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  4. I ate at Jack in the Box for the first time to see why sales are rising and its crispy fried chicken and tiny tacos won me over

I ate at Jack in the Box for the first time to see why sales are rising and its crispy fried chicken and tiny tacos won me over

Mary Meisenzahl   

I ate at Jack in the Box for the first time to see why sales are rising and its crispy fried chicken and tiny tacos won me over
Ken Wolter/Shutterstock
  • I visited Jack in the Box alongside other West Coast fast food chains.
  • The spicy chicken strips were a highlight of my trip and beat chicken chains like KFC and Chick-fil-A in my opinion.

On my West coast fast food trip, I visited Jack in the Box to test it out and see how it compares to other chains.

On my West coast fast food trip, I visited Jack in the Box to test it out and see how it compares to other chains.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The chain has around 2,200 locations, mostly located on the West Coast of the US.

The chain has around 2,200 locations, mostly located on the West Coast of the US.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

It sells a little bit of everything, from chicken tenders to burgers, fries, tacos, and other snacks.

It sells a little bit of everything, from chicken tenders to burgers, fries, tacos, and other snacks.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

It also just acquired Del Taco earlier in 2022 for $585 million, which Jack in the Box CEO Darin Harris called a "perfect fit."

It also just acquired Del Taco earlier in 2022 for $585 million, which Jack in the Box CEO Darin Harris called a "perfect fit."
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

The chain did nearly $350 million in restaurant sales in 2021, so I headed to a Southern California location to see what all the hype was about.

The chain did nearly $350 million in restaurant sales in 2021, so I headed to a Southern California location to see what all the hype was about.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Jack in the Box sales rebounded to impressive levels just below last year's 10% growth in July, beating expectations, CFO Tim Mullany told investors in an August earnings call.

Jack in the Box sales rebounded to impressive levels just below last year
Irene Jiang / Business Insider

An end to product shortages, reopening dining rooms, and resuming late night hours were all key to the sales upswing, Harris said.

An end to product shortages, reopening dining rooms, and resuming late night hours were all key to the sales upswing, Harris said.
Jack in the Box restaurant.      Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock

I tried out a small but representative sample of the menu, including spicy chicken strips, stuffed jalapeños, and tiny tacos.

I tried out a small but representative sample of the menu, including spicy chicken strips, stuffed jalapeños, and tiny tacos.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I'm always happy to eat chicken strips, and these were especially great ones, though a little sparse at $5.49 for two pieces.

I
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

They were just the right level of spicy, where I took a few extra sips of my drink but kept going back for more.

They were just the right level of spicy, where I took a few extra sips of my drink but kept going back for more.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

They were so crispy and smelled delicious.

They were so crispy and smelled delicious.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I wish I could get these where I live - they'd easily be my go-to fast food chicken.

I wish I could get these where I live - they
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I love KFC and Chick-fil-A, but I think Jack in the Box can hold its own against either on the fried chicken front.

I love KFC and Chick-fil-A, but I think Jack in the Box can hold its own against either on the fried chicken front.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I of course had to get jalapeno poppers, which are always tempting on menus but sometimes disappoint in actual execution.

I of course had to get jalapeno poppers, which are always tempting on menus but sometimes disappoint in actual execution.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I've had variations at other restaurants that seem to be 90% breading, and super light on the filling, but that wasn't the case here.

I
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

Though there were only three in an order, they were large and stuffed full of cheese and jalapeños, at $3.79.

Though there were only three in an order, they were large and stuffed full of cheese and jalapeños, at $3.79.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I ordered the tiny tacos as a kind of wildcard because I was too curious not to.

I ordered the tiny tacos as a kind of wildcard because I was too curious not to.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

There were probably about 15 in a paper box for $3.49. They were, as promised, tiny tortilla-type pieces each containing beef.

There were probably about 15 in a paper box for $3.49. They were, as promised, tiny tortilla-type pieces each containing beef.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

They were smaller than I'd anticipated but very fun to snack on. They reminded me of Fritos.

They were smaller than I
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I enjoyed my visit to Jack in the Box, and it felt nostalgic though I'd never been there before.

I enjoyed my visit to Jack in the Box, and it felt nostalgic though I
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

The primary colors on the packaging and basic decor were fine, but not remarkable or particularly memorable.

The primary colors on the packaging and basic decor were fine, but not remarkable or particularly memorable.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider

I was worried the menu might be too gimmicky, with too many options to make any of them actually good.

I was worried the menu might be too gimmicky, with too many options to make any of them actually good.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the menu items I tried seemed well thought out and tasted as good as they sounded.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the menu items I tried seemed well thought out and tasted as good as they sounded.
Irene Jiang / Business Insider

Jack in the Box reminded me of Sonic, with a large menu of snacks and foods that don't necessarily go together, but with better execution.

Jack in the Box reminded me of Sonic, with a large menu of snacks and foods that don
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

I wish I'd been able to try more of the menu because I was already won over by the end of my first bite of chicken.

I wish I
Facebook/Jack in the Box

I think with the addition of Del Taco, Jack in the Box could be poised to make a push to other areas of the US, and I hope they do.

I think with the addition of Del Taco, Jack in the Box could be poised to make a push to other areas of the US, and I hope they do.
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

The only thing not to like is the mascot, which I found a bit creepy.

The only thing not to like is the mascot, which I found a bit creepy.
Jack in the box Facebook

Do you have a story to share about a retail or restaurant chain? Email this reporter at mmeisenzahl@businessinsider.com.

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