Australians, Americans, and British People Debate The Definition of a 'Chicken Sandwich'

Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor

Oct 14, 2026 6:00 AM EDT

Nobody can agree on the difference between a burger and a sandwich.

I have an incredibly American taste in food. I know it's probably not super healthy for me to eat hot dogs, fried chicken, and burgers regularly, so I try to limit how much I eat. But golly, sometimes you need a greasy burger or a three-piece and a biscuit to enjoy life a little bit! I'm not going to live a life where I never eat anything unhealthy for me because it will add a couple of extra years to my life. If I have to live the next 60 years without ever consuming another Popeyes chicken sandwich, will it be worth living? Honestly, probably yes. I would rather live to be 90 than pass away at 70 because I ate too much fried chicken. But all things in life should have moderation! If you eat a fried chicken sandwich once a month, you can probably still have a long and healthy life. That might depend on everything else you eat and do when you're not having the chicken sandwich, but the point still stands.

As for fried chicken sandwiches, I have two favorites: Chick-fil-A and Popeyes. On paper, they are basically the same sandwich: fried chicken patties on a bun with pickles and a similar sauce, but they taste very different. The Chick-fil-A sandwich tastes smoother and creamier, if that makes sense. The sauce isn't very spicy, and the chicken skin isn't crunchy. The Popeyes chicken sandwich has much crispier skin, which I usually prefer over the Chick-fil-A sandwich skin. It's also the perfect $5 dinner if you're running late to an event and need something quick and cheap. Can I say Popeyes probably has the worst value combo meal of any fast-food restaurant? A chicken sandwich is $5, but add a tiny side of beans and rice and a soda, and it jumps to about $11! In no world are any of their sides plus a soda worth as much as the entree. You could probably say the same for other fast-food chains, but to me, McDonald's fries are much better than any of Popeyes' sides. McDonald's fries shouldn't be upcharged so much, but they're so good I can't help but get a combo!

Although I have been to the UK and tried their versions of "chicken sandwiches" at train station cafes, I don't think I'd want to revisit them. I love a lot of cold sandwiches! Heck, I have a ham and cheese sandwich waiting for me in the work refrigerator as we speak! However, cold chicken has never been a favorite of mine, and I know a whole heck of a lot of Americans agree. That's why we are so insistent that a "chicken sandwich" refers to a fried chicken sandwich. Brits and Aussies call fried chicken sandwiches "chicken burgers," and understandably, it's starting a lot of online debate over vocabulary and definitions. If there's one thing we Americans will do, it's defend our knowledge of what a burger is, and what it isn't.