McDonald's has been teasing us for at least two years, but now it's finally here:
Yes, it's the poultry-based version of the classic Big Mac. It features two tempura-battered chicken patties on a Big Mac bun with Big Mac Special Sauce, cheese, lettuce, and pickle slices.
The Chicken Big Mac was previously available in the U.K. and Ireland in 2022, where it sold out within 10 days. It was also tested in Miami in 2022, with lines out the door and jammed drive-thrus all over the city.
Based on those successes, it's shocking that it took so long to get the National push that it's finally getting now.
If you know the classic Big Mac jingle that started in the 1970s, then you know that onions are the only thing that needs to be added, and I'm not sure why.
Well, as a fan of the classic Big Mac, a former employee of McDonald's, and someone who is wholly dedicated to my readers, my listeners, and my fans, I felt it was my duty to go to McDonald's, try this new menu item, and give you all a full report.
I mean, I owe you all so much that it's the very least I could do, and here is my report.
THE CHICKEN BIG MAC REPORT
This past Monday, I had some free time before the Press Screening of the new Hugh Grant horror movie Heretic—which is excellent, by the way— so I stopped by McDonald's in downtown Chicago, located upstairs from the Clark & Lake subway stop on the CTA's Blue Line.
I have been to this specific McDonald's location many times, and I am usually satisfied with the cleanliness, the quality of the food, and the efficient service.
On a side note, this location also has the greatest lobby music of any McDonald's I have ever dined in. On one of my visits, I heard Warren Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns and Money," followed by Suzanne Vega's "The Queen and the Soldier," followed by "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden, and as I was leaving, "Tom Sawyer" by Rush was beginning.
I have no idea what music service they subscribe to, but it's a damn good one.
On this particular Chicken Big Mac visit, there didn't seem to be any lobby music playing, so that's an automatic demerit.
It was very crowded then, and I noticed that many people in the lobby, both waiting for their food and those already dining, were trying the Chicken Big Mac. I asked a few people what they thought, and everyone said they enjoyed the sandwich and would order it again.
I placed my order and paid at the kiosk (I'm finally used to doing that). My order simply consisted of the Chicken Big Mac and a small Sprite. There were no fries or apple pies. Just the sandwich and a drink. Simple.
I got my order and sat at a crowded counter to finally try this much-anticipated fast-food delicacy!
When I opened the container, I first noticed that the sandwich was tilted to one side and sloppily presented. There was too much lettuce on the sandwich, the special sauce was all over the place, and the cheese was not melted. It did not look like the picture in the ads, and I began to feel like Michael Douglas in "Falling Down."
However, I did not pull out an automatic weapon like Douglas does in that movie; I simply took a sloppy bite and began chewing. Despite the sloppy presentation and the overabundance of lettuce, it tasted great.
The chicken patties were the perfect size (not too thin or thick), had a terrific texture, and were nicely breaded. The tempura coating was well seasoned and properly fried, and the ratio of poultry to batter was perfect.
Of course, the Special Sauce is still legendary, even if it is just a slightly altered version of Thousand Island dressing. The cheese and pickles gave me a lovely, comfortable feeling. It was an excellent first bite, followed by many more great-tasting bites.
In between sips of my Sprite, I ate the Chicken Big Mac with gusto and a smile on my face. It is a delicious fast food sandwich, a successful variation of one of the classic staples in fast food history.
I finished the Chicken Big Mac fairly quickly, leaving just a pile of uneaten saucy lettuce in the bottom of the cardboard container (as I said, there was too much lettuce on the sandwich) and a few extra used napkins because of the sloppy stacking.
Overall, I was very happy with the experience and recommend this hot new product. Despite this sandwich presentation's flaws, I look forward to my next Chicken Big Mac.
Next time, though, they need to lighten up on the lettuce, melt the cheese more, stack the layers better... and play some Suzanne Vega over the PA, for God's sake!
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