Let's start with Burger King's new sandwich. It certainly looks good, and the smell is peppery and golden fried.
The chicken looks heavily breaded, and it's a rather discomforting orange hue. The sandwich necessities are lackluster at best — the tomato slice is mealy and pale, and the iceberg lettuce is wilted and sparse.
It's definitely not crispy, but there is a solid spiciness to it. The heat is surprisingly strong and sharp, with a lingering needling that’s similar to the vinegary heat of buffalo sauce. The tomato and lettuce add a cooling balance, but let the sandwich down in terms of quality.
Heat level: 6/10
Wendy's spicy-chicken sandwich is a fast-food favorite, and typically, Wendy's chicken is nothing to scoff at.
The chicken patty seems a little on the thin side but looks like it has a crispier, more robust breading than Burger King's. Yet the story is the same when it comes to the anemic tomato and globs of mayo.
It's another solidly spicy sandwich that’s undercut by lackluster quality. The chicken itself is good — crispy, albeit thin, with a strong heat that's more peppery than caustic. But the oomph just isn't there.
Heat level: 5/10
And then ... there's Chick-fil-A. We know the chicken-centric chain makes good chicken — otherwise it wouldn't be half as successful as it is. Chick-fil-A has two spicy sandwiches, but we're starting with the classic spicy sandwich first.
With just a chicken patty, pickles, and a bun, there's not much to it — but the simplicity (and lack of mayonnaise) is refreshing. The chicken itself isn't crispy in the slightest, but it's a very thick fillet.
The sandwich has a satisfying, albeit low, heat with just enough room to slow burn with minimal distraction. It's more towards the peppery side of heat than acidic. It's just plain good — although not spicy enough for those looking for a fiery challenge.
Heat level: 4/10
And just when you think the classic spicy sandwich is good, there's the deluxe version. This one has cheese and veggies added for some dramatic flair.
A spicy pepper jack cheese slice blankets the chicken breast fillet, which is roughly the same as the classic spicy one.
The chicken is, of course, fantastic. It has the same spiciness as the other sandwich, but the pepper jack cheese adds a bit more pizzazz and bite to the whole thing. Plus, the tomato and lettuce are vibrant and fresh — especially in contrast to the others.
Heat level: 5/10