Freddy's was founded in 2002 and has since grown to have more than 500 locations across the US.

My partner and I were the only customers when we arrived on a Sunday at 11 a.m. We were greeted by bright pops of red and a 1950s diner aesthetic that still felt modern.

I paid $7.30 for my chili cheese dog, $8.30 for a large order of chicken tenders, and $5.20 for a regular vanilla milkshake, bringing my total to about $22 including tax.

I had no expectations going into Freddy's, and it didn't take long to receive my chili cheese dog and chicken tenders.

With a significant amount of chili, thin shreds of cheese, and diced onions, I was pleasantly surprised by my meal as soon as I saw it.

The bread was something special and reminded me of Texas Toast, with just enough sturdiness to hold this notoriously messy dish together. Plus, it didn't get soggy even after sitting for a while. The toppings barely spilled as I ate, and the hot dog was grilled to perfection and tasted great.

Meanwhile, the chicken tenders were on the thinner side. They weren't overly breaded, but tasted well-seasoned and crispy.

The vanilla milkshake was made with Freddy's signature frozen custard and was very thick, but easy to drink with the size of the straw provided.

Portillo's was founded by Dick Portillo in 1963 as a hot dog stand called "The Dog House," and has since grown to have more than 70 locations in the US.

Walking into Portillo's was familiar territory. The location I visited had an interior theme that drew from the 1920s and the Great Depression.

I placed my order at a self-service screen and waited to hear my number called.

I paid $5.50 for my chili cheese dog, $6.20 for four chicken tenders, and $5.30 for a large vanilla milkshake, bringing my total to about $19 including tax.

I was underwhelmed after opening my chili dog. The chili was more saucy, with little meat or beans, and there wasn't much of it. There was, however, a decent layer of nacho cheese underneath.

Portillo's uses poppy seed buns for their chili cheese dogs, and although this is a delicious option, I don't think it provides the support this dish needs. Although the bread didn't break, things got messy and it became more of a hassle to eat than Freddy's option.

Still, the best part of the chili cheese dog was the hot dog itself. Portillo's uses Vienna Beef products, the signature sausage for a Chicago-style hot dog. Together, the Vienna Beef hot dog and poppy seed bun made the chili dog worth the extra mess.

The chicken tenders tasted good, too, but overall, I was disappointed by them. The breading was thick and had a nice crunch in some spots, but left little to no chicken in other bites.

Since the tenders were fried fresh, I ripped them in half to allow each to cool faster, but in doing so, the breading started to slide off, leaving me with naked pieces of white meat.

Finally, I ordered a large milkshake because Portillo's didn't have a medium option. My shake came in a huge cup and was $0.10 less than the medium I received at Freddy's. It tasted like I was drinking a thicker version of soft serve vanilla ice cream.

I now fully understand the hype around Freddy's. The quality of the food is fresh and tasty, and I think you get a better experience here for about the same price as other fast-food restaurants.

However, this review doesn't eliminate Portillo's from my rotation. Some of the items I typically order can only be found at Portillo's and other local Chicago spots, so although Freddy's won this competition, there are other ways it just can't compare.

To kick things off, I stopped by my local Chick-fil-A. The brand, which first opened in Atlanta in 1967, now has more than 3,000 locations across the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

When I stepped inside, I ordered the three-count chicken strips, which cost me $5.45.

I enjoyed the Chick-Fil-A chicken tenders because they were crispy and had the right amount of seasoning.

They were also reasonably priced for such a decent portion size.

After visiting Chick-Fil-A, I traveled to a nearby to PDQ, a chain restaurant known for its chicken tenders, salads, and sandwiches.

The first PDQ opened in Tampa in 2011, and the chain now has 58 locations, most of which are in Florida. However, there are also a few restaurants in North Carolina, New Jersey, and New York.

Here, I ordered three crispy chicken tenders for $7.

The tenders were tasty, and they appeared to be a little larger than the ones I got from Chick-fil-A.

