Review: Chick-fil-A Spicy Chicken Sandwich
Author: indianapoliseater | Filed under: Food Reviews
On May 31st, Chick-fil-A started offering a special “reservation” system for a free tasting of their new Spicy Chicken Sandwich that they are introducing nationally on June 6th (their first new chicken sandwich offering since 1989 according to my invitation). Being the loyal food blogger that I am, I made my way to my local Chick-fil-A to try out the sandwich on the first day that it was available (I was told by the manager that I actually was the first customer to ever try the Spicy Chicken Sandwich at that location…I felt special. LOL). For comparison purposes, I also got a regular chicken sandwich so that I could measure the differences.
What I Got: Spicy Chicken Sandwich (when introduced, this sandwich will be on the regular menu for $3.19).
First, the details of the sandwich (copied from the Chick-fil-A website):
“A boneless breast of chicken seasoned with a spicy blend of peppers, hand-breaded, pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil served on a toasted, buttered bun with dill pickle chips.”
Now, obviously if you look at the picture of my sandwich above, you will notice one difference on the description versus what is in the actual picture. If you haven’t noticed already, I’ll point it out for you…it’s the slice of pepper jack cheese. The basic version of the sandwich that I was supposed to get doesn’t include cheese (the deluxe version includes the cheese, lettuce and tomato).
Anyway, I’m glad the cheese was added accidentally because the peppery creaminess of the cheese was actually what put the taste over the edge and made the sandwich a winner for me, although I do wish it had been a little more melted. The chicken breast was moist and tender and really, it was absolutely perfect, just like Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches always are (this is where the comparison came in). The spice in the sandwich wasn’t overwhelming and the pickles provided a nice cooling contrast, but you could definitely tell it was there was some kick there and the spice will definitely give you some bite.
If you are a person that doesn’t do well with spicy foods, you probably won’t like this sandwich. If you do like spicy foods, I think you’ll really like this sandwich because it gives a nice peppery little kick to your day when you really wouldn’t expect it. It’s definitely more of a peppery spice versus a buffalo-type spice and it is not enough of a kick to ruin your day, but it is enough that it will wake you up.
Would I Buy It Again? Absolutely yes. Regrettably, I don’t get to Chick-fil-A often because my nearest location is in a mall food court and it’s a pain in the rear to get in and out quickly, but when I do go to one from now on, I think this sandwich (the deluxe version so that I get the cheese) will be on my must order list because it is really freaking good. Just enough spice to make you feel alive, but not enough to make you miserable. It’s the perfect fast food combination that is trying to appeal to the masses and is a nice contrast to the regular chicken sandwich, which I’ve always thought was good, but kind of bland.
FYI, if you want to try out this sandwich before it goes national next Monday, you still might have a chance. Go to their online reservation site and see if there is a location in your area that still has an open reservation for you
-IndianapolisEater
Tags: Chick-fil-a, Chicken, Food, spicy chicken sandwich
Nice. I’m signed up for this Thursday and have been chomping at the bit to get one of these. But I hear you on the cheese — I usually go with the classic grilled, and the one time I upgraded the the club I felt the unmelted probolone added absolutly nothing to the sandwich. So now I just ass the bacon
When I reviewed this last year it didn’t have cheese. I recommend paying the little extra to deluxe it with lettuce/tomato and ask for some ranch dressing. Good stuff. Oh and I’d probably hold the pickles for this spicy version.
My family of six went yesterday to a Deptford, NJ Chick-fil-A. They made a big deal out of the day. They had a special VIP section set up with table clothes and vases with flower, a dedicated cashier and they offered a deluxe and gave you a large drink to go with it. They also came around offering to refill the drinks, brought me some ice dream when they noticed the spice was getting to me and then came around with brownies for everyone. The franchise was there going table to table. They did a great job taking care of the customer!
I was the only one who got the deluxe and wasn’t sure at first if it was the added cheese bite or the chicken itself but it was spicy! When you first bite into it it’s not so bad, then it has an afterburn. I thought it was very good and the lettuce helped bring the spice down but I would get the sandwich plain if I were to get it again. I won’t be getting it again though because I am a wuss and it was too spicy for me. My spicy wing loving son and my other kids preferred the original also. My husband on the other hand loved it and would have it again.
