I compared Popeyes and Chick-fil-A and saw how critical speed will be to winning the chicken sandwich wars (2024)

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I went to the Popeyes near my office on a Wednesday around 1:30 p.m.

This location is at 111 Fulton Street. Restaurants in the Financial District get really busy at lunchtime since there are a lot of offices in the neighborhood. I figured it would be a good way to see how Popeyes and Chick-fil-A handle their busiest hours.

When I entered, there were about 5 people ahead of me in line.

There were also a couple of people who had already placed their orders waiting off to the side of the counter. A shelving system to the right stored take out orders.

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I waited approximately 6 minutes before it was my turn to order.

The restaurant was pretty full. I spotted at least ten people sitting at tables.

I waited in line for less than 30 seconds before my order was called and an employee handed me a warm chicken sandwich

There were a few people ahead of me in line still waiting for their orders, so I wondered if mine was faster because it was a chicken sandwich. Perhaps they had some classic sandwiches ready to go, whereas customized orders took longer.

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I brought my chicken sandwich and a mango lemonade to a table

The chicken sandwich was $5.99 and the mango lemonade was $2.79. With tax, my order total came to $9.56. It's hard to find lunch for under $10 in the Financial District.

I was impressed by how thick the sandwich looked

It was still pretty warm as I unwrapped it.

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When I lifted the bun, the chicken fillet was thick and heavily breaded — exactly what I would expect for a piece of fried chicken

Though, I would have liked to see a little more mayo on the sandwich.

The buttery brioche bun and crispy breaded chicken were delicious

The pickles slid to the back of my sandwich so some of my bites were missing pickles.

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Overall, the sandwich was delightful. I would definitely order it again.

The sandwich was a good portion that fulfilled my appetite, but didn't leave me feeling overly full or sluggish.

The next day, I went to Chick-fil-A for lunch at about 1 p.m.

This location was just down the street from Popeyes at 144 Fulton Street. It's a popular lunch destination so there is usually a crowd around the entrance.

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The line was almost out the door

There were too many people in front of me to count.

Several people were in and out of the restaurant to pick up orders

I thought Popeyes had been busy the previous day, but that was nothing compared to the flood of customers in Chick-fil-A at lunchtime.

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I waited in line for about a minute before an employee took my order on a tablet. Then I waited about 2 minutes before I got to the counter, paid for my food, and received my order.

The restaurant certainly has their rush-hour process down. There was an employee at the entrance welcoming everyone in and directing them into line. There were a couple employees with tablets taking orders while customers waited in line. Then there were several cashiers ringing up orders and handing out food.

I received my food at the counter as the employee processed my payment. I was surprised I didn't have to wait longer after paying, since that's usually how it goes. But I guess the chain has front loaded customers' wait time so there's instant gratification once you reach the counter.

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I brought my classic chicken sandwich and a half and half drink to the dining area upstairs

I didn't ask for a meal but the employee must have assumed I wanted one since I ordered a drink. He then asked if I wanted fries or a fruit salad, so I chose the fruit salad as a healthier alternative. But had I known it was optional, I would have done without it.

The meal cost $12.29, plus $1.60 for the fruit cup, and an extra charge of 36 cents for the lemonade iced tea. With tax, the total came to $15.52.

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The sandwich looked flatter and less appetizing than the Popeyes sandwich.

The chicken had less breading.

I couldn't see the pickles, so I lifted up the top of the sandwich

There were two tiny pickles hiding under the chicken. I laughed at how small they were — I could get one, maybe two bites out of them.

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The sandwich was alright, but tasted a bit bland without any sauce so I added some barbecue sauce

I know a major selling point for some is that Chick-fil-A has a bunch of different sauces for your chicken. But I wanted to try the sandwich on its own first to get a full taste of the flavors.

The chicken was tender and juicy, but the breading lacked flavor and crunch. The bread felt sad compared to Popeyes brioche bun.

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I got full before finishing the sandwich so I packed up the rest for later

I don't usually eat a big breakfast, but that morning the office catered bagels so I wasn't very hungry by the time lunch came around.

That said, the lack of flavor and crispy texture in Chick-fil-A's sandwich didn't really make me want to eat more of it.

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Chick-fil-A isn't my first choice for a chicken sandwich

While Chick-fil-A's sandwich is fine — it satisfies on a road trip or a quick lunch break — it's also pretty forgettable. There's a reason I couldn't remember if I liked the last one I had a couple years ago.

Whereas Popeyes had all the elements of a good chicken sandwich: thick, crunchy breading on top of well seasoned chicken on a fluffy, buttery brioche bun, and a good amount of pickles.

Popeyes is noteworthy good, the kind of sandwich you bring up in conversation with drool forming in your mouth.

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If all of Popeyes' kitchens are as quick as the one I experienced, the chain could beat its competitors in the ongoing chicken sandwich wars.

I later contacted Popeyes to ask if this kitchen was new but a company representative said they could not confirm if this location's kitchen was new or not.