We here at Atlanta INtown are unabashed fans of Chick-fil-A. We usually go there at least once a week, or someone makes a "run" to grab sandwiches, salads, nuggets, etc. I've been eating Chick-fil-A since I was a kid, and I still love it. A group of my friends makes regular pilgrimages to the Original Dwarf House in Hapeville, because it's always fresh and they still have regular french fires. Waffle fries have been Chick-fil-A's only misstep. They look and taste like doormats.
So, when McDonald's announced it was going head to head with Chick-fil-A by introducing a new "Southern-Style Chicken Sandwich," I was intrigued. As I've gotten older, I've lost the taste for McDonald's and, frankly, it kinda grosses me out. Sure, I still get a hankering for the fries and their sausage biscuits are pretty reliable for a quick breakfast, but the burgers...in a word...ewww.
But on Friday, I bit the bullet and decided to troop over to the McDonald's on Northside Drive and try the Southern-Style Chicken Sandwich Meal (fries and coke includes for less than $5). A friend of mine had eaten one earlier in the week and said it looked and tasted so much like a classic Chick-fil-A sandwich that the latter company should probably sue. I waited in the drive-thru line, got my bag of fast food and headed back to the office.
Now, everyone knows a Chick-fil-A comes in a pouch-like bag that has an inner foil layer to keep the sandwich hot. It also seems to help keep the breast moist and marinate in the pickles and butter slathered onto the bun (sometimes too much, making it soggy on the bottom). The McDonald's version comes in a cardboard box, and upon opening, looks pretty much like a Chick-fil-A...only a tad smaller. There's a bun slathered in just the right amount of butter, two pickles and a golden chicken breast. It even smells like a Chick-fil-A sandwich. Then I take a bite.
At first blush, the taste seems almost identical. Then I start to really examine my own taste buds. There's definitely something missing. It's obviously the seasoning that Chick-fil-A has been using for all these years that gives the chicken such a distinctive taste. The McDonald's sandwich also uses a seasoning, and it's good, but it doesn't have the same "kick" as Chick-fil-A. That's not to say the McDonald's chicken sandwich is bad...in fact it's quite tasty, and those world famous french fries don't hurt either. The McDonald's meal seemed "lighter" and didn't overfill me as Chick-fil-A sometimes does.
Bottom line: I'd eat the McDonald's sandwich again. Will it hurt Chick-fil-A's sales? Possibly...especially since McDonald's has better fries. Full disclosure: I've actually gone to Chick-fil-A, then stopped at McDonald's to get fries. Get rid of those doormats, Chick-fil-A! Win me back over, before I turn to the dark side.
--Collin Kelley
Posts
29 comments:
Chick Fil A ROCKS!!
Yes, but add Chick Fil A's new shake to the mix - which is the best chocolate shake I have tasted in a long while - and it comes out on top of McDonalds every time!!
Okay, I tried the McD's sandwich, and I have to say it's very good. Yes, slightly smaller, but the taste is right there, and the chicken is juicy and same quality. And I do agree that the full meal "feels lighter".
I worked for Chick-fil-A in store and at home office for about fourteen years - the kick you said is missing from Mc Donald's sandwich is probably the MSG. Chick-fil-A is loaded with MSG. I tried the Mc Donald's sandwich today - Immitation is the highest form of flattery. Chick-fil-A Inc. is probably busting their suspenders because of this. The fast food giant is chasing little old Chick-fil-A's business.
does the mc donald's sandwich have msg? I couldn't find it in the nutritional information. as much as i love chick fil a, I have to watch the msg since I turn into a puffball a few hours after eating it!
I have been waiting for Chick Fil A to migrate to Michigan! Instead, McDonalds stepped in and created a very good copy. I still favor the original, but I can't get the real thing on my lunch break!
Intrigued at what "Southern-stye" means, I picked one up on a rare trip to McD's yesterday. Yum! I agree, not quite Chick-Fil-A. I'd rather buy there 1000:1 over McD's, but we don't have any up here (West Michigan). McD's is going to have to be a 2nd rate substitute, but it passes until I can get my hands on the delicious golden goodness of the original...