Even though I don’t love spice, I thought it was interesting that they got so much flavor into the chicken itself. They explained that the chicken itself is marinated and when you take a bite of the chicken without breading, etc. it really did pack a punch. They did a good job with this sandwich even if it isn’t my favorite. If you like spice you will like this.
I thought it was interesting
I think those may be your credit card numbers visible between the two sandwiches… not the best idea.
@Brittany: Not my credit card numbers. That’s an advertisement on the mall food court table trying to persuade people to get a mall credit card.
@Ryan: I’m a pickle lover, so the more pickles the better for me. I definitely wouldn’t have them remove them.
@Tracy: Good way to describe the spice and you are right, it’s not the initial spice that gets you. It’s the afterburn where you pick up the spice. Even though it was a mall food court location, the employees were pretty concerned with what I thought of the sandwich too. I had at least three employees stop by to ask me what I thought. I understand they were trying to be customer focused and I can certainly appreciate that, but it was starting to get a little bothersome for me by the time the second visit happened.
I agree with the questioning getting a bit overbearing. I didn’t even have a bite in my mouth before they asked me what I thought. They also had someone going table to table taking pictures, which I found really annoying. We guessed the promotion must be costing them a pretty penny for them to make such a big deal out of it. The people working there were so nice that I tried really hard not to get as bothered as I normally would by the constant intrusions.
I have my reservation today for lunch. I’ll report.
My boyfriend and I tried this sandwich yesterday, and both really liked it. The pepperjack added a lot of flavor to the sandwich — I was impressed.
Looks great…. is there hardly anything that pepper jack doesn’t make better?
I do find the corporate aversion of anything to do with the word “fry” kind of comical, though. They describe it as “pressure cooked in 100% peanut oil”… come on, call a spade a spade, that means it is fried!
WOW! Eating mine now. It’s pretty spicy but that’s the way I like it! My cheese was more melted than yours. They asked me if I wanted some ranch dip just in case it was too spicy…not using it but nice touch…my mom would definitely need the cool down!
Winner in my book!
Just finished mine – still at the restaurant in fact. I didn’t get cheese on mine or ranch. Added some light mayo. I thought it was really good, though 15 minutes and an order of carrot-raisin salad later, I can still feel the tingle on my tongue. Really good, and I will get it again when I’m in the mood for spicy. I sometimes put Tabasco on my regular sandwiches (yum!) so the spicy is a nice change of pace. And so cool of CFA to promote it this way!
back at the office after enjoying mine…
1- I didn’t think it was very spicy. I was asked if I wanted lettuce & tomato and/or pepperjack cheese – I removed the cheese halfway through and from then on, I didn’t pick up on much spice. I’m a chile head, so take this for what it is worth
2- Didn’t receive any questions from the staff – but as stated above, I probably would have told them I didn’t think it was very spicy!
3- Chickfila’s customary pickle worked really well here – the vinegar in the pickle kind of playing up the ‘hot sauce’ kind of flavor
4- Though it was tasty and I appreciate their marketing campaign – free is good! – for a usual price of $3 and change, it will not sway me from my preferred order (large nuggets w/ polynesian sauce)… their chicken sandwiches, IMO, never have enough meat
You should just get it with no pickles and just douse it in their buffalo sauce so that it looks like a giant boneless buffalo “wing” piece… nom nom nom!
Sadly, no CFA for us here in midwest Missouri – but all of you reviews on CFA make my mouth water…how does it compare to the Wendy’s Spicy Chicken sandwich (which is the nearest thing I can think of)?
@Missouri: Funny that you bring Wendy’s up. As I was thinking of a way to describe the spice, the closest comparison I could think of was the spice in the Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Nuggets. I left that part out, but that is how I’d equate it.
Just had mine. I thought it was good. Not a ton of heat, but then again, its good flavor and you can’t go wrong with the moist, peanut oil infused chicken. I’m not crazy about chick-fil-a’s breading (usually I get the grilled, because I like more of a crunch on my fried chicken) but I rocked the mustard, pickles, and wheat bun for a nice balance of flavor and heat.
Holy Cow!!! I just read a bunch of people talking about some review about some sandwich they ate from chick fil a. what the heck… Chicken is good, I know. but only if it is treated and raised properly before consumption. Which is very rare in the US. All I am saying is that we need to get a grip with ourselves. That’s all.