This is one of the latest items to hit the Wendy’s menu. The small sandwich joins the roster as part of the value menu and if we’re being honest – it’s a head to head challenger for McDonald’s Hot N Spicy chicken. The McD version holds a special place in my heart. So how does the Wendy’s sandwich stack up? Lets look at some pictures first:
As I mentioned this is a budget sandwich, so don’t go hoping for premium ingredients. The interior is a processed affair, not a piece of chicken breast like the loftier Spicy Chicken Sandwich. That’s no bad thing of course, and the meat here was pleasantly juicy – it wasn’t anything like the horror show of the nuggets I also ordered. Compared to the version from the Golden Arches the interior texture was firmer, less mushy.
The crisp exterior is relatively minimal. There’s a thin breading that quickly becomes soft, again look at at the more expensive Spicy Chicken Sandwich if you want crunch. I’d say the spice level was relatively mild. The McD’s sandwich usually precipitates a little forehead sweat, but that didn’t happen here. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed; indeed, all the recent items I sampled marked spicy were very very tame.
Overall, not a bad little sandwich for a snack or side dish. I’d happily order one anytime I visited a Wendy’s. For me the McDonald’s version has the edge, as they aren’t afraid to bring a little more heat to the game.
Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you! I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic Salt Lake City, and a former freelance restaurant critic. I’ve worked extensively with local, regional and national food and drink organizations. I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have been writing about food and drink for more than fifteen years. I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand. I don’t mind admitting to a certain secret obsession with fast food as well – and that’s where Menu And Price comes in…