The new sandwich is part of the chain’s push into the fried chicken space.
A few years have passed since an armistice was reached in the infamous fried chicken sandwich wars, when a number of major fast-food chains flooded their menus with fried chicken sandwiches of every flavor, size and shape. But somehow our collective hunger for a juicy patty of breaded, fried poultry between two buttery buns still cannot be met.
In the suburban Chicago community where I live, the fried chicken craze has gone beyond old standby chains just adding menu items. Instead we’ve seen the arrival of previously regional chicken-centric brands like Raising Cane’s, Bonchon and Dave’s Hot Chicken, all of which have opened restaurants nearby in recent years. And now, a ubiquitous convenience store chain is doubling down on the trend as well.
Which store just launched chicken sandwiches?
7-Eleven just announced that it’s declaring what it has dubbed a “chicken takeover”. It’s adding a new trio of hot grab-and-go fried chicken menu items, which will be available any time of day at its convenience stores nationwide.
The headliner of the bunch is the chain’s new $4 chicken sandwich. It features a chicken breast fillet coated with a garlicky, spiced breading. The aim is to deliver “golden crunch” in a soft toasted bun, per a company press release.
The chain’s new chicken additions also include a new chicken and waffle sandwich. It features a fried chicken fillet topped with hot honey butter and surrounded by two Belgian-style waffles. And “new and improved” BOGO boneless wings are available in plain, tangy Buffalo, or spicy-sweet hot honey varieties.
How did the new 7-Eleven chicken sandwiches taste?
As a big believer in the art and science of the perfect chicken sandwich, I had to see what the buzz was about. The chain has reworked many of its grab-and-go items in recent months, even launching a new egg salad sandwich inspired by the one that went viral in Japan last year. I hoped these new chicken sandwiches might also mark a new flavor frontier for the convenience store.
I’m afraid to report that the results of this chicken experiment were pretty mixed. The $4 chicken sandwich, while a bargain, sent a mixed flavor message. While its bun signaled elevated preparation, the fillet itself lacked crispiness and flavor. I can sometimes get behind the cafeteria nostalgia of a mass-produced chicken patty, but this fillet had a rather unpleasant synthetic flavor that was tough to get past. This was a miss for me, especially when compared to the chicken sandwiches available at countless nearby fast-food chains.
The chicken and waffle sandwich, on the other hand, was a tasty spin on the popular savory-sweet brunch dish that inspired it. The sweetness of the waffle “buns” and the hot honey sauce successfully masked the less successful elements of the chicken fillet, resulting in a delectable and affordable handheld treat that’s perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth.
For how long will 7-Eleven sell the chicken sandwiches?
The new chicken sandwiches aren’t being promoted as a limited-time offering, and the company doesn’t frequently switch up its menu, so it appears that they should stick around for some time. That said, you might nonetheless have some difficulty finding them in stores like I did.
The first store I visited—during the lunch rush on a Sunday—had neither, while the second only had the chicken and waffle sandwich. I ordered the new chicken sandwich from a third store via a delivery service, but received a second chicken and waffle sandwich instead. It took a second delivery service order from yet another nearby store to finally get my hands on both.
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