Review: Chili’s Vs. McDonald’s Classic Chicken Sandwich

McDonald’s McCrispy — born out of the 2021 chicken sandwich wars — sounds like it should deliver on crunch alone.

The McCrispy comes in classic, deluxe, and spicy versions and costs $7.69 for just the sandwich or $13.09 for a combo with fries and a drink at my local Brooklyn location.

However, when I opened the wrapper, the skimpy spread of mayonnaise immediately stood out, and not in a good way.

For a condiment person like me, it felt like a miss.

To its credit, the chicken was juicy, but the sandwich never quite lived up to its name.

The crunch was underwhelming, and the texture leaned toward soft — even slightly soggy — rather than truly crispy.

Still, the bun did its job well, holding everything together with a solid chicken-to-bun ratio.

The chicken sandwich comes in five new variations: honey-chipotle, Buffalo, spicy mayo, and a deluxe version topped with bacon, lettuce, and tomato.

It’s now a featured part of Chili’s nationwide 3-For-Me deal, which includes fries, bottomless chips and salsa, and an unlimited fountain drink for $10.99 — that’s an almost $2 difference from the McDonald’s meal, which includes a sandwich, fries, and a drink.

On its own, however, the McDonald’s chicken sandwich was cheaper. The crispy chicken sandwich typically costs $16.39 at my local Chili’s in New York, but I got to try it for free at the pop-up event.

Chili’s didn’t hold back on the mayonnaise, which added a rich, creamy layer of flavor that tied the sandwich together.

The chicken breast was also fried to a deep golden crisp, with crunchy edges peeking out from the bun — the kind of texture that immediately signals a great bite ahead.

This sandwich certainly delivered. The breading, which was packed with seasoning, was more flavorful than the McDonald’s version.

In a press release, Chili’s said a local study found its chicken sandwich filet is more than 80% larger than the average McDonald’s McCrispy breaded filet. However, it wasn’t only the size difference that made Chili’s come out on top.

Each bite hit with a satisfying mix of salty, briny, and savory flavors, thanks to the pickles and well-seasoned chicken.

The texture sealed Chili’s as the winner: This sandwich lived up to its “crispy” promise. In terms of value, I also couldn’t deny that Chili’s really came through.

When paired with fries, chips and salsa, and a bottomless drink for just $10.99, the winner was clear — even without the ease and convenience of the drive-thru.