Wendy’s Is Giving Its Spicy Chicken Sandwich a Makeover, Here’s What’s Changing 

It looks like it’s the season of the glow-up, as far as fast food items are concerned. In the last couple of weeks, we’ve brought you word of a flurry of activity from chain restaurants that are either upgrading their current menu items, bringing back popular ones, or trying out new dishes in a bid to keep people keen. Burger King has led the charge by upgrading its Whopper and changing its onion rings, while McDonald’s has just announced the return of its Chicken Big Mac (although only in Canada), and Carl’s Jr. has debuted its Western Bacon Chicken Sandwich. We can barely keep up.

Videos by Sporked

Now, it’s Wendy’s turn. The chain has just let slip that it’s switching up its Spicy Chicken Sandwich and changing almost everything about it. And fans are…a little concerned. Here’s what we know.

Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich: New Everything

News of Wendy’s Spicy Chicken Sandwich upgrade came by way of @markie_devo, who revealed exactly what the restaurant was planning to do. The chicken patty itself is getting a big alteration, with a new marinade and a spicy panko-style breading. Bun-wise, we can expect to see a new sweet potato bread affair, and it’s also going to be working with a new homestyle mayo. Oh, and there are pickles now, too. 

The whole thing looks very gourmet and very different from its former Spicy Chicken Sandwich. According to Wendy’s, that’s intentional, and in response to what customers have been asking for.  “After more than a year of testing and listening to consumer feedback, one thing was clear: guests wanted everything they already love, just elevated,” said Lindsay Radkoski, U.S. Chief Marketing Officer at Wendy’s, via QSR. “This refresh honors the sandwich’s legacy while delivering the bold, modern flavor our fans crave.”

But What Are Customers Really Saying?

Well, they’re not that happy, to be honest. Wendy’s may be changing this sandwich in response to some people’s requests, but if the comment section on @markie_devo’s post is anything to go by, things aren’t all rosy. “It was fine,” says one comment, which has garnered dozens of likes. “We just need the red onions and leaf lettuce back!” Another commenter said, “Oh I hope this doesn’t make me cry. It’s my favorite since it came out.” We hope it doesn’t make you cry too – that would be a pretty disastrous response for Wendy’s, and honestly, we don’t want you getting that emotional over a sandwich!

So, it kinda remains to be seen whether this change will actually be an upgrade or whether people will completely hate it. As long as Wendy’s doesn’t go the way of Jersey Mike’s, which people have recently been accusing of shrinking its sandwiches, with this one, then we’ll remain somewhat happy. But the proof is all in the taste.