Chick-fil-A is Overrated
Having spent my whole life in Atlanta, I've grown up celebrating birthdays with a chicken sandwich, stopping for nuggets while on a field trip, and grabbing a milkshake after a sporting event. All of these memories have one place in common: Chick-fil-A. Most people in the South East, would agree that the powerhouse chain restaurant is one of the best fast food spots in the country. But, in my opinion Chick-fil-A is grossly overrated.
On the lunch/dinner menu, there are only 8 entree options with a few extra salads, a soup, and sides. This is where Chick-fil-A goes wrong by making the entree options extremely similar. The chicken nuggets are the exact same chicken as the sandwich, just in a smaller form. I understand that it would be difficult for the restaurant to make one item different while staying within the Chick-fil-A taste, but I wouldn’t really care that the menu is repetitive, if the items were exceptionally good.
With the exception of the spicy chicken sandwich, which at least has some flavor, the basic chicken is very plain. It’s not just the chicken that's plain; Chick-fil-A’s signature waffle fries also taste surprisingly bland.
To Chick-fil-A’s credit, they do provide Chick-fil-A sauce or polynesian sauce that can spice up the fries. Don’t count Chick-fil-A fare out all together. Their breakfast doesn't share the same lack of flavor as their later day options. The chicken biscuit and chicken mini options, in particular, I could certainly eat everyday.
These breakfast options also give Chick-fil-A the only notable edge they have over Zaxby's. Other than that, Zaxby’s is far superior to Chick-fil-A. Zaxby’s menu has enough items that if you wanted, you could get something different every time you go. The difference in flavors at Zaxby’s is also much more prominent, including items like carribean wings and unique appetizers, such as fried pickles and homemade chips.
At the end of the day, despite Chick-fil-A winning out in the breakfast category, Zaxby’s is just the better choice.
By Jake Bogartz