I tried chicken tenders from Sonic, KFC, and Smashburger. I had a clear winner and one serious disappointment.
- 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.
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.