A childhood game can go very wrong in the blink of an eye.
“You’ll never get me!”
“Freeze! Put your hands up.”
If you’ve ever played cops and robbers, you know how the game goes.
John Arthur Greene was 8 and he was playing that game with his older brother Kevin. Only the two brothers played with real guns. Living on a farm, they were both old hands at handling firearms by their ages.
The blast from the gun must have startled them both.
“We were always extremely safe. They were never loaded,” John said.
Except this time it was. And John’s brother died in his arms while he watched.
It happens more often than you would ever want to imagine.
In federal data from 2007 to 2011, which is likely under-reported, an average of 62 children were accidentally killed by firearms per year.
“In Asheboro, North Carolina, a 26-year-old mother was cleaning her home when she heard a gunshot. Rushing into the living room, she discovered that her three-year-old son had accidentally shot her boyfriend’s three-year-old daughter with a .22-caliber rifle the parents had left in the room, loaded and unlocked.”
And the numbers may actually be getting worse.
With an increase in unfettered access to guns and philosophical opposition to gun regulations, the numbers seem to be on the rise. Here’s how many accidental shootings happened at the hands of children in 2015 alone, by age:
From January 19-26 of 2016 — just one week — at least seven kids were accidentally shot by another kid.
If the pace holds up for the rest of the year, America would be looking at over 300 accidental shootings of children, in many cases by children, for the year. That’s far too many cases of children either carrying the guilt and pain of having shot a loved one or hurting or killing themselves by accident.
John Arthur Greene has been able to manage his feelings of guilt and sorrow through music and by sharing his story for others to hear.
He told his story during an audition for the final season of “American Idol.” He says music has helped him keep his brother’s memory alive:
“Right now I lift him up every day and he holds me up. Music is how I coped with everything.”
It’s a powerful reminder. No matter how we each feel about gun safety laws, guns should always be locked away unloaded and kept separately from ammunition.
Our babies are too precious to leave it to chance.
Watch John Arthur Greene’s audition for “American Idol” here:
“Just because you didn’t do marriage well doesn’t mean you can’t do divorce fabulously.”
That’s something my mother-in-law said to me when her son and I were ending our young, impetuous, and ultimately-not-right-for-us marriage. It stuck with me through the years.
These sweet images from Brittany Peck’s wedding have struck a chord with families across the Internet, and they seem to be getting that very same lesson about “doing divorce well” through to millions.
The photographer got a clue something unusual was about to happen.
Delia Blackburn, an Ohio photographer, was snapping pictures at the nuptials, as you do. She described to WKYC3 what happened when the father of the bride, Todd Bachman, approached her.
“He said, ‘I’m going to do something special, just be ready.'”
Before Bachman finished walking his daughter down the aisle, he turned around in the direction of his daughter’s stepdad, who was also in attendance.
Then Brittany’s stepdad details what happened next.
“And he came up to me and reached out and grabbed my hand and he said, ‘Hey, you’ve worked for this as hard as I have.’ He said, ‘You deserve this as much as I do. You’re gonna help us walk OUR daughter down the aisle.’ At that point, I had no clue what was going on.” — Todd Cendrosky, stepfather of Brittany Peck
Todd B. looks like a dad on a mission — to be the coolest guy ever.
“I got weak in the knees and everything — I couldn’t have had anything better in my life. That was THE most important thing in my life.” — Brittany’s stepdad
Todd C. is like, “What is even happening right now?”
Todd Bachmann explains his last-minute decision like this:
“It hasn’t always been peaches and cream, by any stretch of the imagination. … There’s no better way to thank somebody than to assist me walking my — walking OUR daughter — down the aisle.”
And that’s how you do it, folks.
And Brittany herself was pleased with the outcome.
The bride sent a video message from her honeymoon to WKYC, saying, “We’ve seen it all, been through it all, but at the end of the day we’re all happy.”
Divided families know that love isn’t a finite thing — there’s enough to go around.
A story that recently went viral on Reddit’s AITA forum asks an important question: What is a parent’s role in taking care of their grandchildren? The story is even further complicated because the woman at the center of the controversy is a stepparent.
The woman, 38, met her husband Sam, 47, ten years ago, when his daughter, Leah, 25, was 15. Five years ago, the couple got married after Leah had moved out to go to college.
Leah’s mom passed away when she was 10.
Last year, Leah became pregnant, and she wanted to keep the baby, but her boyfriend didn’t. After the disagreement, the boyfriend broke up with her. This forced Leah to move back home because she couldn’t afford to be a single parent and live alone on a teacher’s salary.
Leah’s story is experienced by many young mothers who are facing difficulties. The father isn’t involved in the baby’s life as a caretaker or financially. Sadly, 33% of all children in the U.S. are born without their biological fathers living in the home.
