REVIEW: KFC Kentucky Fried Pickles

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The Colonel has entered the (pickle) chat!

As mentioned in my Popeyes Fried Pickle review, I’m a proud pickle enthusiast. While I’ve since run out of pickle toothpaste, I’ve moved on to delights like pickle de gallo and pickle chips. Shake Shack’s version recently let me down, but that’s a review for another day.

Let me rewind for a moment. The Colonel and I go way back. As a kid, KFC was my go-to. Apparently, it’s slipped to #4 nationally now, but back then, it was my #1 weekly tradition. I loved the silky, overprocessed mashed potatoes and especially those biscuits. KFC was a summer staple in my household.

Fast-forward to today. I hadn’t been to KFC in a minute, but when I heard about its new fried pickles, I was drawn in like a magpie to something shiny. This time, the shiny thing was golden-fried pickle coins.

These pickles are part of KFC’s new “Comeback Era” menu, a refresh inspired by customer feedback. They’re described as “golden-fried dill pickle slices that are the perfect crispy bite.” No signage was up yet at the location I visited, but the staff kindly clued me in: 8 pieces for $3.79 or a 45-piece family pack for $14.99. The family pack was tempting, but I hesitated. What if they weren’t good?!

I played it safe and chose the 8-piece. They arrived hot and fresh in a nugget box. I had hoped for something more pickle-themed, but not a big dill.

First test: shape. Coin-shaped, not spears. That’s a win; I’m firmly in the “coins have better crispy-to-cuke ratio” camp. They were also properly golden-fried – so far, so good.

The breading was flavorful, similar to Popeyes’, but without the Cajun kick. That tracks, since Cajun isn’t really KFC’s thing. I chose ranch as a dipping sauce, but it wasn’t really necessary. The pickles held their own. I did feel noticeably thirstier after eating them, though, which hadn’t happened with Popeyes.

However, there was a bit of sogginess between the breading and the pickle, and they were definitely oily. My napkin had the receipts after just eight pieces.

All in all, Popeyes still holds the S-tier fried pickle crown among national chains. But since theirs were limited-time only, KFC will do for now. I may even spring for the 45-piece!

Unfortunately, it’s also a limited-time item, so I’ll be on the hunt for my next fix soon. One of these chains really needs to make it permanent already!!

Purchased Price: $3.79
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 8pc – 290 calories, 16 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 1400 milligrams of sodium, 32 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 4 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Popeyes Chicken Dippers with new Signature Sauce

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Popeyes has probably come up with more ways to present fried chicken than the number of letters in Louisiana. There’s the Signature Fried Chicken, chicken wings, boneless chicken wings, chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, popcorn chicken, and several others I’ve missed. The latest addition is Chicken Dippers, which are thin strips of all-white breast meat that’s hand-battered and breaded with Popeyes’ signature Louisiana herbs and spices. It’s served with your choice of dipping sauce, but the chain wants you to try its new Signature Sauce.

When my order arrived in its sleeve, its presentation made me wonder if this was Popeyes’ attempt to offer a competitor to Burger King’s Chicken Fries. Some of the thin, long strips were curvy, while others were straight. The Chicken Dippers also somewhat remind me of the chain’s Rip’n Chicken (R.I.P.), but not rip’able.

Sans sauce, the breaded poultry has the same Popeyes flavor that we all know and love, and it’s tasty enough that I could eat these without dipping them into anything. Also, there was a good amount of Dippers in the sleeve. However, their crunch was underwhelming. Maybe mine were made wrong? There were crunchy moments, but I remember the chain’s tenders being more crunch-tastic.

However, I came away more impressed with Popeyes’ new Signature Sauce. According to the chain’s website, it’s “inspired by New Orleans food culture” and that it “packs a kick of heat, a hint of sweet, and our signature Cajun spices.” It’s like a concentration of what goes into the batter of Popeyes’ chicken. It amps up all those spices and makes these Chicken Dippers, which are already tasty, even tastier. And if you’re concerned about spiciness, the sauce has a little fire, although I’d consider it more of a smoldering.

Speaking of heat, unlike some of Popeyes’ other options, there isn’t a spicy version of this limited time offering.