My Dad OWNS Chick-fil-A in Tigertown, and CFA Rules.....MickeyD's Drools. I made a whole website on it!
I also worked in a Chick Fil A as a kid... do you know if McDonalds pressure-cooks their sandwiches? CFA does, and that makes their original sandwich taste a little different (pressure cooking also helps keep them a them juicy).
I'm not a big McD fan either, but boy oh boy they have good fries. ;-)
**SIGHS** If I had the option of bein back home in the south, I would take Chik Fil A over McDonalds any day. Add on a Cookies and Cream shake...and waffle fries and I'm in heaven ((Yea, I LIKE the fries...)) But, since I'm stuck in CT...the McD's version is as close as I can get. It's a good stand in...along with the 1.00 iced sweet tea...but it'll never completely fill the shoes of C/F.
As someone who really enjoys the Chik-fil-a sandwich, here are the reasons this makes Chik-fil-a obsolete:
1. I don't have to drive around looking for a Chik-fil-a anymore
2. I can get this on Sunday (my biggest gripe about Chik-fil-a) and in many cases 24 hours a day.
3. I can get it in a breakfast version (on Sunday freaking morning)
While the Chik-fil-a sandwich is marginally (and I can't stress the word marginally enough) better, the three reasons above more than make up for the (marginal) taste differences.
I tried the McDonald's southern style chicken sandwich today...and I thought it was disgusting! The breading was tasty, but there was so much floppy fat hidden in between the pieces of chicken, I was grossed out. This sandwich looks yummy, but beware! It's no Chick Fil A.
MSG, huh? i visited home (north carolina) last week and we ate at CFA 3 times, and i do notice the puffiness after i eat, subsides after a few hours. it will not deter me, but good to know. we live in NYC and will try their sandwich thursday when they give them away, but i doubt seriously i'll be a regular customer, their food ALWAYS makes me feel sick.
Being a Southerner exiled in NYC, I really wanted to dislike this sandwich. Calling it "Southern style"? Come on. But I had a coupon for a free one, so I tried it. You know what? Not bad. If CFA is a 10, McD's version is about a 7. But since CFA avoids NYC like the plague, I guess it'll do for now.
I tried it and it was fabulous! Exactly like the CFA sandwich. And, there is nothing better than McDonald' French Fries!
McDonald's foods are held to the highest food safety standards in the industry and I am certain you will never see McDonald's go out of business because a burger is tainted with bacteria or a supplier uses "downer cows". It just won't happen.
I tried both the biscuit and sandwich and I was unimpressed with both with them.
The biscuit needed something else like honey or a slice a cheese on it. The sandwich is better, it does tastes a lot like CFA's but the overall seasoning is blander. And they serve it on their standard hamburger bun.
They need to stick to burgers.. its sad when the only chicken MD's gets right are the McNuggets.
I LOVE the waffle fries!
Tried the McD Southern Style and found that the large amount of butter ruined the sandwich. It overpowered the overall taste.
Am eating one right now and OMG I love it. I also love CF but the McD's version is soooo close and much more convenient to find a McDs than a CF AND McDs is open on Sunday. Gawd I hope they keep this on the perm menu.
McDonald's needs to leave the chicken sandwich business to Chick Fil A. This new sandwich is terrible. I tried to avoid it but today i gave in. Huge mistake!!! Anybody else miss the Arch Deluxe?
OK.
I worked at Chick Fil A years ago and I am an avid eater. To be able to work there, surrounded by CFA food all day and still want to eat it, a lot of it, definitely says something about its goodness. And I happen to love the waffle fries.
That being said, I was appalled at how blantant McD was about the new "Southern Style" chicken. Aside from the taste, it's utterly identical. They could have at least changed the number of pickles. GEEZ. I'm almost offended.
Anyway, when you first bite into the McD sandwhich, you initially taste the sameness of the CFA sandwhich. But once you get into it.. BLAND. I guess I would eat it again, but still.. it just feels WRONG.