The new mother is a teacher and can’t afford to live on her own with a child. A recent study found that out of the top 50 U.S. cities, Pittsburgh is the only one where a new teacher could afford rent.
The stressors of taking care of the baby made Leah realize she needed help.
“But once she had the baby around 4 months back, Leah seemed to realize having a baby is not the sunshine and rainbows she thought it was,” the woman wrote on Reddit. “She barely got any sleep during the last four months. All the while Sam was helping her with the baby while I did almost all chores myself.”
“Now her leave is ending. She did not want to leave the baby at daycare or with a nanny,” the woman continued. “Sam and I both work as well.”
Leah asked her stepmother if she would stay home with the baby. The stepmother said no because she never wanted to have a baby and she has a job. “I asked why Leah can’t stay home with the baby herself,” the woman wrote. “She said how she was young and had to build a career. I said many people take breaks to raise kids, and she broke down crying about how she was so tired all the time being a mom and needed something else in her life too.”
After the woman told her stepdaughter no, her husband pressured her to stay home with the baby. But she refused to give up her job to raise her stepdaughter’s child. “Leah said yesterday how she wished her mom was alive since she would have had her back. She said I didn’t love her, and my husband is also mad at me,” the woman wrote. The woman asked the Reddit community if she was in the wrong for “refusing to help my stepdaughter with the baby,” and the community responded with rapturous support.
“[The woman] should tell her husband to knock it off and stop trying to pressure her into raising his daughter’s baby. If he wants a family member to look after her baby while she works, then he can do it,” Heavy_Sand5228 wrote.
“This is Leah’s baby that she alone chose to have. That doesn’t obligate you to change YOUR life to suit her desires. The whole business of saying you don’t love her because you won’t quit your job to watch her baby is manipulative and messed up, and I’m shocked your husband is siding with her,” SupremeCourtJust-a** added.
Leah and many women like her are in this situation because, in many places, teachers are underpaid, rent is high, and not all dads pay child support, even those required by law.
Another commenter noted that the baby is much more the father’s responsibility than the stepmother’s. “To add, Leah should consider seeking child support from her ex. Her kid should be getting that money,” Obiterdicta wrote.
Meet Me @ The Altar announced that they will be hitting the road with their new Say It To My Face Tour, which kicks off in North America in January of next year. Fans can expect to catch them rocking out in major cities like NYC, Toronto, Los Angeles, and more.
They will be bringing along Honey Revenge, John Harvie, and Elliot Lee as opening acts. The band is currently offering presale access to fans who text them at (407) 289-0966. Otherwise, the general sale is set to open this Friday, October 6 at 10 a.m. local time.
WE’RE SOOOO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE SAY IT TO MY FACE TOUR!!! @honeyrevengeca, @johnharvie_, and @elliotleemusic will be joining us for a truly STACKED bill! Text us at (407) 289-0966 rn if you want early access to presale tickets before they go on sale Friday at 10 am local pic.twitter.com/m9eAgG702R
Continue scrolling for a complete list of Meet Me @ The Altar’s 2024 Say It To My Face Tour dates. More information about ticket sales can be found on their website here.
01/19/2024 — Orlando, FL @ The Abbey
01/20/2024 — Atlanta, GA @ Hell @ The Masquerade
01/21/2024 — Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819
01/23/2024 — Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
01/24/2024 — Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
01/25/2024 — New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
01/26/2024 — New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place
01/28/2024 — Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock
01/30/2024 — Toronto, ON @ The Axis Club
02/01/2024 — Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s
02/02/2023 — Detroit, MI @ The Shelter
02/03/2024 — Chicago, IL @ House of Blues Chicago
02/05/2024 — Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
02/07/2024 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell
02/09/2024 — Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
02/10/2024 — Vancouver, BC @ Rio Theatre
02/11/2024 — Seattle, WA @ Neumos
02/13/2024 — Sacramento, CA @ Goldfield Roseville
02/15/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent
02/16/2024 — Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge
02/18/2024 — Austin, TX @ Antone’s
02/19/2024 — Dallas, TX @ Gilley’s
02/21/2024 — Nashville, TN @ Basement East
Meet Me @ The Altar is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
In the pantheon of simple, flavorful mixed drinks, it’s difficult to beat the appeal of a classic Moscow mule. Usually served in a copper mug (if you happen to have one on hand), this iconic cocktail is made with three simple ingredients: vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. Sure, you can garnish it with a lime wheel but you don’t have to. It couldn’t be easier to whip up.
We understand that not everyone has a Moscow mule-specific copper mug on hand, but if you do, you should know there are reasons why this spicy, citrus-filled cocktail is served in this vessel. Many believe the copper keeps the ice (and therefore the drink) cold for longer. Others think that the copper adds to the crisp, bright aromas and flavors. Of course, there’s also a third option — it makes the drink look pretty cool.
