Burger King has a mixed record with chicken sandwiches. My previous experience was in the form of the Original Chicken Sandwich. That’s the hoagie-like version that can have some questionable quality chicken in the form of a pressed patty. I ended up throwing half of it away because it was just not good.
So naturally, when Burger King put its new Ch’King into the ever-growing field of fast food chicken sandwiches, I knew it was time to give BK an opportunity to redeem itself.
In 2019, Popeyes started a movement through the fast food industry that is still being felt two years later. It started serving a high quality, flavorful chicken sandwich that made the standard fast food fare pale in comparison. In my opinion, Popeyes’ offering has yet to be bested. However, I went into trying the Ch’King neutral and was curious how it would end up ranking.
The options you have at the moment when ordering are either a Ch’King or Spicy Ch’King. Both come on toasted potato buns with a signature sauce and crisp pickles. The spicy variety is the same chicken as the original (no spicy seasoning in the breading), just tossed in a spicy glaze. BK also offers a “Deluxe” version of both that sees the pickles removed for lettuce and tomato. I opted for the standard Ch’King.
It was interesting to see it packaged in a bag similar to Chick-fil-A and Popeyes. However, upon opening it, it was wrapped in the standard wrapper. I am not sure if it’s just my location that opted for this, but I have a feeling (based on some of the soggy bits) it may not be the correct way to serve it. The sandwich itself is decently sized — not quite as big as Popeyes’, but bigger than the standard Chick-fil-A.
Upon taking it apart, I notice the crispy pickles are certainly not the standard fast food pickles. I expected dill pickles, but found them to be more like bread & butter. Generally, I don’t care much for bread & butter pickles, but they worked very well with the overall flavor of the sandwich. The sauce, described as a “savory signature sauce,” was the weakest point. It was just a generic mayo-based sauce with no real strong flavors other than slightly sweet. I’d have preferred the standard mayo instead. The bread was a nice upgrade from the standard buns and helped sell the “premium” feeling of the sandwich.
It’s a good-sized chicken fillet, breaded in a crunchy coating we’ve come to expect from these new chicken sandwiches. However, by the time I got home, it had lost some crunch due to being double wrapped. This didn’t necessarily take away from my overall enjoyment, but I had looked forward to that TikTok-worthy CRUNCH and didn’t really get it. As for its taste, it was perfectly fine, but blander than Popeyes’. In fact, the closest comparison in flavor was Chick-fil-A. The meat itself was juicy and tender. It’s always nice to get a perfectly cooked chicken sandwich as I think we can all relate to that experience of biting into one, only to be greeted by dry or rubbery meat.
Burger King is certainly coming out swinging with its new sandwich. It’s a solid attempt with a lot to like and also some opportunity for growth. While I personally don’t feel like it topples Popeyes for the top spot, it certainly has its place at the podium.
Purchased Price: $4.99
Size:N/A
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 800 calories, 36 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 90 milligrams of cholesterol, 710 milligrams of sodium, 69 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugar, and 33 grams of protein.
I LOVED the spicy version of this new sandwich. It blows every fast food chicken offering out of the water except Popeyes, IMO. It’s a very solid second place in the chicken wars and I can’t believe Burger King actually pulled this off as well as they did.
Tried the regular not spicy best chicken sandwich ever
Sounds about in line with other reviews. I look forward to trying it. I hope that McDonald’s realizes how their attempt pales in comparison.
Echoing what Greg said, the spicy version is a solid 8.5 or 9. (Popeye’s is a 10.) It reminded me of something like a “Nashville Hot chicken” take on things. Heat builds nicely and burns a bit. Very crunchy, but also stayed very juicy. The pickles were phenomenal, the bread was soft and fresh. Home run from BK.
Brandon – you nailed it with your comparison to a “Nashville Hot Chicken”, although a mild version. That was the very first thing I thought as I was eating it. I actually meant to say that in my comment so it’s funny that you actually said it!
Holy crap 136 grams of fat! I much prefer Popeyes over this sandwich. Hell I think even McDonald’s does a better job with their new chicken sandwich. Especially the spicy one.
That’s a typo -it’s 36 grams of fat.
I tried both the regular ChKing, and the spicy.
I never had the Popeyes others compare it to.
