Last year, I published a review of Raising Cane’s tied to a then-surprising realization: fast food was getting expensive.
That reality hasn’t faded. If anything, it’s accelerated.
Along with groceries, the cost of dining out has soared, and it’s actively reshaping how — and how often — we eat. Value matters again. And not in the abstract. In real dollars.
Which brings us to Popeyes.
Popeyes single-handedly ignited the fried chicken sandwich wars in 2019 with the launch of its now-iconic fried chicken sandwich. It wasn’t just a hit — it was a cultural moment.
Food writers, food obsessives, and Reddit threads all converged on the same conclusion: this sandwich was great.
But in 2026, with fast food prices climbing across the board, the real question isn’t whether it’s good.
It’s whether it’s still worth it.
That’s what I set out to find.
The Vitals:
the spot: Popeyes locations nationwide
the eats: Classic Fried Chicken Sandwich
the bucks: $5.49
the full nelson: is the iconic fast food fried chicken sandwich still worth it?
When Popeyes introduced the fried chicken sandwich in 2019, it cost $3.99.
Today, that same sandwich costs $5.49 — a 37% increase.
On paper, that sounds steep. In reality, a $6 sandwich that’s filling and well-executed is now the baseline in 2026. Whether at small chains, fast-casual spots, or food trucks, this is the new normal.
So the real test isn’t sticker shock — it’s value delivered.
Well, the only thing ugly about the Popeyes Fried Chicken sandwich is how it is served. Tucked in a folded wrapper, the sandwich gets smashed
Let’s start with the ugly.
The Popeyes fried chicken sandwich is not served delicately. It arrives tucked into a folded wrapper, slightly smashed, with a brioche bun that often looks like it lost a fight with a panini press or a George Foreman Grill (remember those?). The pickles were limp. The mayo felt forgettable.
And none of that mattered.
The chicken was juicy, aggressively seasoned, and substantial. A real piece of fried chicken — not a skimpy cut hiding behind breading.
As someone who rarely eats fast food and has had plenty of highly regarded fried chicken sandwiches (Hattie B’s included), I was genuinely impressed.
And yes — this was my first time ever eating the Popeyes fried chicken sandwich.
Unequivocally, yes.
When compared to small chains and food trucks charging double — sometimes more — the Popeyes fried chicken sandwich delivers real value. The portion is competitive. The flavor holds up. And the experience is fast.
This is one of the rare moments where fast food still delivers on the promise that made it an American staple for decades: flavor, value, and efficiency.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t share the one factor that made this experience genuinely positive:
Choose your Popeyes location wisely.
Fast food loves to sell consistency as part of its DNA. Reality tells a different story.
My solution is simple: use Google Maps.
I drove to a Popeyes with higher reviews instead of the closest one — and it made a difference. After filming the video review, an employee asked what I thought and mentioned she had worked at that location for six years. She talked about regular customers.
That kind of pride and care is something we usually associate with mom-and-pop restaurants — not national fast food chains.
But it was happening here. And it mattered.
I opted to drive to location with higher reviews vs shorter distance and it made a difference. After filming the video review, an employee asked what I thought and shared that she had worked at the location for 6 years. She had regular customers. This was the kind of pride and care one usually associates with the classic Mom n Pop restaurant. But it was happening at a Popeyes. And not just any Popeyes and it made a difference.
This post is part of an ongoing series examining fast food chains through the lens of economics, value, and reality in 2026 and beyond.
If fast food is going to cost more, it needs to earn its place.
You can explore more in the series here:
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