But while the copper mug, fresh lime juice, and ginger beer are important, it’s the vodka that sets a great Moscow mule apart from an okay one. To find the best vodkas to mix into this popular drink, we went to the professionals for help. We asked a handful of well-known bartenders to tell us the vodkas they use when they mix up a Moscow mule. Keep scrolling to see all of their picks.
Suntory Haku Vodka
Suntory
Dana Lachenmayer, head bartender at The Wesley in New York City
Suntory’s Haku is my favorite vodka to use in a Moscow Mule. I love how this texture and subtly sweet floral essence play with the spicy aromatics of the ginger.
Tasting Notes:
Its soft, supple, and delicate aromatics are a result of bamboo Charcoal filtration and its base of 100% Japanese white rice.
Stolichnaya, commonly known as ‘Stoli,’ is a favored choice for Moscow mules due to its rich Russian heritage (but now it’s made in Latvia), purity from multiple distillations, and smooth finish that complements the ginger and lime components of the drink.
Tasting Notes:
Its slightly grainy character, with a hint of sweetness, enhances the overall cocktail experience. Moreover, its reasonable price point, considering its premium quality, makes Stoli an attractive option for those seeking a balance of quality and affordability in their Moscow mule ingredients.
When it comes to Moscow Mules, our personal favorite is Grey Goose Vodka. There’s a reason this French vodka is one of the most well-known premium vodkas on the market.
Tasting Notes:
Its peppery and perfumed palate, featuring hints of star anise and rye, provides a delightful kick to this classic cocktail. The finish is spicy, warming, and creamy, making it an excellent choice for a Moscow Mule that stands out from the rest.
If I have to choose one vodka, I will go for Konik’s Tail, an incredibly small production of vodka made out of spelt, rye, and winter wheat. Seek this one out immediately for mixing.
Tasting Notes:
This natural spirit comes from Poland and just reached the U.S. market a few months ago. It’s somehow both creamy and peppery simultaneously. It’s perfect for a Moscow mule.
St. George Green Chile Vodka
St. George
Alex Fitzgerald, beverage director at Paseo in Louisville, Kentucky
St George Green Chile Vodka is the best for a Moscow Mule. It’s a bright and delicious spirit made with jalapeño, serrano, habanero, and bell peppers as well as lime and cilantro.
Tasting Notes:
The vegetal green bell pepper and the heat from the jalapenos are balanced with lime and cilantro, which, when paired with some ginger, lime juice, and just a touch of simple syrup, make a perfect, spicy, fresh Moscow mule.
Luksosowa Vodka
Luksosowa
Steven Dinsmore-George, bartender at The Pembroke in Washington DC
Luksosowa Vodka is a Polish vodka made completely from potatoes, and it’s the best vodka to mix into a Moscow Mule. While it brings a richer depth of flavor to the cocktail than grain-style vodkas, it is still an affordable product and my recommendation for a Moscow mule.
Tasting Notes:
It brings vegetal flavors such as asparagus and fennel to the simple, yet highly popular libation. These tasting notes do a fantastic job of complementing the spicier, earthy notes of ginger beer.
Reyka Vodka
Reyka
Jared Bailey, bar manager at Soho Cigar Bar in New York City
Reyka Vodka is an under-the-radar surprise in this category. Distilled from wheat and barley, using glacial spring water, it’s filtered through volcanic rocks to guarantee a unique, flavorful vodka.
Tasting Notes:
This Icelandic vodka boasts a surprising smoothness and refreshing quality that is hard to find in most vodkas, so it’s no surprise that it mixes well in the classic Moscow mule.
As someone who appreciates the history of vodka and the different styles out there, I tend to choose Ketel One when I make Moscow mules. This Dutch-made vodka is made from 100% wheat and charcoal filtered to add to the smooth, mellow flavor.
Tasting Notes:
It offers a hint of sweetness and very light, soft flavors of citrus and pepper that are not too overpowering, so you’re still able to taste and enjoy all of the ingredients in your mule.
LiV Vodka is my go-to base for a Moscow mule. Garnished with a sprig of charred rosemary, a LiV Moscow Mule is simple elegance with impressive depth.
Tasting Notes:
Long Island potatoes bring a clean creaminess to this easy-drinking spirit, and its baking spice undertones blend well with a piquant ginger beer and zippy lime.
In 2020, consumers swiftly learned how fragile supply chains can be. Various shutdowns led to shortages, first of paper goods and cleaning supplies and then almost everything, and some of those issues still persist. Unexpected instances of scantness have dotted the landscape since then — like the Great Saltine Shortage of 2022 — and many of them have resolved by now.
