As America falls deeper in love with chicken, the number of chicken chains seem to be growing by the day. However, you don't need to go out and try each restaurant. Instead, dig in to this finger-licking good ranking of the most popular fast food chicken chains, ordered from the worst to the best.
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00:00As chicken chains continue to rise in popularity across the U.S., you don't have to visit them
00:05all to find the best. Instead, check out this mouth-watering ranking of the top fast food
00:10chicken spots, ranked from the least impressive to the absolute best for your next craving.
00:16Champ's Chicken can be found in gas stations and convenience stores nationwide, but that
00:20doesn't mean it's worth seeking out. While gas station food can sometimes surprise you,
00:24Champ's Chicken is an exception. Their chickens seem to be the skinniest available, and they
00:28somehow manage to undercook the skin while overcooking the meat. The result? Tough, fatty
00:33skin surrounding dry, flavorless meat. A drumstick from Champ's might feel more like gnawing
00:37on a leather shoe than enjoying a crispy bite of chicken. It's cheap and easy, but if you
00:41care about taste, skip Champ's and go the extra mile for something better.
00:46Boston Market has long been recognized for its homestyle meals and tasty rotisserie
00:51chicken, but recently the quality has significantly dropped. Once a reliable spot for tender,
00:56juicy chicken, it now serves up rubbery, bland poultry that fails to impress. The decline
01:01isn't just about the chicken, it's also the growing availability of rotisserie chicken
01:05in grocery stores. With places like Costco offering perfectly cooked birds for just $4.99,
01:12why bother paying more for a meal at Boston Market that's less flavorful and inconsistent?
01:16What was once a dependable option now seems unnecessary in a world filled with cheaper,
01:21better alternatives.
01:22KFC was once the top choice for chicken nationwide, but its inconsistent quality has led many
01:27to explore other options. While there are rare occasions when the chicken is spot on,
01:32those moments are becoming increasingly rare, leaving customers disappointed more often
01:36than not.
01:37It's still finger-lickin' good.
01:40KFC's original recipe chicken often has a flavorful, peppery breading, but the meat
01:45tends to be greasy. If you go for the extra crispy option, you might find it's overcooked,
01:50to the point of being hard to bite, with the chicken inside drying out. However, KFC still
01:54excels in other areas, like their mashed potatoes and gravy, and their buttery, flaky biscuits.
02:00So if you're craving great sides but not the chicken, it's totally fine to grab your sides
02:04from KFC and look elsewhere for the main dish.
02:08The Lee in Lee's famous recipe refers to Lee Cummings, nephew of the famous Harlan Colonel
02:13Sanders of KFC fame. Cummings helped Sanders sell his chicken early on, gaining access
02:18to the Secret Family Spice Mix. Eventually, he developed his own version of fried chicken,
02:23which many believe shares the same 11 herbs and spices as KFC's. Lee's recipe falls within
02:28the same flavor profile as KFC, but might actually be a step up.
02:33The chicken has more pepper and a fresher taste, cooked from fresh, never frozen meat.
02:37The consistency is spot on, and the breading on the breast strips stands out for its crispiness
02:42and flavor. While you may initially try Lee's to compare it to KFC, you may end up pleasantly
02:47surprised by its taste and quality, making it a regular choice for fried chicken.
02:52Church's chicken excels when it comes to breading. The crispiness and seasoning are spot on,
02:56making the first bite promising. Unfortunately, the chicken itself doesn't live up to expectations.
03:01While there are occasional instances of fresh, juicy chicken, most visits leave you feeling
03:05like the meat had been frozen for far too long. However, Church's shines with their
03:09biscuits. If you haven't tried them yet, you're missing out. These biscuits are soft, buttery,
03:14and flaky, drizzled with a sweet honey butter glaze that's pure comfort. As delicious as
03:19they are, though, they don't quite make up for the inconsistent chicken quality. Almost,
03:23but not quite.
03:25Zaxby's is a hit or miss, often falling somewhere in the middle when it comes to chicken chains.
03:30While some locations serve up tender, flavorful chicken, others disappoint with dry, tough
03:34meat that doesn't taste fresh. It really varies by location and time of day. If you're craving
03:39a sandwich, skip the Chicken Fingers sandwich. It doesn't quite hit the mark. Instead, opt
03:44for the Kickin' Chicken on Texas Toast, where the ranch dressing and Tongue Torch sauce
03:49create a bold, memorable flavor.
03:51Zaxby's menu is diverse, offering zalads, zapatizers, and sides, but their bone-in wings
03:57stand out as the only other must-try chicken option worth recommending.
04:01Raising Cane's keeps it simple with just one type of chicken, Chicken Fingers. While you
04:06can get them in different combo sizes or as part of a sandwich, it's still all about the
04:10Chicken Fingers. Unfortunately, this focus on one dish feels limiting, especially since
04:15the chicken lacks flavor. The main issue with Raising Cane's is its blandness. While the
04:19chicken is usually juicy, it's severely lacking in seasoning.
04:22To make these Chicken Fingers more enjoyable, you'll need to drown them in sauce. Cane's
04:26sauce won't cut it alone. You'll need something bolder, like Tabasco or Frank's Red Hot, to
04:31give them any real flavor. If you're after more variety or crave flavorful chicken, you
04:36might want to consider other options.
04:38If you're craving chicken wings, Bonchon is the place to go. Don't expect the usual
04:42wings, though. Bonchon serves double-fried wings that are perfectly seasoned, giving
04:46you an irresistibly crispy texture and juicy meat. Their flavor options are simple but
04:51delicious. Soy Garlic, Spicy, or Half & Half. The Half & Half is highly recommended because
04:57both flavors are fantastic.