Popeyes Chicken Dippers are just Popeyes chicken in a different format, but it’s a format that’s more shareable than the chain’s tenders. While I don’t think you’ll feel any FOMO with the thin chicken strips, the Signature Sauce is something you shouldn’t miss. Fortunately, it’s a permanent addition, so you’ll have plenty of time to try it, and you can do so with whatever fried chicken du jour Popeyes offers at the time.

Purchased Price: $5.99*
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Chicken Dippers), 10 out of 10 (Signature Sauce)
Nutrition Facts: 540 calories, 24 grams of fat, 14 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 125 milligrams of cholesterol, 1950 milligrams of sodium, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 33 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

REVIEW: Burger King BBQ Brisket Whopper

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Burger King’s new BBQ Brisket Whopper is very tasty. However, it’s not because of the tender, slow-cooked beef brisket that’s in it. While its addition makes the burger intriguing and heavier, that’s all it seems to do. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The newest limited time offering features a quarter-pound flame-grilled beef patty topped with beef brisket, American cheese, crispy onions, tomato, mayo, pickles, and a sweet and golden BBQ sauce. I thought the addition of the brisket would make this Whopper substantially pricier than recent limited time Whoppers, but it was roughly the same price, give or take a dime or two.

Because there wasn’t a significant price difference, I wasn’t overly upset about the brisket being there, but at the same time, not being there. You see, I’m not sure if the extra meat enhances the burger’s flavor, nor does it stand out. I know there was some brisket on my burger because it’s hard to miss the wet cat hair-looking blob, but it doesn’t add anything. Instead, I tasted a lot of the familiar Whopper flavors — the flame grilled patty, cheese, tomato, and pickles.

The barbecue sauce seems to do most of the heavy lifting to bring BBQ brisket to mind rather than the actual meat. I mostly taste a Whopper with a different barbecue sauce than previous BBQ Whoppers, but that tangy, sweet, and smoky condiment makes this worth trying. So much so that I probably would have enjoyed this even without the brisket. But it’s not just the sauce that makes this taste great; the tomato’s acidity, the pickle’s sour kick, and the American cheese all complement the barbecue sauce.

Another ingredient that gets lost is the crispy onions. They might not have been the best choice to include because the BBQ sauce made them sauce-logged, so there was no crispiness. Also, much like the brisket, their flavor isn’t noticeable. Instead, I wished it came with BK’s onion rings, which would have helped with the texture and taste.

I should also note that Burger King is offering a Whopper Jr. version of this, marking the first time the chain has rolled out a limited time Whopper in a smaller and more affordable size.

I don’t regret trying Burger King’s BBQ Brisket Whopper, but if you’re going into this thinking brisket, you’re going to be as brisk-appointed as much as you’re disappointed with me for using the word “brisk-appointed.”

Purchased Price: $10.19*
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 1010 calories, 65 grams of fat, 17 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 140 milligrams of cholesterol, 1810 milligrams of sodium, 70 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 19 grams of sugar, and 44 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

REVIEW: McDonald’s Snack Wraps (2025)

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McDonald’s Snack Wraps are back! The overwhelming happiness this has brought to the masses could squeeze the purple life out of Grimace.

However, they aren’t the same Snack Wraps we all adored and occasionally wished for on social media when they were removed from the menu years ago. These 2025 Snack Wraps aren’t the Snack Wraps from 2006-2007 for two reasons — flavor and value.

The Snack Wrap reboot is available in two varieties: Ranch and Spicy. Both come with the relatively new McCrispy Strips, shredded lettuce, and shredded cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla. The chicken is decent tasting, but it’s not my pick in the chicken strip war that’s currently going on between all the fast food chains. Here’s what I wrote about them earlier this year:

The first thing that caught my eye about the McCrispy Strips was how McLong they were. They seemed more impressive than the previous McDonald’s offerings. Also impressive was how tender and juicy the meat was. However, I wish the “crispy golden brown breading” was crispier. There’s some texture, especially on the edges, but for the most part, I find the Chicken McNuggets to have a crispier exterior. That’s disappointing for something that seems more premium than chicken nuggets. As for its flavor, it has a light pepperiness that makes these okay enough to eat sans sauce…

