It seems like fried chicken and fast food go together like peanut butter and jelly. Fast food chains like KFC and Popeyes have served crispy, juicy fried chicken for a long time. But there was a time when even burger places like Wendy’s served fried chicken.
If you grew up in the 80s and 90s, you may have fond memories of ordering up Wendy’s fried chicken after school or on a weekend trip But at some point in the early 2000s, Wendy’s quietly removed fried chicken from their permanent menu lineup
This made a lot of Wendy’s fans miss the golden, crispy food they used to love. So what happened with Wendy’s fried chicken? Why did they go away in the end? Let’s take a trip down memory lane and solve this fast food mystery.
A Brief History of Wendy’s Fried Chicken
When Wendy’s first launched in 1969, the menu was focused on burgers, fries and shakes. But in the early 1980s, Wendy’s started expanding their menu to compete with KFC and other fried chicken chains. Their signature fried chicken sandwich debuted in 1981.
Wendy’s says this sandwich has a whole boneless breast fillet that is breaded and deep-fried. The meat is juicy and flavorful, and the breading gives it a crunchy texture. It quickly became a customer favorite.
Buoyed by the popularity of their fried chicken sandwich, Wendy’s decided to expand into bone-in fried chicken as well. Their fried chicken pieces were introduced in 1982. Customers could order meals featuring breast, thigh, drumstick or wing pieces coated in a seasoned breading and fried until golden brown.
For fast food connoisseurs in the 80s and 90s, going to Wendy’s meant you didn’t have to choose between burgers and fried chicken. You could have both! Wendy’s was able to successfully compete with KFC by offering high quality, freshly prepared boneless and bone-in fried chicken.
The Quest to Bring Wendy’s Fried Chicken Back
Unfortunately for fried chicken lovers, Wendy’s started phasing out their signature poultry dishes in the early 2000s. Their boneless sandwiches stuck around the longest, but were eventually discontinued from most locations’ permanent menus.
This caused a lot of anger among Wendy’s biggest fried chicken fans, which was only natural. In 2019, a huge fan named Darnell Leake even started a Change.org petition. org pleading for Wendy’s to “Bring Back Wendy’s Fried Chicken. ”.
The petition details how Wendy’s used to be the go-to fast food joint for fried chicken thanks to its juicy white meat and superior seasoning. For kids growing up in the 80s and 90s, getting Wendy’s fried chicken was the highlight of field trips and family outings.
The petition argues that bringing back their fried chicken could help unite and delight Americans in these divided times. Because who doesn’t love some tasty fried bird? The petition is still ongoing today and has nearly 60 supporters at the time of writing, though it has not yet succeeded in resurrecting Wendy’s fried chicken.
Other Wendy’s enthusiasts have taken to social media to voice their disappointment over the discontinued menu item. Posts with the hashtag #BringBackWendysChicken have popped up periodically from Twitter users pining for those golden glory days.
Why Did Wendy’s Get Rid of Their Fried Chicken?
This all begs the question – why would Wendy’s remove such a beloved, cult-favorite menu item in the first place?
There are a few leading theories behind the mysterious demise of Wendy’s fried chicken:
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Lack of sales – While the fried chicken did have a devoted fanbase, it may not have had broad enough appeal to justify keeping it as a permanent menu item when other offerings were more popular.
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Long prep time – As a made-to-order menu option, Wendy’s fried chicken required more time and labor compared to their burgers. This made it less efficient to produce at scale.
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Brand identity – As a burger-focused brand, Wendy’s may have decided to refocus their menu on their core products rather than trying to compete directly with fried chicken chains.
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Quality concerns – Keeping fried chicken tasting fresh and consistent across thousands of locations may have proven too operationally challenging.
Of course, only Wendy’s insiders know the exact business calculus behind removing fried chicken from their nationwide menus. But it seems likely it was a combination of factors that led to its gradual disappearance over the years.
Could Wendy’s Fried Chicken Return One Day?
For those still wishing upon a chicken bone for Wendy’s fried chicken comeback, all hope is not lost. While you can’t currently find it on their permanent menu, Wendy’s does occasionally bring back fried chicken offerings for limited-time promotions.
In 2021, Wendy’s launched their Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich for a trial run at select locations. It featured a crispy chicken fillet drizzled with honey and topped with a spicy pepper sauce. For a few glorious months, fans could enjoy this tempting twist on a classic Wendy’s chicken sandwich.
Wendy’s has also brought back bone-in fried chicken as limited-time menu items over the years. Back in 2020, their Chicken Tenders made a brief return before once again being plucked off the menu. These occasional retro revivals keep the Wendy’s fried chicken flame alive for longtime devotees.
And who knows – if interest and sales are strong enough during these short-term promotions, there’s always potential for a permanent comeback down the line.
