On August 24, Chick-fil-A unveiled its autumn lineup, introducing a fresh take on a classic sandwich along with two new beverages. This launch continues this year’s Newstalgia celebration to commemorate Chick-fil-A’s 80th birthday. The Newstalgia campaign leans into beloved flavors and reintroduces them to the menu with a distinctive twist, maintaining the intrigue surrounding the brand. The Honey Pepper Pimento Chicken Sandwich and the Frosted Sodas and Floats were part of this initiative, and now the latest additions are expected to prove themselves worthy.
The Chicken and Waffle Sandwiches
When evaluating the two sandwiches we sampled, there were clearly notable strengths and weaknesses. We tested both the spicy version of the filet and the original for this taste test, and surprisingly, the heat-forward filet did not come out as the preferred bite overall. With the current buzz around sweet-spicy creations, I anticipated the balance to lean a bit more favorably. Yet a bite of the spicy version seemed to mute a good portion of the flavors that make this sandwich appealing.
The original sandwich, on the other hand, allowed all the flavors to work in concert and delivered a more deliberate tasting experience. Interestingly, you can actually perceive the bacon when the original fillet is used, something that isn’t noticeable with the spicy version. Ultimately, the sweet-and-salty pairing with the original filet won out. Aside from which filet is best for the sandwich, there isn’t much other news on that front. They use the same standard filets Chick-fil-A typically serves.
And then there’s the bun—a waffles-style bread, which marks a fresh direction for the brand. The buns are designed to taste maple, in a nod to a McGriddle. If you enjoy the flavor of McGriddle buns, you’ll likely appreciate the overall taste of this sandwich and the waffles that accompany it. For my part, artificial maple isn’t my preferred flavor, so if that’s a concern, you might want to skip this sandwich.
Plus, the waffles fell short on texture. A waffle should be fluffy and tender, and this one wasn’t. It was dense and fairly stiff, and beyond the maple flavor there wasn’t much else going for it. Overall, though, it’s a sandwich I ate and finished… just not my new favorite.
The S’mores Frosted Coffee
The S’mores Frosted Coffee proved somewhat perplexing. All too often, s’mores-flavored items promise a full spectrum of tastes, yet miss the mark in several areas. In this rendition, you mainly get the artificial marshmallow syrup note alongside Chick-fil-A’s classic frosted coffee, which makes the drink still tasty but essentially read as a coffee milkshake.
