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Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sweetgreen's New Menu Comes from a Michelin-Starred Steakhouse—Here's What You Need to Order
If you're like me, your Sweetgreen salad order is predictably consistent. (Buffalo chicken salad, hold the carrots, extra pickles, please.) But once I heard that the fast-casual chain teamed up with COTE Korean Steakhouse—aka the first and only Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse in the U.S.—to create a Korean barbecue-inspired menu, I knew I had to mix things up. The menu just hit stores nationwide, though it's only available for a limited time. It includes three new items that are designed to deliver all the savory, punchy flavors that KBBQ is beloved for. Below, you'll find my reviews of each item, as well as original photos for transparency and an overall ranking. Read on for my hot takes. (Note: Prices and item availability may vary by location.) PSA: Sweetgreen Just Launched a Healthier Version of Your Favorite Fast-Food Side Taryn Pire What It Is: grass-fed steak with savory-sweet KBBQ glaze, romaine lettuce, white rice, apple kimchi sauce, spicy roasted broccoli, cucumber kimchi and pickled cabbage Price: $16 The glaze on the meat conjures fond memories of bulgogi as you chew. The steak was very tender, despite being fully cooked through. The apple kimchi sauce was really interesting—sweet, vibrant, fruity, just a touch sour—but I wished it was a bit spicy, too. The rice provided nice texture and bulk, while the cukes and slaw offered plenty of crunch. They were refreshing and tasty, but I wished they were more acidic. (The cucumbers tasted very fresh, more like a raw kimchi, and the pickled cabbage could've been more pickle-y, IMO.) I'd hoped the broccoli would add heat, but I didn't find it spicy at all. For peak KBBQ flavor, mix everything together before digging in. Learn more Taryn Pire What It Is: romaine lettuce, spring mix, roasted sweet potato, spicy broccoli, cucumber kimchi, bold KBBQ glaze, apple kimchi sauce, pickled cabbage and crispy onions Price: $12 Sweet potatoes took over for steak (along with crispy onion bits) to create a vegetarian option for Sweetgreen fans. Personally, I thought the spuds paired gorgeously with the umami-rich, salty, savory side of glaze. The pickled cabbage replaced much of the tartness missing from the cucumbers, but this was still equal parts satiating, refreshing and just right for eating al fresco. I'd recommend stirring in half the glaze, then seeing if you want more; the kimchi sauce will be stirred in as well, so you might not want to overdo it at first. Learn more Taryn Pire What It Is: grass-fed steak with savory-sweet KBBQ glaze, cucumber kimchi, white rice, apple kimchi sauce and pickled cabbage Price: $16 This had everything the bowl did, minus the greens. It felt less instinctual to mix everything together, but I wanted that apple kimchi sauce on every forkful. While I still wouldn't mind more spice, the ingredients were very balanced and complementary. The steak was savory and tender, but the marinade's sweetness was most dominant. The rest was mildly acidic, vegetal and crunchy, besides the impeccably fluffy-not-sticky rice. Learn more Try This Simple Sweetgreen Menu Hack to Get Two Meals for the Price of One
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Best Fast Food Chicken Nuggets, Ranked & Reviewed
It's widely known that people have feelings about the best fast food chicken sandwich and fries. But I'm betting folks feel just as strongly about chicken nuggets, too. These bite-size, crispy, dunkable bites of deliciousness have comforted most of us since childhood. While I'd never turn down a fresh nug, I'd be lying if I said they're all created equal. To find the best fast food chicken nuggets of all time, I visited seven popular chains to taste them myself. Below, you'll find my honest reviews, original photos and overall ranking. Of course, this list is totally subjective, so grain of salt…but I do consider myself a fast food connoisseur of sorts. Read on to find out my favorites. Spoiler: All of them are pretty valid for the cost. (Note: Prices are rounded to the nearest half-dollar. Pricing and availability may vary by location.) The Best Fast Food Desserts You Can Order Right Now, Ranked by a Food Editor Taryn Pire What It Is: white meat chicken in crispy, homestyle seasoned breading Price (8-piece): $3 At a price point this cheap, odds are you're not getting a quality bird. But hey, it's fast food—you already knew that. That said, this is probably one of the more solid options on the Burger King menu (unless you're all about breading over meat; then it's Chicken Fries for you). My nuggets were black pepper-y and freshly cooked. The breading was crisp but less so than McDonald's (more on that later). That said, there was nothing wrong with these, but nothing outstanding