Still the Best Fast Food Fried Chicken for Many
Wendy’s may offer fried chicken only sporadically now, but for those who got to enjoy it in its heyday, it remains the stuff of fond food memories. Fans reminiscing on Twitter and Reddit frequently rank it as superior to offerings from dedicated chicken chains.
As user cld8 explains on Reddit: “Wendy’s used to have amazing fried chicken. It blew KFC and Popeye’s out of the water. The sandwich was juicy and flavorful. The nuggets were crispy on the outside and moist inside.”
Indeed, Wendy’s short-lived fried chicken still holds mythical status for some fast food archaeologists. It’s the one that got away – a crisp, juicy prize that can now only be chased through scattered limited-time sightings.
So for anyone craving that phantom Wendy’s fried chicken of the past, keep your eyes peeled for its next possible pop-up appearance. And if you do spot it, savor every last morsel. A meal this legendary doesn’t come along often.
Wendy’s was the first fast-food chain with less than 1,000 restaurants to have its own national TV commercial.
According to the companys website, in 1977, Wendys became the first fast-food chain with under 1,000 restaurants to air a national commercial. Wendys now has more than 6,500 restaurants nationwide.
One Wendys advertisement from September 1976, presumably a local commercial, featured an animated Wendy and dancing hamburgers. In the commercial, the cartoon characters described how Wendys “old-fashioned” hamburgers were cooked to order: “Your choice down at Wendys, where quality is our recipe!”
Wendy’s changed the fast-food industry with the introduction of its pick-up window.
While other chains have laid claims to inventing the drive-thru, Wendys says it changed the fast-food industry when it introduced its own pick-up window in November 1970.
The window was originally referred to as a “drive-in window,” but was changed to “Pick-Up Window” to better reflect the chains quick service.
According to Wendys, “This innovation was so revolutionary that customers needed instructions on how to talk through the speaker to place an order. “.
@popeyes is taking on @Wendys #foodcritic #chickensandwich
FAQ
Has Wendy’s ever sold fried chicken?
Originally, Wendy’s had only two kinds of chicken sandwiches, fried and grilled. The spicy chicken sandwich started out as a promotion. It was later put on the menu full-time in 1996 because of its popularity and its ease of preparation; it used the same condiments as the standard fried chicken sandwich.
Do they sell chicken at Wendy’s?
Chicken, Nuggets & More – Wendy’s.
Did Kentucky Fried Chicken ever sell chicken gizzards?
In the past, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) sold fried livers and gizzards in some markets, but these items are no longer on their main menu. There are a few reasons for this:
Who was the first person to ever make fried chicken?
It may surprise you to learn that it’s a lot older than you think. English cook Hannah Glasse published the first fried chicken recipe in 1747. Yet fried chicken has been around for thousands of years. Their countries of origin include China, the Middle East, and West Africa.
Does Wendy’s still have spicy chicken sandwiches?
A ciabatta bun solidified this food work of art, making a name for itself at first glance. While this spicy sandwich has been long gone for 17 years, we don’t see it coming back any time soon, however, Wendy’s still offers a variety of spicy chicken sandwiches for those who enjoy the heat. And hey, you never know.
Is Wendy’s grilled chicken sandwich gone?
Wendy’s grilled chicken sandwich may be gone, but it will never be forgotten. Another Wendy’s chicken sandwich has died and gone to the graveyard, never to be seen or heard from again. In 2006, the 4-alarm spicy chicken sandwich was released as a limited edition menu item, bringing some heat to the table.
Does Wendy’s sell Italian Chicken Sandwich?
“Wendy’s Sells Italian Chicken Sandwich With ‘Short Film’ – News – Advertising Age”. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2015. ^ “Wendy’s 1977”. Flickr. January 13, 2008. Archived from the original on June 1, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2015. ^ Philip H. Dougherty (June 26, 1986). “Wendy’s Spot Created By Lockhardt & Pettus”.
Who owns Wendy’s?
JAE Restaurant Group is one of the country’s largest franchisee owners. The Group owns 177 Wendy’s Restaurants. Wendy’s Co. has been looking to remodel existing stores and upgrade the curb appeal of its locations. They have been doing this by adding fireplaces, more seating options, adding WiFi and flat-screen TVs, and digital menus.
Is Wendy’s a ‘old fashioned’ restaurant?
Wendy’s has been a top player on the American fast food scene since not long after their first restaurant opened back in 1969. Established in Columbus, Ohio, it might seem paradoxical that a brand advertising itself as “old fashioned” has often been at the forefront of innovation.
Who is the founder of Wendy’s?
Wendy’s began in 1969, almost 2 decades after McDonald’s and Burger King. The founder, Dave Thomas, used a combination of marketing brilliance & business savvy to launch and grow his burger business. The oddest part? Of all places, Dave’s journey to founding Wendy’s begins at a Kentucky Fried Chicken…