In 2020, Clorox wipes achieved overnight must-have status, which sent production into overdrive. Sparseness eventually resolved as Clorox cranked up supply numbers, and all has been well in the “disinfecting wipes” aisles until recently. If you’ve noticed a newfound dearth of these wipes in stores and online lately, you aren’t imagining things. As CNN reported in mid-September 2023, Clorox suffered a widespread cyberattack on its infrastructure in mid-August. This caused the company to shut down production of not only cleaning products but much more.
At this point, the actual attack has been contained for weeks, but Clorox has advised that they will slowly be ramping “back up to full speed” throughout late September and early October. A spokesperson “[could not] estimate how long it will take to resume fully normalized operations,” and this episode is expected to “hurt its current-quarter financial results materially.”
Clorox boasts a wealth of brands under its umbrella. Those include some brands of kitty litter like Fresh Step as well as products from the Pine-Sol, Brita, Burt’s Bees, and Glad’s lines. Fingers crossed that this gets resolved sooner rather than later, but for now, other (arguably inferior) disinfecting wipes appear to be in stock, although who knows how long that will last.
“Terms And Conditions” singer Mahalia has set her eyes on North America for a new wing of her In Real Life Tour. The musician’s latest album, IRL, will be enjoyed live by fans across Europe next week. However, supporters based in North America will have to wait until 2024 before Mahalia touches down.
Beginning in February 2024, Mahalia will embark on a 24-date run across the US and Canada. The tour will kick off on February 20 in Vancouver. Although she will be joined by the musical group No Guidnce for the UK and EU leg, no special guest has been announced for the North American wing.
View the full In Real Life Tour schedule below. Mahalia’s artist presale will begin tomorrow, Wednesday, October 4, at 10 a.m. local time. General ticket sales will start on Friday, October 6, 10 a.m. local time. Find more information here.
02/20/2024 — Vancouver, BC @ The Commodore Ballroom
02/21/2024 — Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
02/22/2024 — Seattle, WA @ Neptune
02/24/2024 — Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
02/25/2024 — San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
02/27/2024 — Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
02/28/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco Theatre
03/01/2024 — San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
03/02/2024 — Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
03/03/2024 — Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole
03/05/2024 — Denver, CO @ Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox
03/07/2024 — Dallas, TX @ HOB Cambridge Room
03/08/2024 — Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn
03/09/2024 — Houston, TX @ House of Blues
03/11/2024 — Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
03/13/2024 — Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
03/14/2024 — Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring
03/16/2024 — Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts (TLA)
03/17/2024 — New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
03/20/2024 — Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
03/22/2024 — Toronto, ON @ History
03/23/2024 — Montreal, QC @ Beanfield Theatre
03/25/2024 — Detroit, MI @ Shelter
03/26/2024 — Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
IRL is out now via Atlantic. Find more information here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Is the fast food chicken sandwich better than the cheeseburger? This is a question I ask myself… fairly regularly, actually. On one hand, the cheeseburger has served us fast food lovers well, whether you like the cheap and easy stuff, fast casual sit-down restaurants, or straight-up traditional restaurants, there are delicious cheeseburgers at every level. Every town in this country has a drive-thru cheeseburger that could be in the running for your favorite, we can’t say the same for the fried chicken sandwich.
Having said that, something about the fried chicken sandwich holds mystique. Fast food brands are obsessed with the chicken sandwich. The famed Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich even ushered in the dreaded “chicken sandwich wars” — which sounds totally hyperbolic but… was kind of real, as fast food brands scrambled to grab attention for themselves. Every few months since 2019, we’ve witnessed a brand new chicken sandwich hitting the market, some of them earning permanent menu status, and some falling off the menu with little fanfare.
As a person who covers fast food, that’s exciting. But I imagine it might be incredibly annoying for someone who is just hungry and wants to spend their lunch eating something delicious. When endless options about, curation and well-meaning critique become more important than ever. That’s why we’re here to rank all of the best fried chicken sandwiches in fast food right now, in an effort to help you find the most delicious sandwich for your money.
The last time we did one of these rankings was in 2021, and a lot has changed since then. So we re-tasted old sandwiches, added new sandwiches, and ranked them all. Here is the best fried chicken sandwich you can eat in 2023, ranked from least essential to most delicious.
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Food Rankings From The Last Month
Super processed and bland with a weird texture, a sad lack of crunch, and a barely-there black pepper flavor. This is hands down the worst fried chicken sandwich in all of fast food, harkening back to a time before Popeyes when most fast food brands didn’t even try to make a sandwich that wasn’t just a big chicken nugget flattened out to bun-size.
Atop the filet is lettuce, tomato, mayo — ugh, I mean do you even care? The experience of eating this sandwich is brutal, don’t even bother.
