Burger King kicks it up a notch with Fiery Chicken Fries
This week, I reached out for a pack of Fiery Chicken Fries, the first spinoff of Burger King’s remarkably successful Chicken Fries franchise.
Spicy is the new black in the drive-through. All the fast-food chains, even the home delivery pizza brands (Sriracha pizza, seriously?), are competing to see who has the top flamethrower.
Burger King is upping the ante, claiming that these Fiery Chicken Fries are so peppery, they may actually be “offensively spicy.”
Well, that’s tough talk, to be sure, and Fiery Chicken Fries are pretty jolting. They’re the hottest item ever to make the Burger King menu. But don’t panic — nobody’s being sent to a doctor with a scorched mouth. When a new product is driving coast to coast, it better stay middle of the road.
Here’s the Fiery Chicken Fries breakdown: thin strips of white-meat chicken, battered senseless with pepper-spiked breading and deep fried. An order consists of nine fries in a specially designed package with a mean, angry chicken’s face on it. Fiery Chicken Fries are served with your choice of sauces: BBQ, Honey Mustard, Ranch, Zesty, Buffalo or Sweet & Sour.
Total calories: 290. Fat grams: 18. Sodium: 870 mg. Carbs: 17 g. Dietary fiber: 1 g. Protein: 15 g. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: $2.89 (your mileage may vary).
I’d rank the heat level of Fiery Chicken Fries a shake higher than Wendy’s iconic Spicy Chicken Sandwich — but still within a tolerable range for older kids. You don’t have to keep an eye on the fire extinguisher on the wall.
The fire in Fiery Chicken Fries comes courtesy of cayenne pepper, black pepper and savory spices in the breading.
Think Fiery Chicken Fries for Dad, Uncle Eddie and the high school twins, and regular Chicken Fries for Mom and the little ones.
The economical part of Fiery Chicken Fries, particularly for carb counters, is — you’re paying for a sliced breaded chicken patty and not for a bun that you’re going to toss.
Of course, $2.89 is still pretty steep for a breaded chicken patty, with the emphasis on breading. The price is even steeper when you consider Burger King’s ridiculous bargain of 10 Chicken Nuggets for $1.49, which may be the best deal running in fast food. For sheer tonnage per dollar, Chicken Nuggets are the smart play.
Fiery Chicken Fries are available for a limited time only, so hotfoot it to Burger King if you want to give them a try.