When I bit into one, the inside was so tender it fell apart. Although this made them a little harder to eat, I was impressed by how fresh the tenders seemed.

I also thought they were seasoned nicely.

I traveled down the road a few miles to Zaxby's, a fast-food chain that specializes in chicken fingers and wings. Founded in 1990 in Statesboro, GA, the chain now has more than 950 locations, mostly in the South and Midwest.

To get the most for my money, the cashier suggested I order a kid's meal, which came with two chicken tenders, fries, a rice krispie treat, and a drink for $5.70.

When I took a bite, I thought these chicken tenders tasted salty. This made sense because after looking at each restaurant's nutrition information online, it seemed as though the Zaxby's chicken contained the most sodium.

Despite that, though, they were pretty flavorful. Although they appeared to have less seasoning on them than the ones I got at PDQ, I still tasted a hint of pepper. They were cooked perfectly too, and very tender.

However, because of the salty flavor, these tenders were my least favorite of the three I tried.

When it comes to plain, crispy, fried chicken tenders, Chick-fil-A was the clear winner. These had the right amount of seasoning, were reasonably priced, and came in the perfect portion size.

I can definitely see myself returning to Chick-fil-A for more in the future.

Bold, spicy flavor profiles are expected to be an area of opportunity for fast-food chains in 2025, especially those with an international or Asian-inspired influence.

Wingstop recently launched its new, limited-time-only Sweet Chili Glaze sauce, which the chain described as a "sweet and spicy fusion" of sweet chili, rich hoisin, and red chili sauce.

Wingstop's senior director of culinary, Larry Bellah, told Business Insider that the new sauce was developed in Thailand and Singapore before being launched nationwide in the US.

The menu item reflects a larger trend of Gen Z customers being more open to experimenting with fusion and more diverse flavor profiles.

The Rubix report found that 87% of Gen Z consumers wanted to see more global flavors at chain restaurants, with a special interest in flavors inspired by Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cuisines.

Gen Z is bringing the heat, but with a sweet touch.

Wingstop said its hot honey rub is one of its most popular flavors, but it isn't the only chain offering sweet and spicy flavors on menus.

Wendy's told BI that its Spicy Chicken Nuggets are especially popular among Gen Z customers, and Popeyes also launched sweet and spicy boneless wings last year.

It doesn't stop there. Taco Bell announced at its Live Más Live event this month that it is planning to collaborate with Mike's Hot Honey on a new version of its Diablo sauce in the coming year.

KFC also recently partnered with Mike's Hot Honey for a new chicken sandwich, proving that chains are really leaning into all things sweet and spicy in 2025.

Taco Bell's chief marketing officer, Taylor Montgomery, said it best in a recent interview with BI: "Crispy chicken's hot."

After the chain released chicken nuggets in December, they sold out before some fans were able to try them. However, the chain said nuggets will be returning to menus twice in the coming year.

"Tenders are still really relevant. Nuggets are really relevant," Montgomery said. "But, I think the brands that are winning have a unique point of view and are doing it their way."

He said Taco Bell's offerings will include crispy chicken nuggets and a crispy chicken taco burrito, both of which will be hitting menus this year.

Multiple fast-food chains are leaning into chicken to capture Gen Z's attention.

Raising Cane's — a chain that notably only sells chicken tenders and a few sides like coleslaw and Texas toast — is now one of the fastest-growing fast-food brands in the country.

McDonald's is also poised to bring back its popular chicken strips and chicken "snack wraps" in 2025 after fans have been begging for them for years.

From signature sauces like Cane's Sauce and Chick-fil-A sauce to spicy ranch, barbecue, and other varieties, chains are offering dippable, dunkable menu items to complement Gen Z's passion for sauce.

Montgomery described the sauce trend among Gen Z consumers as "permissible exploration."

"You don't have to fully commit to a flavor profile that's different, but you can dunk something into it, or dip something in it," he said. "America's getting more diverse, and our consumers' tastes are changing. I think sauces are enabling that."

