{"id":25224,"date":"2017-10-13T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-13T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/?p=25224"},"modified":"2023-08-30T16:39:45","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T02:39:45","slug":"review-wendys-chicken-tenders-and-side-of-sawesome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2017\/10\/13\/review-wendys-chicken-tenders-and-side-of-sawesome\/","title":{"rendered":"REVIEW: Wendy&#8217;s Chicken Tenders and Side of S&#8217;awesome"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Wendys-Chicken-Tenders-1.jpg?resize=600%2C405&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Wendy s Chicken Tenders 1\" title=\"Wendy's Chicken Tenders 1.jpg\" border=\"0\" width=\"600\" height=\"405\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Wait, chicken tenders are a thing again?<\/p>\n<p>When McDonald\u2019s killed its Chicken Selects in 2015, I could have sworn the burger-centric fast foods chains were done with premium, dippable chicken. But the resurrection of McDonald\u2019s Chicken Selects as <a href=https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2017\/10\/06\/review-mcdonalds-buttermilk-crispy-chicken-tenders-with-signature-sauce><\/a>Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Tenders seems to have started something a trend. Case in point, Wendy\u2019s feels the need to one-up the Golden Arches with brand new Chicken Tenders and a never-before-seen sauce &#8211; Side of S&#8217;awesome.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Wendys-Chicken-Tenders-2.jpg?resize=598%2C408&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Wendy s Chicken Tenders 2\" title=\"Wendy's Chicken Tenders 2.jpg\" border=\"0\" width=\"598\" height=\"408\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve eaten a couple hundred pounds of chicken tenders and I can tell you these are decent as far as the all-white meat stuff goes. They lack the kind of succulent, peanut oil-infused flavor of Chick-fil-A\u2019s tenders, and you\u2019re not going to mistake them for Raising Cane&#8217;s or Zaxby\u2019s. But the breading is crisp and well seasoned, the chicken isn\u2019t dry, and there are no textural abnormalities like slimy meat or hollow crevasses under the breading.<\/p>\n<p>But the flavor is predictable: the ubiquitous garlic, onion powder, salt, and black pepper mix you\u2019ve probably tasted in dozens of chain restaurant and food service tenders. In other words, unless you\u2019re really into the breading, you\u2019re gonna want something to dip these in.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Wendys-Chicken-Tenders-3.jpg?resize=599%2C444&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Wendy s Chicken Tenders 3\" title=\"Wendy's Chicken Tenders 3.jpg\" border=\"0\" width=\"599\" height=\"444\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m assuming Wendy\u2019s came up with the name for their S\u2019awesome Sauce because someone thought it was cool; that or \u201cSpread,\u201d \u201cFry Sauce,\u201d and <a href=https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nzGmgf9RWnU>\u201cEd\u2019s Sauce\u201d<\/a> were already taken. In any case, they should have named it \u201cIt\u2019s Alright Sauce\u201d because it&#8217;s okay.<\/p>\n<p>Advertised as \u201ctangy, sweet, and smoky,\u201d it has elements of the first two flavors but very little smokiness unless you count the whisper of Worcestershire on the backend. Overall, it trends neither distinctly tangy or sweet, instead finding a mild middle ground which tastes like two parts mayo, one part mustard, and one part ketchup. But it doesn\u2019t pop; it doesn\u2019t wow; it doesn\u2019t make me lick my fingers and declare to my coworkers that <i>this shit is s\u2019awesome<\/i>.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Wendys-Chicken-Tenders-4.jpg?resize=599%2C434&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Wendy s Chicken Tenders 4\" title=\"Wendy's Chicken Tenders 4.jpg\" border=\"0\" width=\"599\" height=\"434\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Put another way, if dipping is your thing, then you\u2019ll probably want to stick with your usual Wendy\u2019s go-to sauce.<\/p>\n<p>When I saw that McDonald\u2019s brought back chicken tenders, and then Wendy\u2019s followed suit, my first instinct was to ask myself why major fast food chains had deserted them in the first place. But now that I\u2019ve tried Wendy\u2019s new Chicken Tenders, I can\u2019t help notice how ordinary they taste when lined up against the Raising Cane&#8217;s, Zaxby\u2019s, and Chick-fil-A\u2019s of the world. And, unfortunately, even a name like S\u2019awesome Sauce can\u2019t hide the fact that the entire combo is average.<\/p>\n<p><small>(Nutrition Facts &#8211; 3 pieces \u2013 300 calories, 130 calories from fat, 14 grams of total fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 70 milligrams of cholesterol, 920 milligrams of sodium, 20 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of dietary fiber, 0 grams of sugar, 22 grams of protein.)<\/small><\/p>\n<p><b>Purchased Price:<\/b> $5 combo ($3.49 for order of 3)<br \/>\n<b>Size:<\/b> 3-piece combo<br \/>\n<b>Rating:<\/b> 5 out of 10<br \/>\n<b>Pros:<\/b> Meatier alternative to Wendy\u2019s nuggets. Solid crunch and well seasoned breading. Lower in calories than most chicken tenders.<br \/>\n<b>Cons:<\/b> S\u2019awesome Sauce is pretty average. Tenders aren\u2019t particularly succulent or juicy. Breading flavor is predictable. $5 combo meal isn\u2019t as good as Dairy Queen\u2019s $5 chicken tenders lunch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wait, chicken tenders are a thing again? When McDonald\u2019s killed its Chicken Selects in 2015, I could have sworn the burger-centric fast foods chains were done with premium, dippable chicken. But the resurrection of McDonald\u2019s Chicken Selects as Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Tenders seems to have started something a trend. Case in point, Wendy\u2019s feels the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1440],"tags":[1477,1526],"class_list":["post-25224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews","tag-fast-food","tag-wendys"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":25181,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2017\/10\/10\/fast-food-news-wendys-chicken-tenders-side-of-sawesome-sauce\/","url_meta":{"origin":25224,"position":0},"title":"FAST FOOD NEWS: Wendy\u2019s Chicken Tenders &#038; Side of S\u2019Awesome Sauce","author":"Marvo","date":"October 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Update: We reviewed it! Click here to read our review. McDonald's recently re-introduced chicken tenders with a new dipping sauce. To rain on McDonald's parade, Wendy's is also offering chicken tenders with a new sauce. Tenders are made from 100 percent all-white meat chicken breasts that are lightly breaded and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Fast Food News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Fast Food News","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/fast-food-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Wendy%E2%80%99s-Chicken-Tenders-Side-of-S%E2%80%99Awesome-Sauce.