National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day

A food holiday of great significance, National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day, takes place today! Fried chicken sandwiches are made with breaded and fried boneless chicken breasts or thighs that are served on a bun, bread, or roll, and are usually accompanied by a sauce such as mayonnaise, spicy mayonnaise, or barbecue sauce, and sometimes with additional toppings such as pickles or coleslaw. A popular variation is the hot chicken sandwich.

Fried chicken sandwiches are a convenient comfort food—convenient because they are a handheld food that makes it possible to eat fried chicken while keeping one's hands clean. During the earlier years of the twentieth century, they were served in delis and small eateries, primarily to working-class customers. They gained more popularity following World War II, their prevalence rising in part due to the rise of fast food chains. Three of the most prominent chain restaurants to serve fried chicken sandwiches are Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, and KFC.

Chick-fil-A claims to have made the fried chicken sandwich popular across the United States in the 1960s. Fried chicken sandwiches gained wider acclaim in the twenty-first century and peaked shortly after Popeyes released a new chicken sandwich in August 2019, which ignited the great fried chicken sandwich wars. Popeyes claimed it was the first nationwide chicken sandwich and started a Twitter feud with Chick-fil-A and other restaurants about it. The sandwich that started the war was made with a chicken breast marinated in buttermilk and served on a toasted brioche bun with butter, special mayo, and pickles. It was in the era of these wars that the first National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day was celebrated.

A number of national chain restaurants have offered specials and deals in honor of the day. These include Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, KFC, Farmer Boys, Zaxby's, Jollibee, Big Buns Damn Good Burgers, Pollo Campero, Fuku, Krystal, Wingstop, McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Church's Chicken, Wendy's, and Cotton Patch Cafe. Examples of specials and deals include buy-one-get-one sandwiches, buy-one-get-one half-off sandwiches, free sandwiches, a free sandwich with the purchase of other items, free sides with the purchase of a sandwich, and free sandwiches with DoorDash or Uber Eats orders.

How to Observe National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day

Make some fried chicken sandwiches! You could also have one at a local or chain restaurant. Look online to see what restaurants are offering deals in honor of the day. Some restaurants that have celebrated the day in the past include:

• Big Buns Damn Good Burgers
• Burger King
• Chick-fil-A
• Church's Chicken
• Cotton Patch Cafe
• Farmer Boys
• Fuku
• Jollibee
• KFC
• Krystal
• McDonald's
• Pollo Campero
• Popeyes
• Wendy's
• Wingstop
• Zaxby's

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