either. Learn more Taryn Pire What It Is: white meat chicken nuggets in Original Recipe breading Price (five-piece): $4 The smell of these reminded me of rotisserie chicken, and the seasonings give rustic, like chicken soup. The nuggets were sort of a middle ground between two chicken nugget camps: traditional nuggets, made from mechanically separated chicken, and boneless wings or chicken pieces. They were considerably smaller than other boneless options on this list and more uniform in size, both nugget qualities in my book. But even though the chicken pieces were straight poultry instead of a ground mixture, they were still a bit dry and old-looking rather than juicy. This batch, in particular, was also too salty for my taste. Learn more Taryn Pire What It Is: breaded, fried white meat chicken Price (four-piece): $2 I'd only ever had the spicy nuggets at Wendy's, but there's a first time for everything. The chicken was juicy and freshly fried, and the breading was tasty and evenly salted, albeit a bit thinner and less crunchy than that of McDonald's nuggets. These were coated in more of a breading than a batter. While I still prefer the hot version, these nuggets were solid (and they tasted even better with honey mustard). Learn more Taryn Pire What It Is: white meatboneless wings marinated in Louisiana spices and fired Price (six-piece): $7 Popeye's is sort of in its own league, not just in terms of quality but also flavor profile (all those Louisiana spices and whatnot). I tried the chain's boneless wings, as they don't explicitly use the word 'nugget' on their menu. The chicken was very tender and succulent, and the pieces were comparatively large. The breading was very crispy and well-seasoned, although subtle in flavor compared to the hot iteration. Learn more Taryn Pire What It Is: tender, juicy nuggets of fried, white meat chicken Price (six-piece): $5 If it's a proper chicken nugget you seek, McDonald's is the best option. With a thick, batter-like breading that always reminds me of savory funnel cake (if that's a thing), the nuggets are dependably crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside and evenly seasoned with notes of black pepper and McD's signature onions. As long as they're fresh, they're going to slap. Have 'em with the chain's creamy Buffalo sauce, OK? Learn more Taryn Pire What It Is: white meat chicken marinated in jalapeño buttermilk and coated in tortilla chip breading Price (five-piece): $6 Yup, Taco Bell has chicken nuggets now—and they give the heavyweights a run for their money. The chicken is marinated in jalapeño buttermilk, which not only infuses the meat with plenty of flavor, but also tenderizes it. Meanwhile, the tortilla chip-based breading was crisp and tasty without being excessively spicy or overwhelming; in fact, it looked thinner than some others on the list, but packed a mighty crunch. The chicken looked natural, more like a boneless wing than a nugget, but the portion and individual, uniform size of each piece was also larger than most competitors. Try them with the new, delightfully swicy Mike's Hot Honey Diablo Dip Sauce. Learn more Taryn Pire What It Is: seasoned pieces ofboneless chicken breast, freshly breaded and pressure cooked in peanut oil Price (five-piece): $3 Chick-fil-A's offering was easily the juiciest, most succulent fast food chicken nugget of all. I got them in literally ten seconds after ordering, but they still tasted and looked very fresh. The nuggets are real chicken pieces instead of mechanically separated poultry. They're poppably small (meaning they offer nugget feel with a step up in quality, in terms of meat) and inconsistently sized, but that's the game you play with chicken pieces instead of molded nuggets. The breading was mildly seasoned but not bland in the slightest, making the nuggets an easy win and a crowd-pleaser, even for first timers. Learn more The Best Fast Food Fish Sandwiches, Taste Tested & Ranked
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The 12 Best Fast Food Chicken Sandwiches, Ranked and Reviewed by a Food Editor
Remember the chicken sandwich wars? After Popeye's added what turned out to be a cult-favorite fried chicken sandwich to its menu in 2019, more than 20 American fast food brands (including McDonald's, Taco Bell and Shake Shack) followed suit over the next two years. Six years in—and to no one's surprise—people have big feelings about which one reigns supreme. Being a drive-thru regular myself, I set out to find the best fast food chicken sandwich overall by tasting 14 different handhelds from 12 popular chains in and around Philadelphia. Here, you'll find my honest reviews and original photos of each, plus an overall ranking from worst to best. Read on for my top and bottom picks. (Note: Prices may vary based on location or region. The prices below are rounded to the nearest half-dollar.) The Best Fast Food Desserts You Can Order