Popeyes changed the standard for what a fast-food chicken sandwich should be.
Its famed chicken sandwich got rid of the processed patty or skinny chicken cutlet and replaced it with a large fried chicken breast that didn't really look like something McDonald's or Burger King would ever offer.
The success of the Popeyes chicken sandwich, however, forced its rivals to follow. That should have been easy for Burger King as both companies are owned by Restaurant Brands International (QSR) -), but the chain actually stumbled with its first effort to home in on the craze.
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The Ch'King had a wildly clever name, but something about it never connected with customers. That gave McDonald's (MCD) -) an edge as it rechristened its Crispy Chicken Sandwich as the McCrispy, giving it a sort of company seal of approval and telling customers that it would become a permanent menu item.
Burger King moved on from the Ch'King with the BK Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich. That offering uses a more modest piece of fried chicken breast than Popeyes does, but it's still different from the thin processed patties used in the chain's classic "long" chicken sandwiches.
Now, Burger King has a new version of the BK Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich that it's rolling out nationwide for a limited time.
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Burger King sandwich adds a classic flavor
McDonald's helped associate honey mustard with chicken sandwiches by making it one of the first Chicken McNugget dipping sauces. The chain may not have been the first place to combine fried chicken and honey mustard, but it certainly married the two flavors in the eyes of the general public.
Burger King's new Honey Mustard BK Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich capitalizes on this now well-known flavor combination.
"The Honey Mustard BK Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich features a crispy white meat breast fillet topped with honey mustard, creamy Swiss cheese, crispy bacon, lettuce, and juicy tomatoes on a toasted potato bun," Chew Boom reported.
The sandwich cost $8.09 where reporter Bob Miller tried it, but Miller noted that prices may vary. You can find the sandwich at participating Burger King locations for a limited time.
Burger King bets big on chicken
Burger King has also been teasing two very different takes on one of its most-loved items. It has plans to add an Italian version of its BK Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich to menus in November.
"The Italian BK Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich features a crispy white meat breast fillet topped with marinara sauce and 2 slices of mozzarella cheese on a toasted potato bun," according to Chew Boom.
Basically, it's an amped-up take on the chain's classic 1970s Italian Chicken sandwich, which used a processed chicken patty and was served on a long bun. That sandwich has returned multiple times over the years, often as a part of a lineup of "international" chicken sandwiches.
That sandwich, which features a long, crispy-fried, breaded white meat chicken patty with marinara sauce and two slices of melted Mozzarella cheese sandwiched between a long, sesame seed bun, has actually returned to the chain's menu as well.
The classic Italian Chicken Sandwich is a little cheaper than the chain's BK Royal Crispy Chicken line.
Just the sandwich will cost $5.29 while combination meals with a small fries and a drink will set you back $7.79. The Italian Chicken Sandwich will be on menus nationwide, although not every Burger King location will participate in the promotion, the Fast Food Post reported.
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