I tried 5 fast-food chicken sandwiches. The best one surprised me.

I compared chicken sandwiches from McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Popeyes, and Bojangles. Erin McDowell/Business Insider Chicken sandwiches have become a major fast-food battleground, with chains putting their own spin on the classic menu item with different buns, sauces, and toppings.I tried chicken sandwiches from McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Popeyes, and Bojangles, weighing flavor, texture, toppings, and price to see which one was worth ordering.Each sandwich varied from classic, simply dressed options to bolder takes with Southern-inspired seasonings.Here's how five fast-food chicken sandwiches compared. McDonald's delivered a classic chicken sandwich without much fanfare. McDonald's chicken sandwich was simple. Erin McDowell/Business Insider McDonald's crispy chicken sandwich, aptly named the McCrispy, was released amid the 2021 chicken sandwich wars and is available in classic, spicy, and — as of January 27 — a new, limited-edition hot-honey flavor.It cost $7.69, excluding tax, at my local chain in Brooklyn, New York. The sandwich comes with a large chicken filet, two pickles, and mayonnaise. The sandwich only had a light amount of mayonnaise. Erin McDowell/Business Insider When I opened it, I noticed the sandwich had a very light smattering of mayonnaise. As someone who loves condiments, I found this a little disappointing.I was eager to see how it would affect the taste. The chicken sandwich was juicy enough without the excess mayonnaise, but it lacked the distinct crunch I was looking for. The chicken sandwich was a little too moist. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The sandwich was moist but almost soggy. The bun tasted pretty artificial but held the sandwich's contents together perfectly, and in terms of size, I thought McDonald's nailed the bun-to-chicken ratio.I'd order it again, but it didn't blow me away. Wendy's served up a pretty traditional chicken sandwich. Wendy's chicken sandwich didn't overly impress me. Erin McDowell/Business Insider It came wrapped in paper and cost $9.11, excluding tax, at my local Wendy's in Brooklyn, New York. It came topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayonnaise. The chicken was a little less crispy than I would have liked. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The lettuce looked a little limp on first inspection, and there wasn't much of it either. However, the chicken filet was large — it was practically spilling out of the bun. Unfortunately, this chicken sandwich was underwhelming. I wanted the chicken filet to be crispier. Erin McDowell/Business Insider While this sandwich impressed me in terms of size, the texture of the chicken filet let it down. It wasn't nearly as crispy as I would have liked, and it bordered on soggy.The toppings also lacked flavor, though the bun was soft and buttery, which I enjoyed. Even though it was the most expensive sandwich, I didn't think it lived up to expectations. Burger King's classic chicken sandwich was up next. Burger King's chicken sandwich comes topped with lettuce and tomato. Erin McDowell/Business Insider Burger King offers a few different chicken sandwiches — this classic Royal Crispy chicken sandwich, a spicy version, one with bacon and Swiss cheese, and its older original chicken sandwich, which is served in a longer bun with just lettuce and mayonnaise.The classic Royal Crispy chicken sandwich costs $7.49, excluding tax, at my local Burger King in Brooklyn, New York. Burger King's chicken sandwich comes topped with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. There was a generous amount of toppings on the sandwich. Erin McDowell/Business Insider This was different than the more Southern flavor profiles served at chains like Popeyes, McDonald's, and Chick-fil-A.The amount of toppings was generous, I thought. Thick slices of tomato and lettuce leaves covered the entire chicken filet, and plenty of mayonnaise was smeared on top of its fluffy potato bun. The chicken filet was thick and juicy, but I wasn't crazy about the toppings. I didn't love the toppings on Burger King's chicken sandwich. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The tomato tasted a little limp, and the lettuce lacked a distinct crunch. However, the chicken itself really impressed me — it was thick and tender, with a rich, briny flavor that I enjoyed. I also liked the bun, which was fluffy but sturdy enough to hold the sandwich together.I was left wishing the sandwich came with just mayonnaise and pickles, so the chicken could really shine through. Popeyes had a great chicken sandwich, even though it wasn't my favorite. Popeyes' chicken sandwich impressed me with its crunchy filet. Erin McDowell/Business Insider Popeyes practically invented the chicken sandwich wars after it introduced its signature sandwich in 2019, sparking fistfights, lengthy lines, and a ton of online discourse.The sandwich may not be as talked about as it once was, but it's still a fan favorite. It cost $7.99, excluding tax. The sandwich came with a more generous serving of mayonnaise and two thick pickle slices. The sandwich came topped with mayonnaise and pickles. Erin McDowell/Business Insider Popeyes puts mayonnaise on both buns and layers pickles under the chicken filet, setting it apart from other chains. The sandwich was delicious, but it didn't have quite the same impactful flavor as the winner. The chicken sandwich was crunchy, and the pickles packed a lot of flavor. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The chicken filet crunched and flaked with every bite, and the thick pickle slices were actually tart — they certainly weren't just for show.The sandwich was also moist and tender, without being a soggy mess.Overall, I was impressed. However, another chain clinched the win. Bojangles' chicken sandwich delivered the most on taste and value. The Bojangles chicken sandwich was served on a buttery bun. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The sandwich, which the chain updated in the aftermath of the chicken sandwich wars, features a large fried chicken filet on a buttery brioche bun. Its flavor profile is classically Southern, built around fried chicken, pickles, and mayonnaise.The chicken sandwich cost $8.74, excluding tax. The chicken filet is marinated in Bojangles' signature blend of spices and buttermilk. It came with mayonnaise and pickles. Erin McDowell/Business Insider Like the other chicken sandwiches, Bojangles' chicken sandwich was topped with mayonnaise, but it was thicker than the mayonnaise from other chains. It also came with two crunchy pickle slices.Bojangles' process of marinating its chicken helped to infuse flavor deep into the meat rather than just coating the surface. What really stood out to me, though, was the texture. The chicken filet was unbelievably crunchy. Erin McDowell/Business Insider The filet was hand-breaded and fried in-store, creating an extra-crispy, craggy coating that delivered a satisfying crunch with every bite. The pickles added even more crunch, with a bright, briny flavor that cut through the richness of the fried chicken.The sandwich also had a subtle kick from the marinade — it wasn't overwhelmingly spicy, but it was enough to add flavor and keep each bite interesting.Together, the crispy breading and flavorful filet created a layered texture and flavor profile that set the sandwich apart from its competitors.The chicken sandwich wars are over — for me at least. I declare this sandwich the winner. Read next Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Erin McDowell is a senior reporter on Business Insider's editorial partnerships team. She covers food, lifestyle, and entertainment for Business Insider and its partner sites, including MSN, Apple News, and Yahoo.She graduated from Elon University in January 2019, where she studied strategic communications and digital art. She has written for V Magazine, Milk.XYZ, OUT.com, Brides Magazine, and more. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Fast Food taste test