The Bottom Line:
You’re at Dairy Queen. Order something ice cream-related or don’t order at all.
A spongey and porous chicken filet with a crispy exterior generously seasoned with black pepper. The breading tastes fine (could use more seasoning) and provides crunch, but the texture of the meat here is downright offensive.
The sandwich is served with lettuce, tomato, and pickles, with mayo buttered on the bun. Pretty standard stuff, but none of these ingredients are quality, leaving the best part of the sandwich the brioche bun.
When the bun is better than everything inside of it, you’ve got a problem.
The Bottom Line:
Order jalapeño poppers, chili cheese fries, a hot dog, mozzarella sticks — anything but the chicken sandwich.
I appreciate the smokey and slightly sweet flavor of the black-peppered bacon but every other element of this sandwich is straight-up repellent. The chicken is dry and one note (black pepper), the lettuce is watery, the bread is way too dry, the tomatoes are too tart and unripened, and the honey mustard gives this sandwich an off-putting tang and a bitter finish.
Overall, it seems like this sandwich is only on the menu because it’s a box Arby’s is ticking off, why would anyone order this over a Smokehouse Brisket, Roast Beef Gyro, or Corned Beef sandwich? All three of those options are significantly better than this chicken sandwich. And in no circumstances should you order the inferior Arby Classic Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which isn’t even good enough to land on this ranking.
The Bottom Line:
Arby’s has “got the meats,” but apparently chicken isn’t one of those meats, because this is terrible.
17. Burger King — Bacon and Swiss BK Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich
Burger King
Tasting Notes & Thoughts
The breading is salty and black-pepper forward with gentle smokey notes courtesy of the bacon, and slightly sweet cheese, with a sweet-savory finish. The best thing this sandwich has going for it is crunch, it’s audibly pleasing and makes the sandwich come across as more appetizing than it actually is. Unfortunately, the texture of the chicken filet is all wrong.
It’s chunky and flakey, a sign that the chicken was probably frozen before being fried, and the meat itself is flavorless. No amount of seasoning and crunch can mask this ultimately bland chicken taste good. Maybe 10 years ago this would’ve been passable, but in 2023 with all the great chicken sandwiches out there that are well-made and flavorful, this one suffers from poor quality and a bland flavor. So why would anyone order it?
Here is the frustrating part, a few years back Burger King launched the Ch’King sandwich — a stupidly named line of sandwiches that were surprisingly delicious. And then BK realized that the process of putting this chicken sandwich together was too time-consuming and expensive, so they simplified it and now we have the “Crispy Chicken Sandwich” line in its place.
Those cut corners weaken the experience considerably, putting Burger King back into the bottom tier.
The Bottom Line:
Remember the Ch’King? Well, that’s dead, and this new line of chicken sandwiches pale in comparison to that line of sandwiches that was killed off too soon. BK seems to spend all its money on great photography of its food because the real thing doesn’t look anything like this photo would suggest.
McDonald’s keeps f*cking with its chicken sandwich, changing it every year or so and that’s because as good as McDonald’s is, they still can’t figure out how to make a decent chicken sandwich. Even though this sandwich features a filet, the texture reminds us a bit of those highly processed chicken patties of old, back before Popeyes revolutionized the way chicken sandwiches are made.
The spicy pepper sauce is delicious, it has a strong cayenne kick to it with some sweetness to balance out the heat, but the pickles are too wet and brine-y, and the chicken has a strange chunky texture and a weirdly artificial taste that is pretty off-putting.
The breading is light and airy, similar to a chicken nugget, but doesn’t provide the same satisfying crunch as a McNugget. Back to the lab with this one McDonald’s!
The Bottom Line:
The sauce is good but you’re better off ordering some chicken McNuggets and dipping them in the sauce of your choice than dealing with the odd texture and bland flavor of this chicken patty.
Carl’s Jr has made significant improvements to its fried chicken sandwich since the last time we reviewed it, in place of the processed chicken patty is a hand-breaded breast filet with a crunchy breading that combines black pepper, salt, and a hint of garlic and onion powder. On top of that, you have some nutty and salty Swiss cheese, tasty smokey bacon (that is unfortunately too thin), and mayonnaise on a squishy potato bun. There are also tomatoes and lettuce but they’re not doing the sandwich any favors.
Luckily, the chicken has a great flavor, it’s nice and meaty, but what holds it back is that it’s a bit drier than some of the top-tier fried chicken sandwiches out there. That means we have to leave this one near the bottom of the list. Carl’s Jr has come a long way with its chicken sandwich but it still can’t compete with the big boys. Errr… big birds?
The Bottom Line:
Carl’s Jr’s best chicken sandwiches are the grilled ones. Get one of those instead of this.