Right Now, Ranked by a Food Editor Each sandwich was ordered in-store or at the drive-thru (rather than for pickup or delivery) in an effort to ensure maximum freshness. The sandwiches were photographed and tasted immediately. For testing fairness, I only tried crispy chicken sandwiches (as opposed to grilled) that were permanent menu items. If a chain offered original and spicy iterations of a chicken sandwich, I only tested the original options for consistency. Finally, I evaluated and ranked each sandwich based on taste, texture, presentation/appearance and cost, factoring in the quality and size to determine if it was fairly priced. You'll also note that each item received a star rating out of five. Here's a breakdown of what each rating means: 1 star: bad, no redeeming qualities 2 stars: fine, but nothing noteworthy 3 stars: decent, but could be improved 4 stars: good, minimal improvements could be made 5 stars: excellent, next to no improvements could be made 2 stars Taryn Pire What's on It: shredded lettuce, mayo Cost: $5 Pros: tangy mayo, filling Cons: no pickles, chicken wasn't crispy While I appreciated the exceptionally tangy mayo on the Original Chicken Sandwich, the chicken itself was rather bland. This Burger King sandwich was very soft, not crispy—sort of like the chicken patties I remember having in my middle school cafeteria. But that's not to say it wasn't enjoyable; it was also pretty hefty, thanks to the bread. Pickles would've gone a long way here. I also tried the Crispy Chicken ($5.59), which came on a sesame seed bun with breaded chicken, lettuce, tomato and mayo. This one was sort of herby, making the mayo taste like a tame ranch dressing. But the lettuce was sad and the chicken was bland (albeit crispy). Learn more 2 stars Taryn Pire What's on It: mayo, pickles, lettuce, tomato Cost: $5 Pros: soft bread, balanced components Cons: chicken could be crunchier and better seasoned The Classic Mother Cruncher boasted a pillowy soft bun and tender, juicy chicken that could've been crunchier. (This one also gave cafeteria chicken patty or frozen chicken nugget.) The pickles were meh and the lettuce and tomato looked a bit pallid. This one wasn't inedible by any means—just one-note across the board. Learn more 2 stars Taryn Pire What's on It: lettuce, tomato, mayo, pickles Cost: $6 Pros: sour pickles, filling Cons: dry, thin chicken, not as well-seasoned as the spicy version I've been ordering the spicy iteration at Wendy's for years, so I had high hopes for the Classic Chicken Sandwich. But unfortunately, the chicken was thin and under seasoned. It wasn't very juicy and didn't seem freshly made. The crunchy, sour pickles redeemed it a bit, but the spicy one still reigns supreme in my book. (Also, why doesn't that one get pickles?) Learn more 3 stars Taryn Pire What's on It: lettuce, tomato, mayo Cost: $6 Pros: large piece of juicy, tender chicken Cons: mayo could be tangier, sandwich could be better seasoned It's 2025—Arby's does much more than roast beef and deli sandwiches nowadays. As for the chain's Crispy Chicken Sandwich, the chicken was hefty and very juicy. I found it to be similar to the McDonald's Deluxe McCrispy (more on that later), but it was kind of bland. I wished the mayo was tangier for a punchier bite. Learn more 3 stars Taryn Pire What's on It: lettuce, tomato, mayo Cost: $6 Pros: crispy, large piece of chicken Cons: tomato was too thick, messily assembled Between the standard McCrispy and the Deluxe, the latter had fresher, crispier, better-quality chicken. The mayo was delightfully tart, but I thought the tomatoes were kind of overkill. (Maybe it was just how my sandwich was constructed; it was messy and lopsided.) I also tasted the regular McCrispy, which was cheaper at $4.89 a pop and came with nothing but crinkle-cut pickles. I'll give this McDonald's pick points for its no-frills charm and soft bun, but the chicken was soggy. Learn more 3 stars Taryn Pire What's on It: mayo, pickles Cost: $6 Pros: large piece of chicken, sour pickles Cons: messily assembled, chicken seemed old This KFC sandwich was massive, but the chicken looked a bit pale and tasted old to me. Its size was a double-edged sword, as it made for a poorly constructed handheld and an awkward eating experience. (Plus, all the mayo was slathered in one spot and the pickles were piled on top of each other.) However, I appreciated the double-breaded crust on the chicken and the pleasantly sour pickles. I felt the breading and toppings would've been better suited for a crispy fish sandwich though, in case the Colonel ever feels like branching out. Learn more 4 stars Taryn Pire What's on It: dill pickle chips Cost: $5 Pros: crunchy, juicy chicken Cons: a touch bland I've never really understood the fuss about Chick-fil-A…and this sammy didn't change my mind. The O.G. Chicken Sandwich felt soggy on the outside and came with only two pickle chips on top. Yes, the