In my opinion, fried chicken tenders are as American as apple pie.
However, every fast-food restaurant has its own take on the classic staple, so I decided to visit three chains — Zaxby’s, PDQ, and Chick-fil-A — to see how their offerings compared.
Here’s what I thought of the chicken tenders at each spot.
Prices may vary by location.
I started at my local Chick-fil-A restaurant.
To kick things off, I stopped by my local Chick-fil-A. The brand, which first opened in Atlanta in 1967, now has more than 3,000 locations across the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
When I stepped inside, I ordered the three-count chicken strips, which cost me $5.45.
I really enjoyed the chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A.
I enjoyed the Chick-Fil-A chicken tenders because they were crispy and had the right amount of seasoning.
They were also reasonably priced for such a decent portion size.
Next, I went to PDQ, a fast-food restaurant that predominantly operates in Florida.
After visiting Chick-Fil-A, I traveled to a nearby to PDQ, a chain restaurant known for its chicken tenders, salads, and sandwiches.
The first PDQ opened in Tampa in 2011, and the chain now has 42 locations, most of which are in Florida. However, there are also a few restaurants in North Carolina and New Jersey.
Here, I ordered three crispy chicken tenders for $7.
The chicken from PDQ was very tender.
The PDQ tenders were tasty, and they appeared to be a little larger than the ones I got from Chick-fil-A.
When I bit into one, the inside was so tender it fell apart. Although this made them a little harder to eat, I was impressed by how fresh they seemed.
I also thought they were seasoned nicely.
Finally, I stopped at Zaxby’s.
Finally, I visited Zaxby’s, a fast-food chain that specializes in chicken fingers and wings. Founded in 1990 in Statesboro, GA, the chain now has more than 900 locations, mostly in the South and Midwest.
To get the most for my money, the cashier suggested I order a kid’s meal, which came with two chicken tenders, fries, a rice krispie treat, and a drink for $5.70.
Zaxby’s tenders were salty but flavorful.
When I took a bite, I thought these chicken tenders tasted salty. This made sense because after looking at each restaurant’s nutrition information online, it seemed as though the Zaxby’s chicken contained the most sodium.
Despite that, though, they were pretty flavorful. Although they appeared to have less seasoning on them than the ones I got at PDQ, I still tasted a hint of pepper. They were cooked perfectly too, and very tender.
However, because of the salty flavor, these tenders were my least favorite of the three I tried.
Overall, the chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A were my favorite.
When it comes to plain, crispy, fried chicken tenders, Chick-fil-A was the clear winner. These had the right amount of seasoning, were reasonably priced, and came in the perfect portion size.
I can definitely see myself returning to Chick-fil-A for more in the future.
This story was originally published on April 17, 2025, and most recently updated on January 20, 2026.
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The post I tried chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A, Zaxby’s, and PDQ. The best were crispy and had the perfect amount of seasoning. appeared first on Business Insider.
