor complaints. You can’t avoid a subpar creation of your favorite sandwich from time to time. It happens. Oh, I should also warn you to prepare for sticky fingers. It’s almost impossible to avoid when eating this.

Unfortunately for a lot of FFC readers, there may not be a Roy Rogers nearby. This is an east coast thing. For those of you within 100 miles of a Roy’s location, I definitely recommend you stop by on your next road trip. As far as chicken sandwiches go, in my humble opinion, the Gold Rush is golden, and worthy of an “A+” review score.

Price: $4.09 / Website: RoyRogersRestaurants.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Roy Rogers, Gold Rush Chicken Sandwich.

Calories - 558
Calories from Fat - 270
Total Fat - 30 grams
Carbs - 51 grams
Saturated Fat - 9 grams
Trans Fat - N/A
Cholesterol - 35 milligrams
Sodium - 1326 milligrams
Protein - 22 grams