Taco Bell's chief food innovation officer, Liz Matthews, added, "Consumers are really looking for adventure on their food, but they want to have kind of a safe adventure. People are really gravitating toward sauces and different flavors from around the world."

At Taco Bell's Live Más Live, the chain identified its beverage menu as an area of focus and opportunity this year.

It highlighted new launches like the new Mountain Dew Baja Midnight, a twist on its Baja Blast soda, and its new Live Más Café concept, which currently operates one location in Chula Vista, California.

Beverages are an area for other chains to experiment with limited-time offerings and niche trends, such as the "dirty soda" trend that popped up over the summer and was subsequently added to Del Taco and Sonic menus.

Innovation may be a huge trend for 2025, but so is nostalgia.

In November, Taco Bell leaned into the trend with its "Decades" menu, which featured five previously discontinued items.

The menu included the Tostada from the original 1960s menu, the Green Sauce Burrito from the '70s, the Meximelt from the '80s, the '90s-era Gordita Supreme, and the Caramel Apple Empanada of the 2000s.

"I just love the throwbacks because people have such an emotional connection with it," Matthews told BI. "Our brand is always going to do innovation. And I think we're always going to honor our past. Whether it's bringing something back, or do we make a tweak on something that hasn't been on the menu in a while? I think we're always going to do both."

Taco Bell isn't the only brand that has leaned into nostalgia.

Last year, Wendy's launched a collaboration with Paramount, which owns Nickelodeon, and "SpongeBob SquarePants," to celebrate the series' 25th anniversary with a limited-edition burger inspired by the Krabby Patty and a pineapple-flavored milkshake.

McDonald's also launched limited-edition cups inspired by iconic Happy Meal toys and its viral Grimace-themed shake, which paid homage to the character first introduced in the 1970s.

Wingstop's head chef, Larry Bellah, identified the nostalgia trend as one of his favorites in the industry in a recent conversation with BI, though the chain has yet to lean into it as a brand.

While nostalgia was a major trend in 2024, it's clear that it's not going anywhere.

Above all, as we enter 2025, every fast-food chain is focused on delivering value to customers.

"Consumers have become more discerning," Moody's Ratings analyst Michael Zuccaro told BI in November. "Value perception is a key driver. This is not just price but also experience-related factors such as convenience, speed, consistency, and accuracy."

Taco Bell's chief financial officer, Neil Manhas, said during the chain's consumer day, held during its Live Más Live event, that value is "critical" for the brand.

The so-called "value wars" are in full swing, as chains like McDonald's, Wendy's, and Dunkin' all lean into meal deals and promotions to keep prices low for customers amid growing inflation and food prices.

"Value wars come and go. We believe that showing up for consumers every single day on value is something we've always done and we always will," Montgomery said. "But, I think, for us, it's about giving consumers more when a lot of the [other chains] sometimes are giving consumers less."

As people tighten their pocketbooks, chains are under more pressure than ever to keep prices low without sacrificing quality.

A three-piece chicken tender cost only $6.97 at Whataburger at the location I visited in Austin.

I thought the tenders could only be described as "classic" — they weren't anything out-of-the-box, but I enjoyed them.

The chicken tenders tasted good on their own, as well as with ranch dipping sauce. They weren't bad by any stretch of the imagination. However, I did think the other tenders I tried were slightly crispier and had just the slightest hint of more flavor in the batter.

Regardless, for a relatively low price, I'd definitely order these again.

The three-piece "snack" cost $4.99, not including tax.

They were also a good size. I thought the price was also a great deal for the generous portion I received.

These were undeniably classic chicken tenders, similar to the ones from Whataburger, but they were a touch too fried for my liking. However, I thought they were well-seasoned and had a lot of peppery flavor.

A five-piece order of chicken tenders cost $8.41, excluding tax.

Rather than thick and juicy like some of the other chicken tenders I tried, these were flatter. In fact, I'd say these were the thinnest and flattest tenders out of all the ones I tried.

The chicken was on the drier side, and there simply wasn't a lot of it. I gravitate toward thicker, more shreddable chicken tenders, and these slightly missed the mark for me.

However, the flavor was definitely there — the breading had a peppery essence and the tenders were evenly fried.

When it's not included in a meal deal, a three-piece chicken tender costs $9.69 at my nearest location in New York City. For a meal, the price bumps up to $17.35, excluding tax and fees.

There were small bits of fried breading scattered on the outside, which I always love with a chicken tender.

However, they weren't quite as crispy as I expected. I wanted a distinct crunch when I bit into the tenders, but they didn't deliver that. In the end, it's largely up to personal preference.

When I dipped them in the chain's signature Chick-fil-A sauce, the experience was mouthwatering. However, the actual chicken tenders were just alright — it was the sauce that took them over the edge.

A three-piece tender combo costs $16.89 before taxes and fees. The meal deal included a large serving of fries, a drink, and a biscuit, as well as a choice of dipping sauces. 

I really liked the crunchy exterior.

I also thought the batter was quite flavorful — I could taste hints of seasoning and buttermilk, although they weren't quite as buttery-tasting as the Chick-fil-A tenders.

However, this meal felt expensive for only three chicken tenders, even though they were large.

A four-piece chicken tenders combo, including fries, a medium drink, and a biscuit, cost me $12.97, excluding taxes and fees.

The texture and flavor of the breading made them taste like a cross between the chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A and Cook Out. 

I also thought the price was fair considering how much food I received. The chicken tenders paired perfectly with honey mustard but were also tasty on their own.

I would definitely order these again.

I ordered a four-piece tender meal for $13.04, excluding taxes and fees, in Brooklyn, New York. I thought this was an excellent value for the amount of food I received. 

The breading stuck closely to the chicken tenders, rather than having a thick or crunchy texture.

However, the chicken tenders paired well with the chain's honey mustard and new comeback sauce. The breading had a tasty, very peppery flavor to it that was unique compared to the other chicken tenders I tried.

However, the slightly less crispy texture of the breading meant they didn't come out on top when compared to the last four chains I tried.

At my local McDonald's in Brooklyn, New York, three McCrispy chicken strips cost $8.29, excluding tax and fees.

The chicken strips differed from the chain's buttermilk crispy tenders, which were discontinued in 2020 at the start of the pandemic.

Chicken tenders haven't been on the menu ever since, despite fans' pleas to bring them back.

Unlike some flakier chicken tenders, each bite was evenly coated in well-seasoned, peppery breading. Inside, the chicken meat was thick and juicy.

Paired with the chain's new creamy chili sauce, which was specifically created to go with the new chicken strips, these packed a decent amount of flavor. However, on their own, I thought they were just a touch blander than some of the higher-ranked tenders I tried.

Wingstop recently revamped its chicken tenders, and I was excited to try them out.

The chain sells its chicken in various flavors, from original hot to hickory-smoked barbecue and mango habanero. However, I ordered these chicken tenders plain.

I ordered a five-piece chicken tender combo at my local Wingstop in Brooklyn, New York. It cost $14.99 and came with a drink, dipping sauce, and a regular side of fries.

The chain also sells four chicken tenders, which come with one dipping sauce, for $10.39, plus tax and fees.

The chicken tenders were deep golden in color and evenly fried, with small clumps of fried breading adding even more texture to every bite.

The chicken tender easily tore apart with every bite, which is something I look for. The breading itself was slightly peppery, but not overly flavorful. They paired well with Wingstop's signature ranch — my favorite of any fast-food ranch — and the chain's honey mustard.

Wingstop delivered great classic tenders, though the breading didn't pack as much flavor as the top two chains I tried. Nevertheless, I'd definitely order these again.

A five-piece chicken tenders combo came with fries, a small drink, coleslaw, and a piece of Texas toast. I also asked for a side of honey mustard and Zaxby's famous Zax sauce. My meal cost $14.77, excluding taxes and fees.

The breading was crispy and flavorful, with a slight sweetness.

Zax sauce tastes similar to the Cane's sauce I tried from Raising Cane's, but I found it to be just ever-so-slightly less flavorful, and creamy. I also thought that it didn't have the same kick.

