People Want to Know What the Heck Happened to Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Back in March, we first broke the news the Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich—once a pinnacle of fast food perfection—was getting a revamp. And right off the bat, fans were dubious the improvements would actually improve upon what used to be perfection. Early reviews were mixed, and now the masses have had a chance to try the new spicy chicken sandwich post revamp. Based on some heated Reddit threads, people are not happy.

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Is the new Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich actually new and improved?

Many people used to consider Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich to be one of the better fast food chicken sandwiches. Emphasis on used to. The patty was fat and juicy, made with real, whole white mean chicken instead of the reformed chicken you’d find in their nuggets. The breading was genuinely spicy and the accoutrements were always fresh and crisp. Now, though, Wendy’s subreddit is full of people sharing their disdain for the changes.

The original poster went element by element (these are their words, not ours):

• Patty: Smaller, drier
• Panko breading: Gritty, nasty
• Potato bun: Spongy and less good than the brioche bun (and WAY less good than the cornmeal bun)

One positive for the heat seekers: People seem to agree that the marinade is spicier. So there’s that!

The biggest beef: The patty itself

Once upon a time, Wendy’s Spicy Chicken sandwich was made with an actual chicken breast fillet. It pulled apart the way chicken is supposed to pull apart. Now, it’s gone the way of the McChicken and Burger King Original Chicken Sandwich, meaning the patty is now processed. As one commnter put it: “Bun, pickles, whatever, I can get past that. What I can’t get past is the filet turning into a giant processed chicken nugget and it being called an ‘upgrade.'”

The Sporked team recently taste tested Wendy’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich alongside a bunch of other fast food chicken sandwiches and it didn’t make their list of the best. Have you tried the “new” and “improved” Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich? What did you think?