The decision to hit the drive-thru isn’t always an easy one. After giving yourself a “you’ve got food at home” speech and weighing all the options, you’re then tasked with choosing the right restaurant. Venturing away from your go-to fast food spot can be a big risk, especially when you’re teetering on hangry. Sometimes the reward is a new favorite meal, but other times you immediately regret the decision.
Soggy fries, messy burgers, and tough chicken tenders are among the most disappointing fast food situations. And with so many chains copying each other or trying trendy items, such as the chicken sandwich, you’re bound to come across a few that miss the mark.
Earlier this year, we ranked the top fast food chicken sandwiches, and a beloved 85-year-old chain landed at the bottom of our list.
The No. 1 Chicken Sandwich To Skip at the Drive-Thru
There are a lot of things Dairy Queen does right. Blizzards are undeniably top-tier. The dipped cones are the perfect pick-me-up on hot days. And Dairy Queen’s ice cream cakes are worthy of any celebration. One non-frozen menu item that didn’t perform well in our taste test, however, was its chicken sandwich.
Allrecipes / Karen Hibbard
We can’t say that we’re surprised. After all, Dairy Queen is known for its soft serve. The winners of our taste test were chicken-centric chains: Chick-fil-A and Popeyes. Honestly, DQ barely stood a chance.
The biggest reason why guests, including our own reviewer, dislike the sandwich isn’t because of taste. It’s because the chain opted for chicken tenders rather than a single fried fillet. It’s a known fact that fans love Dairy Queen’s tenders, and one Redditor even called them the “best chicken tenders in fast food.” But no matter how good they taste, tenders are never the way to go for a chicken sandwich. Oftentimes, they’re more heavily breaded than a single portion of meat. Not to mention, once you’re a few bites in, there’s a good chance a piece is going to tumble to the floor.
It’s okay, though, Dairy Queen, we still love you. The chicken sandwich wars are just competitive. Without a signature sauce or golden patty with a shockingly big crunch, it’s not easy to come out on top.
But as long as you keep making those delicious, creamy Blizzards, we’ll always choose you when we want a frozen treat.