chicken was crunchy, juicy and generously sized, but it could've been more robustly seasoned. Don't get me wrong, it was solid. But despite its appetizing appearance, I found it to be a bit underwhelming. That peach milkshake though? Worth the buzz. Learn more 4 stars Taryn Pire What's on It: lettuce, Cane's Sauce Cost: $8 Pros: large portion, chicken was very fresh Cons: difficult to eat, would be better balanced with pickles, could be more robustly seasoned Raising Cane's cult-favorite chicken fingers are hand-battered to order, so the poultry is basically guaranteed to turn out fresh and crispy. That said, I found this sandwich (which includes three chicken fingers) to be harder to eat than sandwiches with a single piece or patty of chicken, and it could've been more boldly seasoned. The sweet, ketchup-y Cane's Sauce pulled a lot of weight in the flavor department, but I felt sour pickles would've made it more balanced. Learn more 5 stars Taryn Pire What's on It: lettuce, pickles, buttermilk herb mayo Cost: $8.50 Pros: sour pickles, mayo was herbaceous and flavorful, bun was soft and fresh, chicken was tender and crisp Cons: small for the price The Chicken Shack is the most expensive sammy on my list, and it's mostly worth the price. Although it was comparatively small versus some of its competitors, the Shake Shack chicken was juicy and crispy, the pickles were exceptionally acidic and the ranch-like herby mayo beautifully elevated each bite. I also loved the soft-as-clouds potato bun. Learn more 5 stars Taryn Pire What's on It: pickles, lettuce, mayo Cost: $6 Pros: large for the price, well-seasoned breading, chicken was very crisp and fresh Cons: toppings could be more evenly applied Sonic continues to surprise me. (Seriously—the Groovy Fries, which placed second in my ranking of fast food fries, are not to be missed.) The Crispy Chicken Sandwich came with a very wide piece of chicken that overflowed on all sides of the brioche bun. Despite its width, it wasn't excessively thick or juicy. I loved the very crispy breading; its flavor was slightly sweet and oniony. Learn more 5 stars Taryn Pire What's on It: pickles, mayo Cost: $5.50 Pros: great size and quality for the price, balanced flavor, chicken was very fresh, crisp and juicy Cons: pickles were a bit thick Popeye's started the chicken sandwich wars, and from where I'm sitting, most franchises are trying—and failing—to dethrone it. While I'm partial to the spicy variety, the Classic Chicken Sandwich had the same buttery bun, flawlessly sour pickle chips (which were, admittedly, a smidge thick) and juicy, impossibly crunchy, battered-to-order chicken. The breading was deeply flavorful, but the sammy as a whole was arguably greasier than some of the from-frozen ones on this list, so it may not be your fave if that's a turn-off for you. Learn more 5 stars Taryn Pire What's on It: umami mayo Cost: $6 Pros: very fresh chicken, breading was robustly seasoned, umami mayo was super savory and flavorful Cons: none Yup, this Filipino chain is well worth the hype. The Original Chicken Sandwich was beyond juicy, fresh and generously seasoned. Paired with nothing but savory umami mayo, the chicken's black pepper-heavy breading shone through every bite. I wouldn't have been opposed to pickles, lettuce or slaw, but I had zero complaints about this stunner. That said, I didn't enjoy the fries at all, so I'd get this with adobo rice next time around. Learn more You'll Never Guess Meghan Markle's Nostalgic, Go-To Taco Bell Order
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Fast Food Chain Makes the Best Burgers (and You're Sleeping on Them)
Jollibee, a fast food restaurant with a cult following, is no doubt most famous for its chicken (and peach mango pies, if you ask me). But the brand recently launched Angus burgers that give the heavyweight chains a run for their money. I, a food editor, headed to the nearest location to try all three of them, plus the standard burgers (which are thinner, smaller and not made with Angus beef), to see if I could taste the difference in quality. Read on for my honest takes, original photos and overall ranking. (Note: Prices are rounded to the nearest half-dollar. Pricing and item availability may vary by location.) The 14 Best Fast Food Fries, Ranked by a Food Editor Taryn Pire What Is It: Angus beef, smash-seared on the grill and topped with melted cheese, grilled pineapple, crispy bacon, green leaf lettuce and aloha dressing on a butter-toasted bun Price: $9.50 Full disclosure: I'm not a bacon-on-my-burger type person. (Generally, the simpler the toppings, the better—in my book, anyway.) However, I thought its smoky, salty notes played well with the sweet-and-sour pineapple. There was a brown sugar-y like char on the fruit that offered tasty contrast and an intriguing aroma to the burger, which starred a very crisp patty. Learn more Taryn Pire What Is It: Angus beef, smash-seared