McDonald's took the fast-food industry by storm last week getting everyone up in a "McFlurry" (I couldn't resist) over its new Chicken Big Mac sandwich.
Earlier this month, there was a lot of hype surrounding the rollout of the Chicken Big Mac in the U.S. after the sandwich had been available internationally and test-marketed in Florida.
Making its debut at McDonald's U.S. restaurants Thursday, the chicken version of the Big Mac is a limited-time-only item, McDonald's says.
But is the flavor behind all the hype worth it?
Being available for a limited time could be a good thing because the main ingredient, the chicken, seems like and tastes like an item on the menu: Chicken McNuggets.
Yes, those beloved kid-favorite Chicken McNuggets served with dipping sauces.
Before I took a bite, I looked over the sandwich. The sandwich looked like it was advertised, and the chicken patties were quite visible. The patties are ample and a bit thicker than the traditional beef patties on a classic Big Mac, though that could be from the batter.
But the chicken looked like a patty-size Chicken McNugget. And it wasn't just the flavor of the chicken, it was the look of the tempura-battered fried coating, too.
If it weren't for the "special sauce," I'd peg the flavor on the bland side.
McDonald's Chicken Big Mac features two tempura-battered chicken patties instead of beef patties.
If you're unfamiliar with a tempura batter, it's a light or thinner batter typically made with flour, eggs and water. (Tempura is a dish featuring battered vegetables or seafood that is fried.)
Along with the chicken patties, McDonald's Chicken Big Mac has the same ingredients — special sauce, lettuce, cheese and pickles on a sesame seed bun — as the chain's classic Big Mac. The only thing that's missing is chopped onions.
Here's my overall take on it.
The look: Like the classic Big Mac, Chicken Big Mac comes in a box. I have to give kudos to the McDonald's location that made the sandwich. Inside the box, the sandwich, which cost $5.49, was assembled nicely though the cheese was skewed off the bottom bun and the shredded lettuce was a bit much.
Each chicken patty was visible and appeared ample, hearty and crispy looking.
The taste: While it's a good size, hold-with-both-hands sandwich, the overall flavor didn't wow me. I could taste everything, the pickles, cheese, and lots of, maybe too much, of the special sauce, but not so much the chicken.
I am on the side of reviews of the Chicken Big Mac, that the special sauce goes better with the classic, beef Big Mac version and not so much the chicken.
The chicken also wasn't as crispy as I expected. Based on how it looked, I expected at least some crunch, but the tempura-battered and fried chicken patty blended in with the bun. And the bun? Like its Big Mac beef sibling, there's a lot of bread. There's the top bun, the bottom bun, and one in the middle. All that bread provides a good amount of carbs, 61 grams per sandwich.
While the Chicken Big Mac has less fat, there's no huge calorie difference between it and the traditional Big Mac.
More: McDonald's Chicken Big Mac now available at US restaurants for a limited time
Here's the nutritional information on both sandwiches, posted on the McDonald's website.
Chicken Big Mac
- Calories: 530
- Fat: 20 grams
- Saturated fat: 4.2 grams
- Protein: 25 grams
- Carbohydrates: 61 grams
Classic Big Mac
- Calories: 590
- Fat: 34 grams
- Saturated fat: 11 grams
- Protein: 25 grams
- Carbohydrates: 46 grams
McDonald's says its new Chicken Big Mac will be available for a limited time only and while supplies last. Prices for its Chicken Big Mac will vary by location.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press .
(The headline was updated in this story.)
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: I tasted the McDonald's new Chicken Big Mac and it's familiar: Here's why
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