We officially have a new entry in the chicken sandwich wars! According to CNBC, McDonald’s is testing a new chicken sandwich in two markets.
The popular burger chain is testing out a fried Crispy Chicken Sandwich, made with a fried chicken filet topped with butter and crinkle-cut pickles on a potato roll. There is also a Deluxe Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which has tomatoes, lettuce, and mayo. The sandwiches are being tested in Knoxville, Tennessee, and Houston, Texas, from now until January 26.
“The Crispy Chicken Sandwich and the Deluxe Crispy Chicken Sandwich will be tested beginning December 2 through January 26, 2020,” a McDonald’s representative said in a statement to Business Insider. “Houston and Knoxville are getting a sneak peek, everyone else should stay tuned for what’s to come in 2020.”
To kick off that latest Crispy Chicken Sandwich campaign, McDonald’s took to its Twitter account, “Houston. Knoxville. Lunch tomorrow? No beef.”
Although McDonald’s already serves the McChicken and spicy version of the McChicken, the taste doesn’t compare to the tastes of Popeyes and Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches.
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“A favorite, that our customers want, is a chicken sandwich. Unfortunately, they have to go to Chick-fil-A for it,” the board of the National Owners Association, a group of McDonald’s franchisees that formed in 2018, wrote in a July letter obtained by CNN. “Chick-fil-A’s results demonstrate the power of chicken. Yes, we have great Chicken McNuggets and our McChicken is a very good product. But we do not compete in the premium chicken sandwich category, either grilled or crispy,” the letter continued.
Following the franchise operators’ request and then after the success of Popeyes’ fried chicken sandwich, McDonald’s made the move to add a new addition to the menu. In October, McDonald’s told CNN Business that “we are inspired by the customer demand for premium chicken sandwiches, and are working closely with our franchisees to deliver what our customers want. Stay tuned.”
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The suggested price of the Crispy Chicken Sandwich is $3.49 and the price of the Deluxe Crispy Chicken Sandwich is $4.09. Of course, prices can vary by restaurant.
The new Crispy Chicken sandwiches may be McDonald’s answer to the Popeyes and Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches as they throw their hat into the fried chicken sandwich wars.