14. Jack in the Box — Homestyle Ranch Chicken Club
Jack in the Box
Tasting Notes & Thoughts
Super crunchy with a black pepper and garlic dominant flavor that is enhanced by some smokey bacon and complimented nicely by a tangy buttermilk ranch. The tomatoes add a nice juicy dimension but the lettuce tastes a bit bitter and the cheese comes across like melted plastic with a flavor that is not in any way reminiscent of Swiss. The breading is also a bit too generous, leaving more crunch than actual meat.
The bun is soft and spongey and a nice compliment to the sandwich, but unfortunately, half of the elements of this build really weigh the sandwich down and keep it from being truly great.
The Bottom Line:
A middling sandwich. Neither great nor bad. It’s fine.
Good crunch with well-seasoned breading with a white pepper, garlic, and onion powder forward flavor complemented by some sweet and slightly smokey barbecue sauce, a bit of sweet and smokey notes from the fried onions and bacon (which also helps add more crunch), with bright crispy thin pickles, and some mayo to help accentuate the savory flavors.
The double dose of different sauces helps to keep this chicken from coming across as dry but I suspect all that sauce is used to mask the flavor of the chicken itself, which I can’t really taste. It’s not that much of a problem because the overall flavor of the sandwich is good but in order for this to be a true top-tier sandwich, the flavor of the actual meat is going to need to poke through more.
The Bottom Line:
A good chicken sandwich, but all the sauce makes me feel like it’s hiding something. If we were ranking this list based on best names, this would take the top spot. Flavor-wise, the Mother Cruncher is stuck in the middle.
A spicy chicken sandwich, courtesy of KFC! If you know anything about KFC, that’s an anomaly, the brand doesn’t do spicy all that often, so this sandwich was a big deal to us when it dropped. It’s… just fine.
The issue here is that this sandwich is so close to being delicious, the chicken is tender and meaty, well-seasoned with a garlic, onion, black pepper, and salt-based breading, and a tasty spicy cayenne pepper sauce that is well balanced in heat and sweetness. But the build is pretty standard and it fails to stick the landing.
The other components are also lacking. The pickles are soft and soggy and don’t really cut the umami notes enough, and the bun isn’t so much buttery as it is greasy. The chicken is also way too heavily breaded which distracts from the other components. All KFC has to do is switch out that bun, not double-batter the chicken, and get some better pickles and this sandwich instantly moves from mid-tier to, well, upper-mid-tier.
The Bottom Line:
KFC is getting closer and closer to a great chicken sandwich, but they’re still not quite there. If they give us an Original Recipe version of this thing it might bump up KFC a few spots in our ranking.
This sandwich frustrates me, partly because Raising Cane’s has such great chicken tenders that you’d think a great chicken sandwich would be a no-brainer, and yet, Raising Cane’s made the stupid (yes stupid) decision of building their chicken sandwich by shoving three chicken tenders between a dense bready bun with some boring green leaf lettuce and the admittedly delicious Cane’s sauce.
Don’t get me wrong, the chicken tenders and sauce are a great combination, the chicken is tender, crispy, juicy, and some of the best in all of fast food, but the build is ridiculous. Because it’s three tenders in a bun you have to hold this sandwich with two hands and constantly adjust it to keep the tenders from falling out.
Which begs the question… why experience these flavors in a sandwich at all? Just order some chicken tenders and dip them in some sauce. Looking for more carbs? Each Raising Cane’s finger combo comes with a side of Texas Toast which is buttered and grilled and way more flavorful than the bun the sandwich is served on.
This sandwich is lazy and a missed opportunity.
The Bottom Line:
Order the tenders. Never order this sandwich. That way, maybe Raising Cane will wake up and give us a proper one instead of this mistake.
Church’s chicken sandwich wants so badly to be Popeyes, it features the same simple build: a huge chicken breast filet heavily breaded and topped with pickles and mayo, but just doesn’t deliver the same flavor. The chicken is pretty good, it’s tender and juicy, and the breading is well seasoned with a heavy black pepper flavor served atop a honey-buttered and mayo-topped brioche bun, but the flavors just don’t come together quite like the sandwich it’s imitating.
It lacks that depth of flavor Popeyes has and in my experience, you can taste a bit too much of the frying oil, which gives the sandwich a sort of ~ dirty ~ aftertaste.
The Bottom Line:
An obvious imitation of Popeyes that’s not nearly as good as the real thing.
9. Wendy’s — Spicy Chicken Asiago Ranch Chicken Club
Wendy
Spicy with a strong cayenne and black pepper flavor with smokey bacon notes, and some tangy creamy ranch notes. It used to be my go-to Wendy’s chicken sandwich. If you want something a bit more tame in the heat department, this is your best choice as it’s meaty and flavorful without really registering as “hot.”
