Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
McDonald's New 'Southern Style Chicken Sandwich' will not Stop Me from Driving 25 Minutes for Chick-Fil-A
()
The new McDonald's "Southern Style Chicken Sandwich" head-to-head with the Chick-fil-a sandwich
About once a month, I make the 25-minute trek to Redondo Beach to get a taste of Chick-fil-a (This was the subject of a post I wrote almost exactly a year ago). With the price of gas up around the $4 a gallon mark, this isn't exactly the smartest move, but I believe their chicken sandwich, a piece of chicken on a butter toasted bun with three pickle chips is delicious enough to merit the trip.
Today, McDonald's officially launched a sandwich that could have possibly saved me a lot mileage and time. The "Southern Style Chicken Sandwich," which has been tested in markets throughout country for the past year and was brought to the LA area within the past two weeks, is also a piece of chicken on a butter toasted bun with three pickle chips. This past Saturday, I decided to give McDonald's offering a shot for my lunch. I optimistically thought to myself, "If this thing is good, I won't have to make the drive to Redondo for my Chick-fil-a fix."
Support for LAist comes from
Unfortunately, the "Southern Style Chicken Sandwich" did not live up to my high hopes. From the first bite I knew I'd be getting in my car and hopping on the 405 sometime in the near future to enjoy the freshness of a Chick-fil-a sandwich, something McDonald's offering greatly lacked. The chicken was terribly dry and tasted as if it were just sitting there waiting for someone, anyone to say, "Hey, I'll give that new chicken sandwich a shot." I am guessing that it was in fact just sitting there, pre-made just waiting for me because the "Southern Style Chicken Sandwich" was handed to me within seconds of ordering. This isn't a game of who can make the fastest chicken sandwich, it's who can make the best and you may be fast Mickie D's but you are not the best.
()
In the food court located inside The Galleria at South Bay mall, Chick-fil-a and McDonalds are right next door to each other
Feeling as though I had cheated on my beloved Chick-fil-a, I decided to hop in my car and drive for 25 minutes to have dinner in the friendly confines of the food court located inside The Galleria at South Bay. This wasn't a decision made with my head. I am currently training to run in the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego in less than a month and a double-dosage of crispy chicken sandwiches isn't exactly the kind of food marathon runners are made of. This definitely was a decision made with my heart.
While both sandwiches offer the same exact ingredients for nearly the same price (McDonald's sandwich was $2.89 and Chick-fil-a was $2.99) the only real difference is the quality of the chicken. The chicken found in the "Southern Style Chicken Sandwich" is a very far cry from Chick-fil-a's much fresher, bigger and overall better tasting piece of chicken.
Don't get me wrong, McDonald's sandwich isn't awful. I didn't spit it out or anything. If I wasn't so fond of the sandwich they are trying to steal from, I might have a different take on it. I could even seen the "Southern Style Chicken Sandwich" selling well to people who have never tasted the deliciousness that Chick-fil-a offers. McDonald's is also open on Sunday, unlike Chick-fil-a, so they got that going for them and on May 15th, they are giving them away for free. Everyone likes free - even if it isn't as good as Chick-fil-a.
Now, please open a damn Chick-fil-a in LA so I will never again be tempted by the convenience of a less than stellar chicken sandwich from one of your competitors.
Support for LAist comes from
Photos by Tim Hammer and Karla R. for LAist
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist