If one were attempting to identify when the so-called "chicken wars" began, August 2019 would be a date to note. It all began that summer with the quiet rollout by Popeye’s of their now-signature Crispy Fried Chicken Sandwich. In short order (no pun intended), fried chicken sandwiches were a common offering by most fast-food retailers, and consumer demand was ablaze.
Although relatively recent, that was then, and today the chicken wars have settled down into a workaday but dogged competition between the fast-food restaurants to win the loyalty of regular patrons of chicken-sandwiches-to-go. These days, the winningest offerings deliver a flavorful, well-seasoned, crispy exterior. As operators continue to come up with new ways to delight their customers, the race goes on — and the competition now extends to plant-based meat alternatives.