But I loved it. A thick crunchy fillet that overhangs the bun. The spicy version however was a big greasy blob of a sandwich.
It oozed with grease. I ate it because I was hungry. I’m thinking it was made incorrectly by some school kid who was in a hurry. I enjoyed the regular one so much that I will give the spicy one another chance.
NASTEST TASTING SPICEY CHICKEN SANDWICH EVER. TASTE LIKE CHEAP WEAK BBQ SAUSE. THAT’S 4 PLUS CHANGE I’LL NEVER SPEND AGAIN.
You might want to edit – the sandwich has 36 grams of fat, not 136!!!
I just had the ch King for the 1st time and last time..from Latrobe Burger King..
That was the worst chicken sandwich I ever had..
My favorite is chick filet..
I’ve had KFC and McDonald’s
My favorit was McDonald’s hands down..
I’ve never thrown a chicken sandwich away..I did throw away the ch King..
Worst sandwich ever. It was cold and left a oily taste in my mouth.
Thanks for being honest. I totally agree with you. I used to think that McDonald’s had the worst chicken sandwich. But burger King has made official. THE CH-KING is nastiest sandwich I have ever tasted. The burger joints need to stick to burgers and leave the chicken to Chick-fil-A, and Popeyes.
Hey, your sandwich looked like our sandwiches always look. Like the last step in the process of making them is to sit on them. Nice review, I was reading it to my wife and she said “I hate bread and butter pickles, I’ll pass.” Thanks for the review.
Chicken filet, not a whole chicken breast like Chick Fil A’s sandwich. Blah soggy pickles instead of crispy crunchy lightly pickled. Bun is unbuttered and nothing special. Edible but could have been so much better.
Horrible horrible horrible! I ordered the Chicking sandwich. It smelled and tasted like fish!!!!
I want to know what is in the batter for the Ch-King. I ate one the other and though it was good it started to upset my stomach later in the day. I am allergic to milk (lactose intolerant) and I was wondering if there is milk in the batter.
Went out of my way to try this after seeing it on TV. Strongest taste was of old or burnt cooking oil. Only a small dab of sauce. Bun was fine and chicken thick enough and pickles OK but overall nothing close to Popeye’s.
I have been looking forward to trying the new Burger King Ch King sandwich. I finally got the chance and was really let down. The bun was incredible and I would choose this bun above all others, However the chicken patty was actually tough to chew and the whole sandwich was inundated with the Mayo type of sauce. It had 2 small pickle chips and the taste was just overpowered with the mayo. I would advise that it needs at least 3 to 4 pickle chips and a lot less mayo and add lettuce to help bring it all together.
Overall I was disappointed with it. It was over priced with way to much mayo and not enough pickle’s and something else to round out the sandwich.
I will be reviewing the KFC version next. I hope it is better than this one.
I ordered the chicken sandwich meal this evening… And was not impressed. It makes me wonder how much variance there is between Burger Kings. Mine had a strange aftertaste… A slight bitterness. The outside was certainly crunchy but plain as was the whole sandwich which was the deluxe version. Not very much sauce on it but the tomatoes and lettuce appeared fresh as was the bun. Personally I would give it a 6 or 7 based on its size and that the meal filled me up. It was just very bland so maybe those of you who like spicy sandwiches, might like the spicy version better but I will not be ordering this sandwich again… I’ll stick with the whopper!
I’ll always be a Chick -fil-A fan, but of all the others, I like the Ch’King Deluxe the best. I think all the other reviewers just don’t have good taste, unless the BK they tried wasn’t a very good one.
They’re not bad. The pickle was too bizarre for my taste (it’s dill or nothin’!), so we now get the one with tomato. But it’s more expensive, and not necessarily better, than BK’s old Crispy chicken sandwich.
Worst Chicken sandwich EVER!!! The “sauce” was horrible. The pickles were gross. I couldn’t eat that garbage. Next time I’ll order it MY way. Plain mayo, dill pickles, onion, tomato, lettuce. Or I’ll just make it at home because I can. Boo Burger King
When BK first came out with this sandwich, it was great. Fast forward to July 2023, worst looking, tasting waste of money you can imagine.
Small chicken fillet that forget about being crispy or tasty.
July 2022