However, the chicken tenders really impressed me. They were a good size, extremely flavorful, and addictingly delicious. I found myself craving even more than the five chicken tenders I was given, which is rare for me.

In the end, it was a really tough call on whether I preferred Zaxby's or Raising Cane's chicken tenders.

My six-piece meal cost $16.59, including tax, but a three-finger combo that includes three chicken fingers, fries, Cane's sauce, Texas toast, and a regular drink costs $9.59, excluding tax and any additions or swaps. 

The chicken tenders were also thick. After biting in, I could actually see the strips of white chicken underneath, which, in my experience, you don't always find with fast-food chicken tenders.

I tried the tenders on their own and with the Cane's sauce. On their own, the tenders were simply everything one could ask for: thick, juicy, and crispy on the outside.

However, the chain is famous for its chicken-complementing sauce, and after biting in, I could definitely see why. It had a slight kick to it, and it was creamy and surprisingly tangy. It paired perfectly with the chicken and was unlike any other sauce I've ever tried.

In the end, Raising Cane's took home the win for me with the chain's near-perfect chicken tenders and fair prices.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

Founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, Wingstop has grown a cult following over the years for its chicken offerings, from its wings to its recently released chicken sandwich, which has caught the attention of Gen-Z consumers.

Wingstop does have dine-in options, but I felt it was more authentic to the Wingstop experience to order in.

I ordered four crispy tenders plain with a side of honey mustard sauce from my local Wingstop in Brooklyn, New York, for $10.39, excluding tax and fees.

I ordered these tenders plain, but they also come in all of the chain's signature sauces, from lemon pepper to Buffalo. I liked the ability to customize my tenders according to my preferences.

The tenders paired well with the honey mustard, which was creamy and had an ideal level of tanginess. I also thought the classic breading had a nice amount of flavor and peppery seasoning.

Each Wingstop tender had a different amount of juicy chicken meat, with some pieces being thicker and more satisfying than others. While the flavor was spot-on, I found myself wishing there was a bit more meat in each bite to really hit the mark.

These tenders would make a decent addition to a spread of wings from Wingstop, especially for folks turned off by spicy food.

Next time I order from Wingstop, I'll probably stick to their specialty: their wings.

Business Insider reached out to Wingstop for comment but did not receive a response before publication.

I visited my local Applebee's in Brooklyn, New York, to try these chicken tenders.

Applebee's partnered with the NFL this year as the league's official grill and bar partner after finding a major crossover between their customer base and NFL viewers.

"We know our guests are football fans," Applebee's chief marketing officer Joel Yashinsky told Business Insider, adding, "This season, we've been all in on the NFL."

Data collected by Applebee's in April showed that 64% of its guests were interested in or very interested in the NFL, and about 34% had watched the NFL in the last 12 months, which informed the chain's football season strategy, Yashinsky said.

While the chain is consistently lauded for its boneless wings, I haven't heard much about its chicken tenders.

At my location, the chicken tender plate typically costs $12.99, excluding tax and fees. However, I ordered them as part of the chain's "2 for $2X" deal, which also allowed me to get an order of boneless wings and a classic cheeseburger.

They were really crispy, but slightly on the smaller side. The serving size of the honey mustard was also smaller than the Wingstop version.

However, unlike Wingstop, these chicken tenders came with a generous serving of fries, which I thought made this meal an excellent value.

I appreciated the seasoning on the breading, which was a highlight since this chain serves its tenders plain without coating them in signature sauces like those available at Wingstop, Chili's, or Buffalo Wild Wings.

My only complaint, other than the smaller size of the chicken tenders, was just how fried they were. I thought the breading was a little overcooked, to the point that it left a dry, almost burned taste in my mouth.

However, this could have just been the batch I received and not standard for all Applebee's chicken tenders. I reached out to Applebee's about my experience, but they did not respond before publication.

