Popeyes or Chick-fil-A: Who has the best chicken sandwich?

By Ravyn Chatmon |Online editorPeople have been flocking to Popeyes since the release of the fast-food restaurant's new chicken sandwich nearly two weeks ago, and the craze hasn't died down yet. Some locations in Augusta have even sold out of the new sandwich. Many people were quick to compare the sandwich with that of Chick-fil-A, so Bell Ringer columnist and photographer Cameron Miller and I dashed to both restaurants to try this out for ourselves. Here is our comparison:The Breakdown

1. The Buns: Both Popeyes and Chick-fil-A are sporting toasted, buttered buns. Popeyes has a slightly bigger brioche bun, while Chick-fil-A's bun is a little softer.
2. The Pickles: Chick-fil-A's sandwiches had a few small, thinner pickles to pair with their chicken, but on the Popeyes sandwiches, the pickles were larger, thicker and crunchier.
3. The Sauces: Both Chick-fil-A Original and Spicy sandwiches come without sauce but are known to be paired with their Chick-fil-A Sauce. Popeyes Original sandwiches come with a layer of regular mayo, and a chipotle mayo accompanies the Spicy sandwich. Although the Popeyes sandwiches come pre-sauced, their Sweet Heat Sauce is the main partner.
4. The Breading: Popeyes chicken is fried in a thicker buttermilk batter. Chick-fil-A uses a flour-and-milk breading.
5. The Service: Chick-fil-A's service was prompt as usual. Even with the drive-thru full and customers lined up inside, employees pumped out our order swiftly while delivering their signature "my pleasure" after each request. Popeyes was busy with long lines inside and out, but couldn't keep up as well. Many people walked in just to walk right back out because of the lines. The overall wait time for our order was over 40 minutes while Chick-fil-A had us in and out in about 10 minutes.

And last, but certainly not least, The Chicken.Popeyes's chicken sandwich is definitely bigger. It featured a very hefty filet (a thick-fil-A, if you will). The buttermilk batter also gave it a crunchy exterior. Chick-fil-A's filet was a bit smaller but featured the taste of its dill pickle brine. The breading was softer but added to the chicken nonetheless. The Popeyes Spicy sandwich had a definite kick, while Chick-fil-A's had a more mild flavor. However, both chicken breasts were tender.Final ThoughtsCameron is a self-proclaimed Chick-fil-A superfan, but here's what he had to say."The Popeyes sandwich definitely surprised me. It's really good. The pickles on the Popeyes sandwich are better than the ones on the Chick-fil-A sandwich. I think both were stellar."He admits that Chick-fil-A still reigns supreme but doesn't deny that the Popeyes sandwich was great. He also mentioned that the Sweet Heat Sauce helped to boost up Popeyes's sandwich.Overall, for convenience, reliable, familiar flavors and a meal that's not as heavy, Chick-fil-A is the obvious choice. If you're looking for a heartier meal with a cajun kick (and you have a bit more time on your hands), Popeyes is the way to go. I'd say Popeyes is worth the wait, anyway.

Note: As of Aug. 28, all Popeyes restaurant locations are sold out of the chicken sandwich.