Chick-fil-A Just Returned This Fan Favorite Sandwich (And We’re Disappointed)

With the summer solstice just out of grasp, I’ve been thinking a lot about the southern classics that shaped the summers of my childhood. Apparently, Chick-fil-A has too. Fresh produce, retro-style dips you could take with you to picnics, and lots and lots of fried chicken are out now at Chick-fil-A. The summer menu is here to help the company continue its ‘Newstalgia’ campaign―taking nostalgic foods and giving them a modern twist whilst staying true to the brand ethos and style. This is Chick-fil-A’s 80^th birthday after all and they don’t seem to be in the market of letting the occasion go unnoticed. 

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What’s Available?

Chick-fil-A’s 2026 summer menu launched on June 8th and brings back the annual summer peach flavor, the pineapple dragonfruit beverage lineup, and the highly demanded Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich. The peach treats can be ordered as a milkshake and frosted lemonade. The pineapple dragonfruit drinks return as a lemonade, frosted lemonade, iced tea, or Sunjoy. New to the popular pineapple dragonfruit lineup is the option to order it as a flavored Sprite.  

Most significantly, though, is the much-anticipated return of the Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich. The classic toasted bun sandwiches your choice of original, spicy, or grilled chicken filet with pimento cheese, mild pickled jalapeños, and a drizzle of honey. According to Chick-fil-A, the sandwich has “entry-level spice.” Coming back from its two-year hiatus, there’s much to say about how the sandwich actually tastes. 

We Tried It And ― Meh

Pimento cheese and Chick-fil-A are two things southern America is vehemently known for. But when they’re put together, what happens? Is it a match made in heaven? I certainly expected it to be. After I tasted the sandwich, I realized that I couldn’t even taste the pimento cheese. Between the overwhelming sweetness of the heavy dose of honey and unexpected addition of pickled jalapeños, I could have been convinced that this was Chick-fil-A’s take on a hot honey sandwich with little to no cheese on it at all. It wasn’t a bad flavor, but it certainly doesn’t taste like the sandwich they’re advertising.  

That’s not even to mention the practical execution of the sandwich. It’s sticky, sloppy, and slippery. You’re going to hope you have spare napkins in your glove compartment. A frequent reason for customers not to order the sandwich is its look. Reddit users commonly critique the meal for looking sloppy or gross and they’re not wrong. For it to be a specialty item it looks just about as beige as their classic sandwich and significantly gloopier.  

If you’re prepared for a mess and love hot honey, I’d suggest it’s worth a try as a more educated consumer. But as is, I wouldn’t order it again and I can’t say I understand the hype.