Which fast-food restaurant has the best fried chicken tenders in Palm Beach County?

Three years ago, The Palm Beach Post dared wade into a national chicken sandwich war after Popeye's threw down the gauntlet against Chick-fil-A.

Well, never let it be said that we're not gluttons for punishment. This time, we're wading into the chicken tenders battle.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) fired a shot across the bow of all other local fast-food purveyors of chicken tenders by launching a multimillion-dollar advertising blitz for its new tenders using the chain's original recipe.

But we — and by "we" I mean "me" — wondered whether this would be enough to knock off longtime local fast-food fan faves like Chick-fil-A and Bud's Chicken and Seafood , or popular newcomers like Raising Cane’s and Huey Magoos . We thought you might want to know too.

So, over a recent week, I tested chicken tenders/strips from 10 local fast-food restaurants that feature the item on their menu. Then I ranked them using five criteria: flavor; texture; temperature; batter/coating; and sauces. Each category carried a maximum of five points for a max total of 25 points. Only the restaurant's original tenders were tested; no specialty flavors allowed.

You may be asking, "What makes this guy qualified to judge chicken tenders?" Bottom line: I'm a born and bred Southerner who refused to abandon every part of the high-cholesterol diet they were raised on. That includes fried chicken in its many forms.

But we also want your opinion. So, there's a poll below to vote for your local fast-food chicken tenders favorite, and to tell us why.

Without further ado, here is our Top 10 list of local fast-food chicken tenders, ranked. (We also included the price for the cost-conscious.)

10. Kentucky Fried Chicken (tie)

Score: 13

What I liked: The tenders came out hot. Combo meal comes with the choice of a side dish and a biscuit.

What I didn't like: The "original recipe" seasoning, which was mostly in the batter, was too salty. I could barely finish one tender. The batter was hard, and the KFC Sauce left a lot to be desired.

Cost: $8.99

10. Sonic (tie)

Score: 13

What I liked: The tenders came out hot.

What I didn't like: There’s no crunch from the breading upon biting into it, and no noticeable seasoning. The chicken was a little chewy and the Signature Dipping Sauce couldn't save the dish because it was bland.

Cost: $8.69

8. Arby's

Score: 14

What I liked: The tenders came out hot. The Buffalo dipping sauce was good.

What I didn't like: The batter was hard and the chicken was dry.

Cost: $10.49

7. Checkers

Score: 15

What I liked: The tenders came out hot and had a good flavor. The Red Hot Buffalo dipping sauce helped a lot.

What I didn't like: The batter was hard and the chicken was dry.

Cost: $7.99

6. PDQ

Score: 17

What I liked: The tenders came out hot, and the batter was light and crunchy. The chicken was moist.

What I didn't like: The flavor was pretty bland. The PDQ Dipping Sauce must have just come out of the refrigerator because it was that cold.

Cost: $11.29

5. Raising Cane's

Score: 18

What I liked: The tenders came out hot. The chicken was moist.

What I didn't like: This may have been one of the most disappointing given that chicken tenders are their specialty. But the batter was heavy. The flavor was pretty bland, and the Cane's Dipping Sauce couldn't save the dish.

Cost: $9.99

4. Popeye's

Score: 19

What I liked: The chicken was moist with a good texture. The batter was light and crunchy. A good selection of dipping sauces, but the Sweet Heat was tasty.

What I didn't like: The cardinal rule is the tenders must come out hot. They didn't. They also needed the dipping sauce to make up for a lack of flavor.

Cost: $10.15

3. Chick-fil-A

Score: 20

What I liked: The tenders came out hot, and the batter was light and crunchy. The tenders were moist, and unlike KFC, the original recipe seasonings weren't overpowering.

What I didn't like: Where the tenders fell off mostly for me was the size. They weren't very big. And the Chick-fil-A dipping sauce (a combination of barbecue sauce, honey mustard, and ranch dressing) didn't help the cause.

Cost: $10.15

2. Bud's Chicken and Seafood

Score: 21

What I liked: Talk about a pleasant surprise. The tenders came out hot. While the batter was a little more than others, it was still light and crunchy. The flavor was good and worked with the Bud's dipping sauce (kind of a creamy mayo, ketchup, and spicy blend).

What I didn't like: There wasn't much not to like here. But since I have to nit-pick, it was largely the chicken's moistness — a little short of perfection — that kept it out of the No. 1 spot.

Cost: $7.95

1. Huey Magoos

Score: 24

What I liked: This is what you expect from a restaurant that says it is "the filet mignon of chicken." The tenders came out hot, and the batter was light and crunchy. The chicken tenders were big, and so moist you could see it it when you pulled them apart. The choice of dipping sauces was varied, but the Spicey Huey Magoos sauce was perfect for my palate.

What I didn't like: There could have been a little more seasoning but that's really nit-picking. These tenders were pretty much perfect.

Cost: $9.49

NOTE: Cost is the price of the three-tender combo meal.

Ok, now it's your turn. Which fast-food restaurant has the best chicken tenders? Vote now.

Vote by clicking on the poll below or use this link: favorite chicken tenders . The readers' favorite will be announced soon in a follow-up story.

Rick Christie is executive editor of The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at rchristie@pbpost.com and followed on X (formerly Twitter) at @rchristiepbp . Subscribe to independent reporting that supports democracy via subscribe.palmbeachpost.com .

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Which fast-food restaurant has the best fried chicken tenders in Palm Beach County?