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Wendy%E2%80%99s-Chicken-Tenders-Side-of-S%E2%80%99Awesome-Sauce.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Wendy%E2%80%99s-Chicken-Tenders-Side-of-S%E2%80%99Awesome-Sauce.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":73427,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2025\/10\/31\/wendys-chicken-tendys-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":25224,"position":1},"title":"REVIEW: Wendy\u2019s Chicken Tendys","author":"Vin","date":"October 31, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Wendy's new chicken tenders are boneless, but I've still got a bone to pick with America's 9th favorite Redhead. For years, on this great site, I've famously, tirelessly, breathlessly, and relentlessly asked \u2013 nay \u2013 begged Wendy's to release a line of Frosties chock full of fix-ins called \"Wendy's Blendies.\"\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Reviews&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Wendy\u2019s Chicken Tendys and Signature Sauce","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/wendyschitendys1-600x750.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/wendyschitendys1-600x750.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/wendyschitendys1-600x750.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32064,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2018\/10\/09\/fast-food-news-wendys-sawesome-bacon-classic\/","url_meta":{"origin":25224,"position":2},"title":"FAST FOOD NEWS: Wendy&#8217;s S&#8217;Awesome Bacon Classic","author":"Marvo","date":"October 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"This time last year, Wendy's rolled out a new dipping sauce to go with its revamped chicken tenders. That sauce, a Side of S'Awesome, is now a condiment on Wendy's newest burger. Wendy's S'Awesome Bacon Classic comes with a 1\/4 lb. beef patty, three strips of Applewood-smoked bacon, American cheese,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Fast Food News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Fast Food News","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/fast-food-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/S_Awesome_Wendys.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/S_Awesome_Wendys.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/S_Awesome_Wendys.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36468,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2019\/05\/10\/wendys-sawesome-bacon-chicken-sandwich-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":25224,"position":3},"title":"REVIEW: Wendy&#8217;s S&#8217;Awesome Bacon Chicken Sandwich","author":"Vin","date":"May 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Folks, you may have saw some sauces, but you ain\u2019t NEVER saw a sauce like S\u2019awesome Sauce! Or perhaps you have, it\u2019s not exactly new. Wendy\u2019s has been hyping the condiment up for a few years now by tossing it on burgers and even adding it to its lineup of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Reviews&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Reviews","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/reviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Wendys-SAwesome-Bacon-Chicken-Sandwich-Half.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Wendys-SAwesome-Bacon-Chicken-Sandwich-Half.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Wendys-SAwesome-Bacon-Chicken-Sandwich-Half.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Wendys-SAwesome-Bacon-Chicken-Sandwich-Half.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Wendys-SAwesome-Bacon-Chicken-Sandwich-Half.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36314,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2019\/05\/01\/fast-food-news-wendys-made-to-crave-chicken-sandwiches\/","url_meta":{"origin":25224,"position":4},"title":"FAST FOOD NEWS: Wendy&#8217;s Made to Crave Chicken Sandwiches","author":"Marvo","date":"May 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Wendy's follow-up to its line of Made to Crave Cheeseburgers is a new range of Made to Crave Chicken Sandwiches. There are three in the lineup -- Avocado BLT, S'Awesome Bacon Chicken, and Barbecue Chicken. Avocado BLT features a grilled chicken fillet, muenster cheese, three strips of Applewood-smoked bacon, lettuce,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Fast Food News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Fast Food News","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/fast-food-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Wendys-Made-to-Crave-Chicken-Sandwiches.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Wendys-Made-to-Crave-Chicken-Sandwiches.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Wendys-Made-to-Crave-Chicken-Sandwiches.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Wendys-Made-to-Crave-Chicken-Sandwiches.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Wendys-Made-to-Crave-Chicken-Sandwiches.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24891,"url":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/2017\/09\/28\/fast-food-news-mcdonalds-buttermilk-crispy-chicken-tenders-and-signature-sauce\/","url_meta":{"origin":25224,"position":5},"title":"FAST FOOD NEWS: McDonald&#8217;s Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Tenders and Signature Sauce","author":"Marvo","date":"September 28, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"McDonald's is once again offering chicken tenders. The first iteration came out over a decade ago and was around for many years. It was discontinued and replaced with Chicken Select Tenders, which was also discontinued. But you know what they say, \"The third time is the chicken.\" McDonald's new Buttermilk\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Fast Food News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Fast Food News","link":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/category\/fast-food-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/McDonalds-Buttermilk-Crispy-Tenders.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/McDonalds-Buttermilk-Crispy-Tenders.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/McDonalds-Buttermilk-Crispy-Tenders.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25224\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25224"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25224"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.theimpulsivebuy.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}