But if you’d rather eat something a bit more adventurous, see our next Wendy’s entry.
The Bottom Line:
Still one of Wendy’s best chicken sandwiches but there is a newcomer on the menu that takes this idea and elevates it with a stronger emphasis on heat.
Finally, Wendy’s best dipping sauce is now part of its chicken sandwich. The Ghost Pepper Ranch Chicken Sandwich features a crispy tender filet of white meat chicken seasoned with a heavy dose of cayenne and black pepper, topped with spicy ghost pepper seasoned fried onions, creamy ghost pepper American cheese, and tangy and spicy ghost pepper ranch. There’s also lettuce and tomato, which help to reign the spicy flavors in. They do an alright job but are easily the weakest part of this sandwich.
It’s not quite as dangerously spicy as it sounds, but it has a strong initial kick of heat that slowly builds in intensity as you eat the sandwich. It’s a great sandwich, but if you have reservations about all this heat, go ahead and order it with the Homestyle filet rather than the spicy one.
The Bottom Line:
Three different layers of strong but manageable heat make this sandwich is real treat for your tastebuds.
A bit different than the other chicken sandwiches on the market, this one features a light cornstarch-based breading that is airy and crispy and helps to keep the chicken juicy and tender without being dried out from over-frying.
The breading is seasoned with garlic, pepper, salt, onion powder, and the slightest hint of parsley, with a deep and complex umami-heavy mayo. It tastes like a chicken sandwich should, but with a slightly different ratio of the seasoning which helps to make it a bit more unique than its simple build would suggest.
The Bottom Line:
A great umami-rich chicken sandwich that not enough people know about.
The first bite is savory, a mix of salty flavors with some vegetal jalapeño notes and a mild building heat followed by a sharp tang and a sweet floral finish. A bouquet of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors that is hard not to fall in love with.
I really like this seasonal spin on Chick-fil-A’s original chicken sandwich. The build features a thick chicken breast filet with a thick smattering of pimento cheese, pickled jalapeños, and a honey spread bun. It’s distinctly different than every other chicken sandwich on the market, but different isn’t always better, so we can’t in good consciousness put this in the top 5.
The Bottom Line:
A medley of flavors that take you on a journey from savory, to tangy, to sweet with a slow-burning heat.
You may not know it considering this chain makes maybe the greatest fast food cheeseburger on the market, but Shake Shack’s chicken sandwiches are surprisingly solid. The breading is flaky and crispy, serving as a perfect sponge to soak up the buttermilk herb-seasoned mayo. The sandwich also features crispy pickles that have a nice snap to them, served atop a slightly sweet and extra soft bun.
The chicken is tender and meaty, and the is seasoned with a prominent onion flavor with a hint of black pepper on the aftertaste.
The Bottom Line:
Delicious, juicy, and crispy, but it can’t quite compare to a Shake Shack cheeseburger.
One of my go-to chicken sandwiches when I’m not on the job, the Spicy Deluxe features snappy crinkle-cut pickles, some slightly buttery green leaf lettuce, two succulent slices of tomato, and a whole meat chicken breast filet seasoned generously with black pepper, garlic powder, paprika and a hint of cayenne pepper, with pepper jack cheese for an added dose of heat. Not only is this sandwich fried in peanut oil which gives it a super crispy exterior but helps to keep the chicken juicy and moist, but the chicken itself is also marinated in pickle brine which adds a layer of complexity to the flavor of this sandwich that most of the competition just doesn’t have.
Everything above this sandwich is marginally better, but everything below it on this ranking pales in comparison.
The Bottom Line:
One of the best spicy chicken sandwiches in all of fast food, period.
I have a lot of issues with this sandwich, on the one hand, I love the build, a thick piece of chicken, a mix of cabbage and kale, some tangy savory sauce, and pickles (with the option to add cheese). Simple, delicious. But Dave’s is another one of those places that puts a chicken tender between two pieces of bread and calls it a sandwich and I just can’t stand for that.
Most of your chicken tender will extend out of the sandwich, half of your bites will be just bread, and while the tender is gargantuan (seriously what are they doing to these chickens to make them so plump?) it feels a little strange that at the end of your $15 meal, all you’re really getting is one chicken tender (and fries). It feels like a rip-off when for the same price you can get two tenders, fries, and a slice of white bread.
Again, it feels like Dave’s has a sandwich just because that’s what people expect.
Having said that, this is legitimately the hottest sandwich on this ranking. You can customize it between seven different heat levels, my favorite is the “Hot,” which features a strong heat that is enough to feel but not enough to ruin your meal. If you really want to be challenged, opt for the “Extra Hot” or “Reaper” heat levels.
