Consumers have been going clucking crazy over the new Popeyes chicken sandwich. Car lines wrapping around the block and debates on which buns are better have been raging on social media.

“Chick fila never runs out of sandwiches,” said Twitter user @_KrystalLee_.

“But you can’t get one on Sunday,” replied Twitter user @giardinop.

“Neither at Popeyes since there’s no buns,” replied Twitter user @_KrystalLee_.

Chicken consumers want to know which chicken sandwich sits on the fast-food throne. 

Following the announcement of the Popeyes chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A rushed to Twitter to assert itself as the “original” chicken sandwich. 

Popeyes then responded on Twitter by asking Chick-fil-A, “…y’ all good?”

Bruno Cardinali, a Popeyes marketing director, said that he and his writers spent around 15 minutes thinking of that comeback. Most people cited this as the first shot fired in the WWC (World War Chicken). 

Even though the feud is far from over, Popeyes was definitely the winner of this battle; with the overwhelmingly positive responses to the new Popeyes sandwich and a 40% increase in Popeyes social media after Chick-fil-A tweeted at them on August 19th.  

It’s not a new thing for fast food franchises to get into heated Twitter debates with each other, but this one took flight.

Whether you care about the whole chicken sandwich craze or not, you’ll get a good laugh from reading each franchise’s Twitter feed. 

The most infamous fast-food franchise to call out other franchises as well as customers is Wendy’s. In regards to this debate, Wendy’s posted on Twitter, “ Y’all out here fighting about which one of these fools has the second best chicken sandwich.”

Wendy’s pulls a fast one on the whole debate with its chicken sandwich. With 330 calories and fewer saturated fats, carbs, and sugars, Wendy’s beats most fast food franchises by providing a healthier chicken option. 

From the very beginning, the Popeyes chicken sandwich was a game-changer. Consumers craved this new sandwich, and Popeyes employees had to suffer the wrath from consumers trying to get the first bite. 

However, shortly after the sandwich’s release, Popeyes was all sold out.

Prior to the run out, I got my hands on one of the Popeyes sandwiches, and I must say that it lives up to the hype. The toasted brioche bun provides a soft cushioning for the crispy chicken breast. The sandwich also comes with the condiments of pickles and lite mayo, which enhances the sandwiches overall flavor while not being to overbearing. Although most people would be on team Chick-fil-A, I must say, Popeyes has allured me towards those Louisiana spices.

Through the commotion of the poultry palooza, Popeyes employees were bombarded with business that they were not prepared for. 

Former Popeyes employee, Jack Riche, said, “It kinda sucked when it started because we weren’t prepared and didn’t have enough people or ingredients. The drive through line would be around the whole store, and people would have to wait for at least 15 minutes. We also ran out of fries, onion rings, mac and cheese, and even flour and batter at one point, so we couldn’t make anything. Plus we got yelled at by customers.”

The nutritional facts about the Popeyes sandwich are scarce. The details about the sandwiches fats, fibers, sodiums, and proteins are unknown, but we do know that the sandwich has 690 calories. This factor alone would be putting it on the more unhealthy spectrum of fast food; whereas, Popeye’s rival sandwich, the original Chick-fil-A, provides a much healthier dining experience. The Chick-fil-A regular chicken sandwich has 440 calories and is made from scratch by being hand-dipped in egg and protein-milk batter and pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil. The sandwich is then served with a toasted bun and pickle chips. 

Senior and Chick-fil-A employee Rachel Hall said, “Chick-fil-A is and has always been known as “The Home of the Original Chicken Sandwich” and we stand firm in that. Our sandwich is one people love and won’t ever tire of.”

The chicken sandwich is a menu staple in any fast-food chain. Chick-fil-A is in the top three largest fast-food franchise according to its sales in 2018, even though Chick-fil-A’s doors are locked shut every Sunday and have far fewer locations compared to its competitors. Chick-fil-A’s success is owed to their wildly popular chicken sandwich. 

Following the run out, Popeyes joking implemented a BYOB policy at their stores. BYOB of course meaning bring your own bun. The box is just a three-piece tender meal, with the added perk of getting to choose which bun type you would like for your sandwich. This promotion is clearly a joke, poking fun at customers who couldn’t wait for the sandwich’s return.