I ordered the same meal at 3 fast-food chains in the Midwest, and I preferred the no-frills chicken tenders from Culver's

Frank OlitoJun 25, 2021, 23:24 IST

I tried chicken tenders and fries at three fast-food chains.Frank OIito/ Insider

I tried the chicken tenders and fries at Culver's, Raising Cane's, and Steak 'n Shake in Chicago.
I thought the Raising Cane's chicken was soggy, and the meal at Steak 'n Shake left a lot to be desired.
The best chicken tender meal I had was at Culver's.

During a trip to Chicago, I ate at three fast-food chains that don't exist back home in New York. In each restaurant, I ordered chicken tenders and fries.

Culver's, Raising Cane's, and Steak 'n Shake. Frank Olito/ Insider & Shutterstock

My first stop on this mission for the perfect Midwestern chicken tender was Culver's.

The exterior of the Culver's in Chicago. Frank Olito/ Insider

The interior of Culver's felt like a cozy home.

Interior of Culver's. Frank Olito/ Insider

I ordered a giant meal here, but I was most excited to try the chicken tenders and fries.

My meal at Culver's. Frank Olito/ Insider

When I bit into the chicken tenders, I immediately loved how crunchy and thin they were.

The chicken tender at Culver's. Frank Olito/ Insider

The fries from Culver's were perfectly seasoned and crunchy.

The fries were a perfect side. Frank Olito/ Insider

After Culver's, the next fast-food restaurant I tried was Steak 'n Shake.

The interior of a Steak 'n Shake. Shutterstock

My meal arrived in a small black and white bag.

My Steak 'n Shake order in a bag. Frank Olito/ Insider

Upon first sight, the chicken tenders and fries looked delicious, but something was missing.

Chicken tenders and fries from Steak 'n Shake. Frank Olito/ Insider

The chicken tenders were so crunchy, but there seemed to be more breading than meat.

The chicken tender lacked meat. Frank Olito/ Insider

The fries at Steak 'n Shake quickly became my favorite in the Midwest.

The fries were delicious. Frank Olito/ Insider

My last stop was Raising Cane's, which is known for its chicken tenders.

The exterior of Raising Cane's in Chicago. Frank Olito/ Insider

When I stepped inside the restaurant, I found an interesting design aesthetic.

The interior of Raising Cane's. Frank Olito/ Insider

I ordered the Box Combo, which cost around $7.

Raising Cane's chicken tender meal. Frank Olito/ Insider

When I picked up the chicken tender, I was surprised to see a lot of the breading had fallen off.

The breading did not stay on the chicken. Frank Olito/ Insider

Thankfully I had the delicious Raising Cane's sauce, which masked some of the issues I had with the food.

The sauce was delicious. Frank Olito/ Insider

The best part of my Raising Cane's meal was the Texas toast.

The toast was the best best part. Frank Olito/ Insider

In my opinion, Culver's has the best chicken tender meal in the Midwest.

Culver's was the top for me. Frank Olito/ Insider

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