The Bottom Line:
The hottest chicken sandwich you can find in fast food right now. But don’t get the sandwich, get the tenders instead — it’s more bang for your buck.
This sandwich hits you with an initial wave of intense spice that is balanced out by a vegetal slaw and briney tang from the pickles. After a few bites the heat continually builds on the palate, the first bite might not convince you this sandwich is hot enough but after a few, there is no denying it.
The chicken is breaded in a light crispy batter that has a nice crunch and serves as a good sponge for the hot pepper seasoning dusted on it.
This sandwich does spice a bit differently — rather than rely on a spicy sauce or heavy seasoning, the heat is delivered in multiple ways (cherry peppers, jalapeños, hot pepper seasoning) which combine and build into something greater than the sum of its parts.
The Bottom Line:
My favorite spicy chicken sandwich on the market currently. That said, it’s not the best fried chicken sandwich altogether.
A pleasing audible crunch greets you as you bite into this sandwich giving way to a tender juicy piece of chicken that is well seasoned with a mix of garlic and onion powder elevated by a gentle cayenne-based sauce, some smokey notes, an earthy brine-y tang, mild buttery flavors and a subtle hint of sweetness on the backend that makes this sandwich incredibly addictive.
Launched to little fanfare this year, Popeyes Spicy Bacon & Cheese Chicken Sandwich improves the one weakness of Popeyes’ sandwich, its build. The original sandwich just featured the sauce, pickles, and bun, and those accouterments were fine but the real star of the show was the chicken itself. It’s so good that it made up for the sub-par quality of the sandwich build.
Now the build offers a little more thanks to the inclusion of bacon and Havarti cheese, which help to deepen the flavors and add some additional points of interest for your tastebuds to explore.
The Bottom Line:
This is still the best-tasting chicken sandwich in all of fast food and while it feels like a cop-out to still claim that… it really is! Popeyes struck gold here, it’s okay to admit it, and they’ve improved upon the sandwich that changed fast food by adding bacon and Havarti cheese — an always welcome update!
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is back on the air this week after the WGA received a fair agreement following a months-long writers strike. However, since the Screen Actors Guild is still on strike, actors can appear as guests but cannot promote their projects.
Because of this, the late-night shows are also bringing on some fun musical guests to entertain the audience. Here’s who’s been scheduled so far for this week.
John Mayer — Monday, October 2
John Mayer appeared as Jimmy Fallon’s musical guest for the show’s return on Monday. He followed Matthew McConaughey on the night’s lineup, and Fallon had some jokes about it. “And Matthew McConaughey will sing too,” he said. “I haven’t asked him yet, but… Matthew will you?”
Jelly Roll — Tuesday, October 3
Tonight, Jelly Roll is the musical guest. For those not familiar, he is a country musician and rapper on the rise. He took home three CMT Awards earlier this year and just dropped a new album, Whitsitt Chapel, in June.
Carly Pearce — Wednesday, October 4
The Tonight Show will keep the country vibes going on Wednesday with Carly Pearce as the performer. The Grammy Award winner is also a member of the Grand Old Opry as of 2021.
Maluma — Thursday, October 5
While there currently aren’t any actors scheduled to appear on the Thursday episode, according to TV Guide, Maluma will be there to bring the energy. His latest album is this summer’s Don Juan.
Killer Mike feat. Robert Glasper and Eryn Allen Kane — Friday, October 6
Finally, to close out the week, Killer Mike will be joined by special guests including the Grammy-winning jazz musician Robert Glasper and Eryn Allen Kane for a not-to-miss performance.
The stories of Grimes and Elon Musk will forever be connected, even though they’re not together anymore, thanks to the fact that they share three kids. At the moment, though, things appear rocky between the two: It was reported today (October 3) that Grimes is suing Musk. But why?
Page Six reports that per court records they obtained, Grimes filed a “petition to establish parental relationship” on September 29 in a California court. This asks the court to identify the legal parents of a child whose parents are not married.
Grimes hasn’t publicly addressed the lawsuit (and neither has Musk), but yesterday, she did respond to an X (formerly Twitter) user who criticized the name of one of her and Musk’s children, X AE A-XII. She wrote, “This is the most bizarre criticism. He loves his name and mostly ppl think it’s cool. X men etc. x is popular at school lol. Also, I don’t wanna say his friends names cuz they’re civilians but most millenials named their kids weird names – not just me.”
This is the most bizarre criticism. He loves his name and mostly ppl think it’s cool. X men etc. x is popular at school lol. Also, I don’t wanna say his friends names cuz they’re civilians but most millenials named their kids weird names – not just me
X (the human, not the social media platform) is Grimes and Musk’s first child together. Their second is Exa Dark Sideræl and the third is named Techno Mechanicus. Musk, meanwhile, has 11 children overall, with three different mothers.
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