Not Popeyes, Not KFC: This Underappreciated Fast Food Joint Has A Tasty Chicken Sandwich

While we are past the peak of the chicken sandwich wars, that doesn't mean major chains have stopped competing for the top spot. You're probably familiar with the usual suspects, like Popeyes, KFC and Chick-fil-A, but there's one underrated fast food joint serving up a delicious crispy chicken sandwich, and that's not even what it's best known for. In our ranking of the seven best chicken sandwiches from non-chicken chain restaurants, our writer included favorites like Shake Shack's Chicken Shack and McDonald's McCrispy. But one sandwich that's flying under the radar is Arby's Crispy Chicken Sandwich.

Although our writer notes that the sandwich may seem fairly simple at first, with the usual breaded chicken, shredded lettuce, mayo, and tomato on a brioche bun, it's the crispy coating and juicy chicken that make this sandwich worth trying. In a Reddit thread asking for Arby's recommendations, one commenter said, "The Original Crispy Chicken is terrific, imho." And Arby's has had its chicken sandwich fans for years, with one Reddit user saying Arby's has been "good for years, easily a decade before the chicken sandwich 'craze.'"

Of course, not everyone's sold on the Crispy Chicken Sandwich. One Reddit user was "not impressed," complaining that it was "def not good portion size." Another commenter agreed, claiming that the chicken fillets "aren't as good as they used to be and much more flat." Still, for a chain best known for its roast beef, Arby's has a Crispy Chicken Sandwich worth on your next fast food run.

As we've established, not everyone's a fan of Arby's Crispy Chicken Sandwich. In fact, in our ranking of 12 Arby's sandwiches, our taste tester ranked it number eight, with the chain's Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich trailing behind at the tenth spot. While our taste tester liked the fillet's crispy coating, seasoning blend, and portion size, they thought it tasted "fairly dry." "I have to admit the sandwich is rather blah. It's just missing that chicken sandwich wow factor that other chains have mastered," they explained. If you're in the mood for chicken, they recommend going with the Chicken Bacon Swiss or the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich.

Still, even one of Arby's lower-ranking sandwiches has its loyal fans. And if the Crispy Chicken sounds a little too plain for your tastes, our taste tester suggested adding "red onion or pickles for an extra pop of flavor." You can also switch out the brioche bun for a sesame bun or onion roll, or try dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or our top-ranked Arby's sauce, hickory smoked BBQ sauce. For something a little more adventurous, one TikTok hack involves piling one Arby's mac and cheese and Spicy Buffalo Sauce onto the sandwich, with one commenter saying it "looks so messy but so yummy." Of course, you can also pay extra for additions like bacon, slices of cheddar or Swiss, or a cup of cheddar sauce. It might not have topped our rankings, but Arby's Crispy Chicken Sandwich is still worth giving a shot, especially if you like to customize your order.