Have you ever been sittin’ around with your friends arguing about fast food (like we all do) and wondered if Wendy’s – the square burger joint – ever tried their hand at fried chicken? Well I’ve got some news that might surprise you and win you a few bets next time this comes up.
Spoiler alert: YES, they absolutely did!
As someone who’s spent way too much time researching fast food history (don’t judge me), I’m fascinated by the menu items that once existed but have since disappeared. And Wendy’s fried chicken is one of those lost treasures that deserves to be remembered.
The Forgotten Chicken Years at Wendy’s
When Dave Thomas founded Wendy’s in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio, his vision was clear – serve high-quality, fresh, never-frozen beef in square patties that hung over the bun. The chain quickly became known for its burgers, and for good reason
But here’s where things get interesting…
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Wendy’s decided to spread their wings (pun absolutely intended) and experiment with fried chicken. This wasn’t just a random one-off menu item – it was a serious attempt to compete with established chicken giants like KFC and Church’s Chicken.
The rollout wasn’t nationwide at first. Wendy’s tested their fried chicken primarily in Southern markets of the United States, where fried chicken was already a beloved staple. Smart move, right? Test your product where the harshest critics live!
What Did Wendy’s Fried Chicken Look Like?
While photographic evidence is sadly rare (this was before everyone documented every meal for Instagram), we know that Wendy’s offered both:
- Bone-in fried chicken pieces (introduced around 1982)
- Fried chicken sandwiches (debuted around 1981)
Their bone-in options included the classics:
- Breasts
- Thighs
- Drumsticks
- Wings
All these were coated in a seasoned breading and fried until they achieved that perfect golden-brown crispiness we all crave.
The chicken sandwich featured a whole boneless breast fillet that was breaded and deep-fried. It became popular enough that it evolved into various forms over the years, including the spicy chicken sandwich that eventually became a permanent menu fixture in 1996.
Why Did Wendy’s Fried Chicken Disappear?
Ok so here’s the million-dollar question – if the chicken was so good, why isn’t it still around? There were several factors that likely contributed to its demise:
1. Operational Complexity
Adding fried chicken to the menu significantly complicated Wendy’s operations. Unlike burgers that could be cooked quickly on a flat grill, fried chicken required:
- Dedicated fryers
- Longer cooking times
- Different handling procedures
- More storage space
- Additional staff training
For a chain built around efficiency and simplicity, this was a big change.
2. Fierce Competition
Let’s be real – taking on KFC and other established chicken players wasn’t easy. These brands had decades of experience and customer loyalty. Wendy’s was entering a crowded market where they weren’t the specialists.
3. Brand Identity Confusion
Wendy’s had successfully established itself as a premium burger chain. Adding fried chicken risked diluting that brand identity. Was it a burger place? A chicken joint? Both? This confusion likely didn’t help their marketing efforts.
4. Quality Control Issues
Maintaining consistent quality across thousands of locations proved challenging. Fried chicken has a shorter optimal serving window than burgers – it needs to be fresh to be at its best, but it takes longer to prepare. This created operational headaches.
The Nostalgic Cult Following
Despite being gone for decades, Wendy’s fried chicken has developed a serious cult following. In 2019, a devoted fan named Darnell Leake even started a Change.org petition pleading for Wendy’s to “Bring Back Wendy’s Fried Chicken.”
The petition highlighted how Wendy’s used to be a go-to fast food spot for fried chicken thanks to its juicy white meat and superior seasoning. For many kids growing up in the 80s and 90s, getting Wendy’s fried chicken was the highlight of field trips and family outings.
On Reddit and Twitter, you’ll still find people talking about how Wendy’s fried chicken “blew KFC and Popeye’s out of the water” with sandwiches that were “juicy and flavorful” and nuggets that were “crispy on the outside and moist inside.”
What Can You Get at Wendy’s Today Instead?
While the bone-in fried chicken is long gone, Wendy’s still offers several chicken options:
- Spicy chicken sandwich
- Classic chicken sandwich
- Grilled chicken sandwich
- Chicken nuggets
- Various chicken-topped salads
But for those hoping to taste that original fried chicken recipe, you’re unfortunately out of luck… for now at least.
Could Wendy’s Fried Chicken Make a Comeback?
Never say never in the fast food world! Wendy’s has occasionally brought back limited-time chicken offerings that hint at their fried chicken past.
In 2021, they launched a Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich at select locations, featuring a crispy chicken fillet with honey and spicy pepper sauce. They’ve also briefly reintroduced Chicken Tenders in 2020.
These limited-time offerings keep hope alive for fried chicken fanatics. And hey, if the demand is strong enough during these promotions, who knows? We might see a permanent comeback someday.
Fun Wendy’s Facts You Probably Didn’t Know
While we’re talkin’ about Wendy’s history, here are some other fascinating tidbits:
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Wendy’s was named after founder Dave Thomas’s daughter Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas.
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Wendy’s was the first fast-food chain with fewer than 1,000 restaurants to have a national TV commercial. In 1977, they hit the airwaves with ads featuring animated Wendys and dancing hamburgers!
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Wendy’s revolutionized the industry with its “pick-up window” (what we now call a drive-thru) in November 1970. It was so new that customers needed instructions on how to use the speaker to place orders.
