- I tried chicken tenders at Sonic, KFC, & Smashburger to see which fast-food chain has the best ones.
- Smashburger's chicken tenders were large, generously breaded, and all-around excellent.
- However, I thought KFC's tenders were a disappointment in every way — including the price.
There are many fast-food chains out there, but it can be hard to know which place has the best flavor and value when it comes to chicken tenders.
So, I recently ordered chicken tenders from multiple chains — Kentucky Fried Chicken, Sonic, and Smashburger — to see which I preferred.
I ate them all plain (no dipping sauces), so nothing could influence the true flavor or texture. Here's how it went.
I started my fast-food tour at Smashburger.
Smashburger is a newer kid on the fast-food block. The first location opened in Denver in 2007, and there are now over 200 shops across the US and Canada.
I paid $8.68 for an order of chicken tenders, which came with three pieces.
Smashburger's chicken tenders were almost like mini fried chicken breasts.
Even though the order only came with three, the tenders were impressively big — easily twice as large as the other chains.
The breading was thick and crispy, and the flavor profile was savory and lightly salty. Still, the tenders were begging for a dipping sauce, or even to be popped into a wrap or sandwich.
Despite that, I was entirely happy with Smashburger's tenders.
KFC was next on the list.
Contrary to its name, the first KFC franchise location opened in Salt Lake City in the 1950s. However, founder Harland "Colonel" Sanders laid the groundwork for the chain in Kentucky a few decades earlier.
My order of three chicken tenders cost me $8.90, making them the most expensive, but they also came with a biscuit.
KFC's chicken tenders let me down.
For a fast-food chain named for its chicken, I was a little disappointed by its tenders.
To start, they were easily half the size of the ones from Smashburger, and they appeared to be unevenly breaded.
They tasted salty but otherwise unremarkable. Sauce would definitely help, but the texture was a bit of a dealbreaker for me — I found the tenders a little tough and chewy.
I even took bites of each one to make sure I didn't just get a proverbial bad apple.
Sonic had the cheapest tenders.
Sonic is an Oklahoma-based fast-food chain that's known for its drive-in and drive-thru options. Customers don't actually go inside to order or eat.
A five-piece order of chicken tenders cost me $6.83, making it the cheapest of the bunch.
Sonic's chicken tenders are well-priced and good enough for a repeat purchase.
Sonic's tenders were much smaller than those from Smashburger — but there were five of them, so I still felt like I was getting my money's worth.
The texture of the chicken was — true to its name — tender. The breading, however, was on the thinner side, and there wasn't much flavor beyond a mild saltiness.
I think tenders really are meant to be enjoyed with sauce, and the uniform narrowness of these makes them especially good for dipping or putting in a wrap.
Overall, there was a clear winner for me.
Without a doubt, Smashburger had my favorite chicken tenders. They were massive, and I liked the generous amount of breading.
I'm sure I'll get them again — though next time, I'll probably try ordering the chain's spicy tenders for more flavor.
On the other side of the scale, I won't be going back to KFC for tenders. They were the most expensive, and I got the least amount of chicken. Even with a biscuit, the value just wasn't there for me.
Sonic may not have been my top choice, but I still think its chicken tenders are a good deal. They were cheap, and they're a great size and shape for dipping.