TGI Fridays has run into financial trouble in recent months. In early November, the chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and Reuters reported that it was facing $37 million in debt, which led to some underperforming restaurants closing.

The TGI Fridays location I visited in Massachusetts is locally franchised and owned, so it's not included in the larger brand's bankruptcy filing.

I ordered a four-piece tender meal for $15.69, excluding tax and fees. It came with a side — I opted for mac and cheese — and honey mustard.

They still had the signature finger shape I typically look for in a chicken tender.

This honey-mustard dipping sauce was less creamy compared to the other chains I tried. However, I was mostly judging the chicken tenders on their own, not the sauces they came with.

I was impressed by these chicken tenders and would definitely order them again the next time I visit TGI Fridays for game day or just a standard dinner out.

However, I thought the breading was just slightly too thick and underseasoned to rank them higher than the top two chains.

Business Insider reached out to TGI Fridays for comment but did not receive a response before publication.

Chili's has been killing the game lately — with traffic and sales on the upswing leading up to football season, the chain is arguably in a league of its own.

The chain told BI in April that a return to commercial advertising has been a major part of the brand's efforts to increase brand awareness over the past couple of years. This includes during sports seasons. Sports Business Journal reported that in 2023, Chili's spent 38% of its TV advertising budget on live NFL action during games.

The chain has also focused on value in the past year. It has expanded its "3 For Me" menu and offers happy-hour beers starting at $3.

"We're focused on creating a lively, social atmosphere that makes Chili's a great spot to watch the game," Chili's chief marketing officer George Felix told BI in January.

The chain is also looking at how it can expand its chicken offerings, which are a hit with younger consumers.

"We've really been focusing on how do we build a chicken crisper platform that's really good," Felix said. "And so we're obviously looking at fried chicken and continuing to look at: What's Chili's point of view in that space, and where can we play?"

I ordered a four-count of Chicken Crispers for $14.99, excluding tax and fees. The meal also included fries, mac and cheese, and two sauces.

The tenders are available in a variety of flavors, such as Nashville Hot, Honey Chipotle, Buffalo Ranch, barbecue, and Buffalo.

I paired my chicken tenders with ranch and honey mustard and was impressed by the creaminess and flavor of both sauces. However, the chicken tenders really hit it out of the park.

It was peppery, slightly salty, and just crispy enough to not overpower the chicken meat inside. Plus, for the price, you also get a lot of food.

While I'd probably opt for smothering these chicken tenders in a signature sauce next time, they also hold up on their own with their crispy breading and succulent chicken meat.

Buffalo Wild Wings was founded in 1982 in Columbus, Ohio, by Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery, who started the restaurant with the goal of bringing authentic Buffalo-style chicken wings to the area.

The chain has since expanded to over 1,200 locations and offers 21 different sauce options, including the chain's signature Buffalo sauce, for its classic bone-in wings, boneless wings, and tenders.

A five-count of the chain's hand-breaded tenders with no sauce or dry rub and fries typically costs $17.99, excluding tax and fees.

However, Buffalo Wild Wings was running a promotion that allowed me to order 15 boneless wings, five tenders, ranch or blue cheese dipping sauces, and fries for $19.99, so I chose that deal instead.

These chicken tenders had tiny pieces of fried breading that enhanced the texture of each bite and paired well with the tangy and fresh ranch dipping sauce provided.

The chicken tenders themselves were well-seasoned and sizable — they were probably the largest chicken tenders I tried, length-wise, and also the thickest.

The breading had the most distinctive flavor out of all the tenders I tried.

The chicken meat inside was moist and high-quality, in my opinion. These tenders from Buffalo Wild Wings also tasted the most homemade to me, which I attributed to the flaky, hand-breaded coating.

The crispy breading added a satisfying crunch without being too thick, complementing the tender, juicy chicken inside. Every bite struck the perfect balance, making these feel less like a mass-produced product from a chain restaurant and more like something prepared fresh in a home kitchen.

All of the chicken tenders I tried had something tasty to offer for game-day and tailgating season. But in the end, Buffalo Wild Wings was the real MVP.