Popeyes Chicken Sandwich is Beating Chick-fil-A on Social Media

Popeyes Chicken Restaurant; Image credit: Michael Rivera

The Popeyes Chicken Sandwich craze continues to sweep the nation, and Chick-fil-A should be getting nervous. I tell you this from observation, I have eaten many Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches, and I do like them. I have not yet tried Popeyes new chicken sandwich, but this is a journal post about my unsuccessful attempt to "get at one" because people are lining up like it is going out of style.

I want to know if Chick-fil-A is going to up their chicken sandwich game, because so far their response to Popeyes new chicken sandwich has been very weak (in my opinion).

Most Food Reviews favor Popeyes Chicken Sandwich over Chick-fil-A

From just the past two weeks, I have read several chicken sandwich food reviews, one after another, and each continue to crown Popeyes with a better chicken sandwich in taste and value. The Popeyes chicken sandwich is approximately $3.98 and comes in spicy and regular.

Even Popeyes current website has a picture of their sandwich front and center, as if they are making a statement: "Come and get it, Chick-fil-A, because you are about to be dethroned." (This is what I imagine the caption would read, anyways).

Popeyes website promoting the new chicken sandwich

My Attempt to Legally Acquire a Popeyes Chicken Sandwich 

Journal: On August 23, 2018, I found myself on my lunch break on a journey to the closest Popeyes in my hometown of Huntsville, AL. Fortunately, I work and live close to two different Popeyes. As I waited at the intersection, I didn't notice anything too unusual about the restaurant on the corner of University Drive and Jordan Lane. This location is typically busy during normal weekday lunch hour. So I waited patiently for the light to turn green. I turned into the parking lot to see that the drive-thru was overflowing out onto Jordan Lane and the parking lot was unusually packed. It was so full, that I watched the car in front of me get the very last open spot in the parking lot. At that moment, I realized that I am witnessing a phenomenon. Popeyes is already known for its outstanding chicken, but this latest movement in creating a delectable chicken sandwich continues to be re-posted on social media by "friends" that have not even themselves tried it. Two of them I know personally that have been posting about Popeyes chicken sandwich is better are even huge fans of Chick-fil-A. This is what baffles me the most. That unaware bystanders that have not even tried the sandwich are giving free advertising to Popeyes. So, on this Friday at lunch break. I did not stop in Popeyes to try this magical sandwich, because I physically could not park in the parking lot. So, this taste test will undoubtedly be pushed back to Saturday or Sunday so I can see for myself what all this commotion is about. And I may even go at odd hours. Who knows?

On August 24, 2019 I went to Popeyes at 8:30 p.m. and it was still packed inside and outside at the drive-thru. I was able to get a spicy chicken sandwich. I got it home and ate it and the results are: It tastes great. I agree with the food reviews that it is better than Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich.

When will Popeyes chicken sandwich be back?

It is rumored that the Popeyes chicken sandwich will be back in October 2019.

Lastly, two true statements on how I stand on both companies:
I have eaten at Chick-fil-A many times, and I like Chick-fil-A.
I have eaten Popeyes many times, and I like Popeyes.