on the grill and topped with melted cheese, pickles, red onion, Roma tomatoes, green leaf lettuce, ketchup and signature sauce on a butter-toasted bun Price: $6.50 If you're someone who gets a cheeseburger with all the fixings at places like Friday's or Chili's, the Deluxe is the way to go. With more produce to offer crisp, cool contrast to the meat and cheese, it was balanced, satiating and photogenic. Personally, I think the tomato and lettuce were superfluous, given how tasty the rest of the burger was (more on the sans-veggie version below). But this was as good, if not better than, any fast casual or chain resto. Learn more Taryn Pire What Is It: Angus beef, smash-seared on the grill and topped with melted cheese, pickles, red onion, ketchup and signature sauce on a butter-toasted bun Price: $6 This was basically the perfect smash burger, complete with crisp, craggy edges and an all-around sear. I didn't love the slightly neon color of the burger sauce, but I enjoyed its tangy, mustardy flavor. The Angus patties were thicker than the standard burgers (read on for details) and very beefy, savory and rich. I loved the range of textures between the crisp onion, the crunchy, sour pickles and the luscious cheese-topped beef. The sauces also brought plenty of tang to the party. Learn more Taryn Pire What Is It: beef patty with melted cheese and signature sauce on a bun Price: $5 Don't get it twisted: The Angus burgers are a step up in quality, but the beef in Jollibee's Yumburgers is genuinely scrumptious. It has an oniony, sweet-and-savory quality that may conjure memories of Salisbury steak or meatloaf. With cheese, the consistency is super creamy and rich. Think backyard burger, minus the char, on a soft, fluffy bun. Learn more Taryn Pire What Is It: beef patty with signature sauce on a bun Price: $4.50 I've never ordered a cheese-less burger in my life. But alas, duty called—and I was very pleasantly surprised. The sauce's slightly sweet edge played beautifully with the seasoned beef, which was tender and surprisingly juicy throughout. The TLDR? You can't go wrong with a Jollibee burger, Angus or not. Learn more Do Omaha Steaks Smash Burgers Really Cook in 5 Minutes, Sans-Griddle? Our Food Team Tested Them
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taco Bell's New Loaded Steak & Jalapeño Fries Are Here—But Are They Worth Ordering? Here's a Food Editor's Review
There's *always* something new to sink your teeth into at Taco Bell. Whether it's the ever-trendy Dirty Baja Blast (which tastes like key lime pie, BTW), the undeniably adorable Toasted Cheddar Street Chalupas or the back-and-better-than-ever chicken nuggets, you simply can't go wrong with any of the fast food chain's culinary inventions. Its latest is the Loaded Steak & Jalapeño Fries—but are they as indulgent and spicy as they sound? I visited my nearest Taco Bell location to see if they're worth adding to your (read: my) usual order. Taco Bell's Cravings Value Menu Has 10 Items for $3 or Less—Here's a Food Editor's Ranking Before we get into my take, here are the deets. This creamy, savory main starts with Taco Bell's seasoned nacho fries. They get topped with warm nacho cheese, grilled marinated steak, creamy jalapeño sauce and pickled jalapeños. Prices may vary by location, but these will likely cost you $5 a pop. Taryn Pire Let's start with the fries themselves. Of all the Taco Bell fare I've tried in my 31 years of life, they admittedly aren't my favorite. But to be fair, their quality fluctuates depending on how fresh they are and how evenly they're seasoned. They tend to lean soggy, which is a plus in my book, but covered in sauce and toppings, they get too soggy in mere minutes. That said, I actually loved the combination of fixings on this new menu item. In my ranking of Taco Bell sauces, the nacho cheese fell somewhere in the middle. I liked its slight spice, but not its slightly gluey consistency once cooled. However, the creamy jalapeño sauce (which is what comes on the chain's quesadillas) is my second favorite of them all, so it evened out here. It's spicy, silky and savory. Even the steak, which isn't my go-to Taco Bell protein, was well-seasoned, tender and freshly prepared. (Ground beef would be just as tasty, but significantly messier and cause the fries to turn soggy even faster.) What really completed this item was the pickled peppers on top. If you've read any of my food reviews, you know I always appreciate something sour as a foil for fatty items like meat and cheese. Here, the peppers were just that, offering brightness and acidity that both complemented and cut the richness of the nacho fries just right. My main bone to pick was that the portion felt a bit small for the price. But honestly, what's $5 for a meal and a quick hit of serotonin in this economy? Taco Bell, you've done it again. You'll Never Guess Meghan Markle's Nostalgic, Go-To Taco Bell Order
