The seemingly simple chicken sandwich has become omnipresent. There’s no restaurant menu these days where a crispy fried bit of bird on a bun would feel out of place. And the fast-food chicken sandwich wars that began in 2019 never really came to a conclusion—certainly not in Las Vegas, where regional and global food franchises love to expand.
We’re not sure which came first: Was it this ubiquitous, chicken-on-every-corner sandwich status? Or our constant collective craving to chomp on this hand-held treasure? The one thing we know for sure is we’re going to spend the summer enjoying our favorite chicken sandwiches and scouring the Valley for new and delicious versions.
3 Local Classics
There was a time, my chicken sandwich padawans, when you couldn’t get the Secret Sunday sandwich just any old time at the pioneering DTLV eatery Carson Kitchen (124 S. Sixth St. #100, carson
kitchen.com). You had to actually go on a Sunday, but it was always worth it, a hot-and-juicy masterpiece on a pillowy bun with a little spicy pickle aoli. You kids today, you’ve got it easy.
The Biloxi Buttermilk fried chicken sandwich on the lunch and brunch menus at Honey Salt (1031 S. Rampart Blvd., honeysalt.com) has always been more than just a favorite. It’s an elevated take on a casual classic, from its slightly sweet brioche bun to its house-made rendition of Durkee Famous Sauce that adds a bit of tang. Let’s go get one right now.
We’re rounding out this trifecta with old reliable, the place we go when we’re in the mood for bar food. You can get the hefty Big Dill chicken sandwich, topped with pickles and dijoinnaise, at the Blue Ox Tavern (5825 W. Sahara Ave. #A, blueoxtavern.com) 24 hours a day and there’s nothing more Vegas than that. –Brock Radke
An Unexpected Delight
Smoke & Fire’s BIG Blueberry Chicken Sandwich
What chicken sandwich isn’t TikTok famous these days? We had our doubts—even after social media star Keith Lee cosigned for it— but after trying this tasty creation, we’ll happily eat our words. Smoke & Fire’s Big Blueberry chicken sandwich isn’t so much a sandwich as it is a revelation. Simply put, blueberries make everything better. This marriage of salty and sweet is well-balanced, not at all overpowering. In fact, we could do with even more blueberry aioli (!) and the subtle heat from the jalapeños keeps it complex. The chicken itself has that nice, needed crunch, crispy enough to support its newfound blueberry ally. 3315 E. Russell Road, smokeandfirelv.com. –Amber Sampson
A guy we can trust
Chicken Guy’s Buffalo Mac ‘N’ Cheese Sandwich
First, there were chicken joints, where you would get an entire chicken or more (possibly in a bucket), divided into legs, breasts, thighs and wings and definitely southern-fried. Then, there were wing joints, specializing in saucing and tossing those tasty little drums and flats. But these were not the not the same joint; you wanted one chicken experience or the other.
Now we also have chicken sandwich spots (Chick-fil-a) and chicken tender spots (Raising Cane’s), and although you can order either at both, you don’t really want to. Again, you’re going where they specialize in the chicken you want—unless we’re talking about Guy Fieri’s Chicken Guy (chickenguy.com) concept, established in 2018 and now sporting 20 locations across the country, including three in Vegas at Caesars Palace, UNLV and the new one at Harrah’s. These lemon-brined, panko-crusted tenders double as sandwich stuffers on obviously Fieri creations such as the Buffalo Mac ‘n’ Cheese with smoked bacon and garlic parmesan sauce, and the Bacon Jalapeño Popper with pepper jack, cream cheese and buttermilk ranch. Just when you think you’ve permanently departed from Flavortown, he pulls you back in. –BR
The Chicken Epicenter
Crack Shack’s Firebird Sandwich
We’re not sure if this was planned, but the Strip space between T-Mobile Arena, New York-New York and Park MGM is crammed with outstanding chicken sandwich offerings. Shake Shack’s elevated burgers are so good, it’s possible you haven’t tried its stellar Chicken Shack, which you can currently tweak with a bacon avocado version. Also along the Park promenade, Top Round and Beer Haus both have solid renditions, although their menus specialize elsewhere.
Just inside New York-New York, Tom’s Watch Bar serves a pickle-brined, hand-battered Buffalo chicken sandwich, and just inside Park MGM adjacent to the BetMGM Sportsbook, the Side Betty Grill continues to offer one of our favorite all-time hidden gems on the Strip. But the champion of this chicken zone has to be Crack Shack (3770 Las Vegas Blvd. South, crackshack.com), a casual concept devoted to poultry in all its delicious forms. Start with the Firebird, a spicy fried thigh on a potato roll with crispy onions and a lot of ranch, and judge for yourself. –BR
The new bird on the Block
Zaxby's Signature Sandwich
Originally from Statesboro, Georgia, Zaxby’s has all the trademarks of what you might find down south, from sweet tea at the beverage station, to friendly service, to the use of foam cups that don’t get slippery in humidity. They don’t mess around with chicken, either. Lightly toasted, buttery potato buns are spread with a tangy, creamy sauce, layered with pickles and a crispy, juicy fried breast. It’s comforting, satisfying and most importantly, delicious. 5290 Blue Diamond Road, zaxbys.com. –Shannon Miller
Secret Sauce? The anatomy of the most beloved chicken sandwich supplements
Zaxby's sauces
What comes to mind when you hear a sauce described as “signature” or “secret?” Fast food fans might think of a well-known standout like McDonald’s Big Mac sauce, or similar entries from Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s or Freddy’s.
While these prominent sauces all differ in execution, they actually share a fairly common DNA. Their creamy textures and sweet and tangy flavors begin with a mayonnaise base mixed with various amounts of ketchup and mustard, while different varieties source their distinguishable flavor profiles from ingredients like barbecue and Worcestershire sauce, honey mustard, garlic powder, vinegar, pickle relish, paprika, black pepper or a dash of lemon juice.
As far as chicken sandwiches are concerned, Zaxby’s Zax Sauce may provide the most accessible flavor balance, though it would be impossible to write this without giving a shoutout to the criminally underrated Mardi Gras Mustard from Popeye’s.
This delectable dipping and spreading sauce genre has traveled the globe—with members including the Japanese steakhouse mainstay, Yum Yum sauce—but some hunger historians trace the style’s origin back to our neighbors in Utah, where diners and drive-ins began serving their fries with a trailblazing mix of mayonnaise and ketchup as early as the 1940s. Wherever you get your hands on it, it’s hard to picture this simple, yet satisfying drive-thru staple falling out of fashion anytime soon. –Tyler Schneider
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