If you think about it, it all started with the TEA. CFA is one of the few places in the north where you could get fresh brewed sweet tea (NO LEMON!- lemon and tea is just... wrong). Here comes McD with the giant tea, just like CFA, but for only a dollar. I have to admit, it actually better, but so blatanly identical- freshly brewed, always the right amount of sweetness, in a styrofoam stay-cool cup. When will it end?
I find the Chick Fil-A Waffle Fries the best fast-food fries out there, far better than McDonald's. Especially the ones that have a bit of skin on them. And I like the Chick Fil-A sandwich a lot better than what McD's gives you, too.
chick fil A is amazing, theres no doubt about that, but this chicken sandwich from MCD isnt all that bad. its actually rather tasty, granted its definitly no chick fil A but its a good substitute when theres no CFA around, or your short on cash (the MCD version is cheaper than CFA) but i agree with a previous statement, CFA is a 10 and the MCD sandwich is a 7.. its a good eat
The Chick fil-A sandwich is better and I prefer it over the mcdonalds one. However chick fil a is farther from my house it wil take about 20 minutes and its at a mall so you have to park but I have a McD only about 2 minutes from my house so for now I have to stay with the SSCH wich really isnt half bad.
Part of the problem is that, especially in the northeast, Chick Fil A has very little exposure. In fact, last time I checked they are not even in the state of New York. I have been going to Paramus Park for as long as I can remember (I'm 34) and definitely prefer the CFA over the McD sandwich.
McD is really expensive for a small sandwich. You can't charge what you do for a Big Mac for a piece of chicken and two pickles. And it's dwarfed by the size of a CFA (sorry, had to get the reference in!)
The CFA is just a tastier sandwich. I've made knockoffs at home that have come out better than the McD snadwich. And I don't know either recipe!
Is there anything wrong with the McD? No, in fact it's a tasty sandwich, and I prefer it over most of the rest of the menu. And the fact that you can still get a Hi-C orange (as well as a sweet tea) is a double-whammy. McD definitely thought this one out. But I'm still a CFA man at heart. McD put up a great effort, but it is no CFA.
And hey, I like the waffle fries, sue me!
Oh, and the McD chicken biscuit is too heavy.
the chick-fil-a where i live reels in almost $15,000 a day. it's the only one in the entire area out of SEVERAL mc donalds within miles of eachother. the only business they seem to lose is when they're not open (and theyre not open nearly enough!) :P
I prefer the McDonalds one. The CFA here can never seem to get a truly CRISPY fried chicken, the breading always comes softish. Plus they dont butter the buns which makes for a dull and bad tasting bun. The bun is really quite bad, almost as bad as a Burger King bun. Ive had it several times and its always the same.
The McDonalds one on the other hand was crispy like fried chicken is supposed to be. Luckilly I have never had a stale one since McDonalds is famous for their fried foods thatve been sitting around for too long. The bun was MUCH better, CFA's bun can only be described as garbage compared to the odd but good bun McDonalds uses for their chicken sandwich (I have never had a bun anything like the one they use, its really unique).
Chicken quality is the same for both, Ive had fat ridden CFA chicken and fat ridden MD chicken, also tough chicken from both. The Southern Style is much smaller but its also almost $1 cheaper for a combo.
Maybe the CFA I go to doesnt know how to follow the right directions but I have yet to be impressed, the MD sandwich was quite a bit better.
2:16 AM:
CFA chicken is not fried chicken. It is cooked in a pressure cooker. They do not advertise as fried chicken. Therefore, they of course do not get CRISPY.
I've had the McD version, and it's not crispy either. You sure you didn't have a different sandwich?
CFA's bun is buttered. To call the bun garbage shows just how anti CFA you are. Which is fine. But why? McD's is "unique?" How?
The McD sandwich is expensive, plain and simple. I've seen them for as much as $1 more than CFA and they are admittedly much smaller in size. You also can't compare the size of the soda and fries of CFA to that of McD. CFA does provide a lot more food.
If you want more crispy food at a cheaper price, go to KFC.
Try putting Honey Roasted BBQ sauce on your waffle fries. It makes them taste a whole lot better
Post a Comment