McDonald’s Buttermilk Crispy Chicken review

Buttermilk Crispy Chicken side view

Update February 2021: It’s expected this chicken sandwich will make way for the three new crisp chicken sandwiches that launch this month. Read our complete review of all three here.

At the time of writing, going into the Fall of 2020 the Buttermilk Crispy Chicken sandwich is McDonald’s sole premium chicken sandwich. In the wake of Covid and and menu purges, order boards have become simplified everywhere. What you’ll typically still find everywhere though is a crispy chicken sandwich of some kind. This is McDonald’s. Here’s some shots of the sandwich:

Buttermilk Crispy Chicken top down
Buttermilk Crispy Chicken top down
Buttermilk Crispy Chicken side view
Buttermilk Crispy Chicken side view
Buttermilk Crispy Chicken inside
Buttermilk Crispy Chicken inside
Buttermilk Crispy Chicken interior
Buttermilk Crispy Chicken interior

As opposed to the reformed nuggets and spicy chicken – this sandwich uses a big premium piece of real chicken; though as you can see it does appear to be a little processed (presumably some buttermilk soaking).

The exterior is enjoyably crisp with a surprisingly thin batter overall. I’m a fan of thinner finishes like this, otherwise the crisp coating often takes over making things too greasy – there’s none of that here.

On the sandwich I purchased I thought the toppings were a tad meagre. The lettuce and tomatoes were sparse, as was the mayo. This is a big sandwich and it deserves a little more in the way of extras. I’d love to see this sandwich with avocado for example!

As it is, I think the sandwich is a little too dry, half way through my palate started to really crave some relief. You might want to order a little extra mayo with this one, or if it’s available in your area, consider the cheaper Hot N Spicy.

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Hi, I'm Stuart, nice to meet you!  I'm the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC; I'm also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune.  I've worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV shows. I'm a multiple-award winning journalist and have covered the Utah dining scene for the better part of fifteen years.   I'm largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don't understand.   I've also got a secret obsession with fast food too - and that's where Menu And Price comes in...