Most of the chicken’s texture and flavor get lost in this mashup of lettuce, cheese, sauce, and tortilla. The cheese is surprisingly noticeable in some bites, and the tortilla’s taste stands out a bit too much, but it’s mostly a sauce show. While the Ranch one was my favorite with the original Snack Wraps, I prefer the Spicy one this time around, which uses the same sauce used with the Spicy McCrispy Sandwich and the Spicy Egg McMuffins. It brings a nice level of heat and pepperiness, which makes it more flavorful than the Ranch one. Now, the Ranch one is fine and perfect if you want to come closest to reliving those previous Snack Wrap days. But neither variety has me wanting wrap my arms around Grimace to bear hug him.

Now, on to value.

What I remember most about the 2000s version was how you could buy one with whatever coins you could scrounge under your car’s various floor mats, and if you had a parking meter feeder stash, you could get two of them. They were Snack Wraps with a snack-like price and had a value that stood out on the menu. That arguably was a major reason for their appeal. Maybe even more than their flavor, which I did enjoy.

Even though these do seem to be slightly more substantial than the original Snack Wrap and, of course, there’s inflation, these new ones at their advertised $2.99 price seem less of a value. (Note: I paid $3.99 on this rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.) Mainly because for a little bit more, I can get a $5 McChicken Meal Deal.

Perhaps if McDonald’s added a Snack Wrap as an option for its Meal Deal, I’d probably end up eating more of them. But knowing the Golden Arches, it’ll probably take away Meal Deals, and I’ll be wishing for it to come back on social media.

Purchased Price: $3.99 each
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: Ranch – 390 calories, 22 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 45 milligrams of cholesterol, 900 milligrams of sodium, 31 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 17 grams of protein. Spicy – 380 calories, 21 grams of fat, 6 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 920 milligrams of sodium, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 17 grams of protein.

REVIEW: McDonald’s Daily Double

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McDonald’s Daily Double is not the burger I wanted the fast food chain to bring back. That pedestal belongs to the Big ‘N Tasty, which, for those of you who are too young to remember, was a short-lived Whopper competitor rolled out at the turn of the century. While not as ancient as the Big ‘N Tasty, the Daily Double made its debut in 2012, and it’s been available occasionally in specific US markets. However, it’s now available nationwide again.

The well-topping-endowed burger features two beef patties, two slices of Roma tomatoes, slivered onions, shredded lettuce, mayonnaise, and American cheese on a regular bun. I imagine it’s called Daily Double because Grimace wanted to remember the fond memories of watching the game show Jeopardy with The Professor, who grew Grimace from a petri dish and taught the purple blob love and compassion. I’m fairly certain that’s part of the McDonaldland canon.

Speaking of the McDonald’s universe (McDU), the Daily Double is one of the few burgers in Golden Arches history that, by default, comes topped with only mayonnaise and doesn’t come with pickles. But despite the lack of strong condiments like ketchup and mustard, it does have a flavor that I find to be good enough to convince me to order it again.

When I took my first bite, I had to double-check that there wasn’t a new sauce with the burger. It turned out to be the combination of mayonnaise and onion that created that pleasing flavor. The absence of pickles, mustard, and ketchup allowed the two beef patties to stand out with a strong meaty flavor and saltiness. I’m not sure I noticed the single cheese slice, so maybe a second slice should’ve been added for a stronger cheesiness, increased profit margins, and to really hit home the “double” in the Daily Double.

The lettuce and tomato bring a bit of freshness and something to cut through some of the saltiness of the beef patties. They also make the burger look as if there’s a salad on top of it. As someone who is trying to incorporate more vegetables into my diet in any way I can, I appreciate the double tomato slices. The shredded lettuce also gives this a certain quality equal to McDonald’s signature Big Mac — its messiness.

Despite not being the Big’ N Tasty, I’m glad McDonald’s Daily Double has returned. Although it’s basically a heavily customized McDouble, so I guess I could have had it all this time, which is a good thing because when it disappears again, I can continue to enjoy it.

Purchased Price: $4.19*
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 400 calories, 31 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 80 milligrams of cholesterol, 810 milligrams of sodium, 30 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 5 grams of sugar (including 3 grams of added sugar), and 22 grams of protein.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

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