04:58While Bonchon wings might cost a bit more than typical chain wings, the price is justified
05:03by the quality and a free side with your order. You can choose from fries, rice, or pickled
05:08radishes, making it a satisfying meal all around.
05:11While Bonchon wings are solid, Wingstop takes the crown for the best chicken wings. Whether
05:15you prefer bone-in or boneless, Wingstop serves wings that are always plump, fresh, and packed
05:21with juicy meat. You'll never feel like you're missing out.
05:23What truly sets Wingstop apart, though, is the wide array of flavor options. For heat
05:28lovers, the Atomic Wings are a fiery delight, while Mango Habanero offers a tangy spice
05:33that's equally delicious. If you're not into super spicy, don't worry. Wingstop has plenty
05:38of milder options. From their rich and buttery Garlic Parmesan to the sweet and tangy Hawaiian
05:43flavor, there's something for everyone to enjoy at Wingstop.
05:47The catchy name made us hopeful, but we really wanted to enjoy Bojangles' famous Chicken
05:51& Biscuits. Sadly, Bojangles' famous Chicken & Biscuits just doesn't live up to expectations.
05:57The bone-in chicken is incredibly greasy. While the flavor might be decent, the overwhelming
06:01grease makes it nearly impossible to enjoy. If you opt for their boneless supremes, you'll
06:06face a different disappointment. These tenders may look promising, but the coating is disappointingly
06:10lackluster and lacks the crunch you crave, while the meat is far too dry. While Bojangles
06:15offers a range of menu options like sandwiches, bowls, and salads, none of these can make
06:20up for the disappointing quality of their chicken, leaving it hard to recommend.
06:25If you're craving spicy, flavorful chicken, Crispy Crunchy Chicken is a must-try. Found
06:29in gas stations and convenience stores like Champ's, KKC stands out by offering a much
06:34tastier experience. They serve crispy bone-in chicken, juicy tenders, and satisfying sandwiches,
06:41along with a solid variety of sides like fries, honey butter biscuits, jambalaya, mac and
06:46cheese, and red beans and rice.
06:48For the best experience, keep it simple. Load up on the Chicken & Biscuits. The chicken
06:52is always tender and meaty, never dry or stringy, with a perfectly crispy Cajun coating that
06:57gives it that authentic Southern flavor. While the sides are decent, the chicken is
07:01what steals the show.
07:02Jollibee's menu features a range of dishes, from their sweet Jolly Spaghetti made with
07:07banana ketchup to the surprisingly delightful Halo-Halo dessert, which includes beans. However,
07:12the real standout is their fried chicken. Whether you're enjoying the Breakfast Chicken
07:16Sandwich, Boneless Chicken Dippers, or the Classic Chicken Joy, their fried chicken hits
07:20all the right notes. It's well-seasoned, juicy, and never dry. The skin is always crispy and
07:26perfectly fried, never rubbery. This is the type of fried chicken that sets the standard
07:30for what all others aim to be.
07:33El Pollo Loco doesn't serve traditional fried chicken. Instead, they offer citrus-marinated,
07:38fire-grilled chicken that's packed with flavor. You can enjoy whole pieces of chicken with
07:42your choice of sides and tortillas, or opt for burritos, bowls, quesadillas, and other
07:47delicious specials. While the combinations are straightforward, they're anything but
07:52What sets El Pollo Loco apart is the chicken's perfect balance of tenderness and juiciness,
07:57with skin that's neither rubbery nor burnt. For sides, stick to the beans and rice, as
08:01the mac and cheese can be bland and too runny, while the mashed potatoes don't quite complement
08:06the citrusy chicken. And don't forget to add their salsa for an extra burst of flavor.
08:11PDQ, which stands for People Dedicated to Quality, certainly lives up to its name with
08:16great service and fresh food. Their chicken is 100% natural, free from hormones, steroids,
08:22and never frozen, making a noticeable difference in flavor. Instead of bone-in options, PDQ
08:27focuses on tenders, sandwiches, nuggets, and salads. One standout item is their Honey Butter
08:33Chicken Sandwich. The crispy chicken is coated in homemade honey butter, paired with a toasted
08:37brioche bun and crunchy pickle slices. PDQ also makes all of their sauces and dressings
08:42in-house daily, offering nine unique flavors.
08:45For bold taste, don't miss their Buffalo Blue and Sweet Sriracha sauces.
08:50Popeyes is the ultimate destination for spicy fried chicken lovers. Their crispy, flavorful
08:55coating and juicy interior deliver perfection in every bite, consistently across locations.
09:01Known for their bone-in fried chicken, Popeyes made waves in 2019 with the launch of their
09:05game-changing chicken sandwich, further solidifying their place in chicken fanatics' hearts.
09:11I've been trying to make the perfect chicken sandwich forever."
09:14How does that make you feel?"
09:15You know me, it had to be just right."
09:17The Popeyes Chicken Sandwich quickly went viral, selling out nationwide. Simple yet
09:21incredibly delicious, it became one of the best chicken sandwiches ever. After a brief
09:26hiatus, it's now back for fans to savor. Even if you're not a sandwich lover, Popeyes offers
09:31a variety of tasty options, from juicy drumsticks to spicy tenders, guaranteed to satisfy any
09:36craving.
09:38Chick-fil-A consistently earns top marks on the American Customer Service Index, securing
09:43its spot as the nation's favorite fast food chain. The secret to their success? It's hard
09:47to pinpoint, but their original chicken sandwich is a standout. The crispy chicken, buttery
09:52bun, and perfectly placed pickle create a deliciously simple masterpiece. Their nuggets are another
09:57fan favorite, especially when paired with the sweet Polynesian sauce.
10:01While chicken takes center stage, Chick-fil-A offers a variety of equally satisfying menu
10:06items, from creamy milkshakes to crispy waffle fries, making it a go-to destination for
10:11comfort food.