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Besides fried chicken, Wendy’s also experimented with a “Superbar” buffet from 1988 to 1998, offering all-you-can-eat options for just $2.99.
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Dave Thomas personally appeared in over 800 Wendy’s commercials – more than any other company founder in television history!
The Bottom Line: Wendy’s Chicken Legacy
So yes, Wendy’s absolutely did sell fried chicken, and for many fans, it remains a fond food memory that newer fast food offerings just can’t match. The chain’s willingness to experiment beyond burgers showed their innovative spirit, even if this particular venture didn’t last forever.
Next time you’re at Wendy’s enjoying a square burger or Frosty, take a moment to pour one out for their fried chicken. It may be gone, but for those who remember it, it’s definitely not forgotten.
And who knows? Maybe if enough of us keep talking about it, signing petitions, and reminiscing on social media, Wendy’s might just give the people what they want. After all, nostalgia is a powerful force in the fast food world.
Have you ever tried Wendy’s fried chicken back in the day? Or do you have other discontinued fast food items you miss? Drop a comment below – I’m always down to chat about fast food history!
P.S. If you enjoyed this trip down fast food memory lane, make sure to subscribe to our blog for more deep dives into the foods we loved and lost. Next week, we’re tackling the mysterious disappearance of McDonald’s pizza!
The first Wendy’s opened in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969 with just five items on the menu.
The first Wendys restaurant opened at 257 East Broad Street on November 15, 1969. By that time, there were already two major players in the fast-food burger industry: McDonalds, which opened its first franchise in 1955, and Burger King, which was founded in 1954. The chain still stands as the third-largest fast-food burger chain in the US.
Wendys was different from the other two chains in that it served square-shaped burger patties and chocolate shakes called “Frostys.”
Apart from the burgers and Frostys, there were only three other items on the first menu: french fries, soft drinks, and chili.
You might already know that Wendy’s is named after Dave Thomas’ daughter, but her given name is actually Melinda.
Melinda “Wendy” Thomas was just 8 years old when her father founded Wendys, and he already had a vision for how she would become the brands mascot.
Inspired by the success Sanders experienced as the face of KFC, Thomas decided he would create a similar for his brand.
“He wanted a character, because he worked for the Colonel at Kentucky Fried Chicken and knew how much that persona mattered,” Wendy Thomas wrote in a blog post for the company in 2019. “He said, Wendy, pull your hair up in pigtails. So, I did. He got his camera and took pictures of me and my sister and said, Yep, its going to be Wendys Old-Fashioned Hamburgers.”
“That was it,” Thomas continued. “There was no marketing research, no nothing. Just boom. Thats it.”
One photo of Thomas wearing a blue-and-white-striped dress with her red hair in pigtails became the ultimate inspiration for the chains logo. While the logo has been altered slightly over the years, the overall idea has remained the same.
Trying Wendy’s Fried Chicken in Indonesia
FAQ
Does Wendy’s have a fried chicken sandwich?
In 1990, Wendy’s became one of the first major fast food companies to release the now standard issue non-fried hunk of chicken on a bun. Its Grilled Chicken Sandwich consisted of a seasoned and marinated chicken breast filet cooked without the addition of any fat, and topped with lettuce and tomato.
What did Wendy’s eat in the 1990s?
Here are the 1990s Wendy’s items that even the most ardent Wendy’s customer may not remember. Classic French-style Chicken Cordon Bleu is an underrated old-school chicken dish consisting of a hammered and rolled out boneless chicken breast stuffed with ham, Swiss cheese, and Dijon mustard, and then all of it breaded and lightly fried.
Did Wendy’s ever change their fries?
Unfortunately, Wendy’s didn’t get that memo. The first change to the chain’s fries came all the way back in 1990 when they, along with their main competitors, made the switch from using a combination of beef tallow and vegetable oil to pure vegetable oil for frying.
What happened to Wendy’s menu items?
Wendy’s has never been afraid to mix things up in the kitchen. Over the years, it’s rolled out some bold, memorable menu items—some that stuck around for a while, and others that disappeared almost as quickly as they arrived. A few became fan favorites, only to quietly vanish without warning.
What deli sandwiches did Wendy’s sell?
Frescata Sandwiches (2006-2007) These deli-style sandwiches were Wendy’s answer to Sundway, offering fresh-baked bread with high-quality deli meat. While they were delicious, the prep time was longer than your usual fast food order, which ultimately led to their demise. 3. Coffee Toffee Twisted Frosty (2009-2011)
Does Wendy’s have a Dollar Menu?
In the early days, Wendy’s had no dollar menu. It wasn’t until the 1990s that value menus became a staple. Before then, customers paid regular prices, which reflected the quality and care in each meal. The introduction of a dollar menu was a game-changing move, making Wendy’s accessible to a broader audience.
Did Wendy’s used to have fried chicken?
Did Krystals ever sell fried chicken?
Krystal Takes On Another Southern Favorite
The first three Krystal Fried Chicken restaurants opened up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The units featured a country kitchen interior and were loved in numerous Krystal cities.
What is the most famous fried chicken franchise?
Some of the most popular chicken franchises, according to Entrepreneur and Franchise Chatter, include: KFC: A global giant known for its fried chicken, KFC is a leader in the chicken sector, with over 3,800 locations across big cities and small towns alike.
Who made the first ever fried chicken?