Popular American fast-food chain Chick-fil-A, well known for its signature chicken and friendly hospitality, is on our shores in Singapore for a three-day pop-up at The Esplanade Mall. This is the first time that Chick-fil-A is available in Asia.
Excitement aside, we need to address the elephant in the room: Is it a chicken burger or a chicken sandwich? To answer that, we had the opportunity to visit the Chick-fil-A pop-up to find out for ourselves.
Chick-fil-A Pop-up: Exploring Menu Offerings
Patrons who have registered for a spot at the pop-up will receive a meal that consists of the Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, Waffle Potato Fries, a drink of choice (Coca-Cola® Classic, Coca-Cola® Zero, or bottled water) and not to mention, four different types of unique sauces to dip into.
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On top of that, the $10 donated during registration will go towards Community Chest, a non-profit organisation. Chick-fil-A will be matching donations for every dollar spent.
Talk about having a meal that brings smiles to many!
The Original Chicken Sandwich and Four Special Sauces
The chicken sandwich is served up in a nice little foil pouch, making it easy to eat without any mess. Upon inspection, it looks slightly different compared to the usual burgers that I have consumed. While the sandwich may not look extremely loaded, the size of the chicken makes up for its height.
True to the picture, the sandwich has a boneless chicken breast that is well seasoned and cooked in 100% refined peanut oil on top of 2 dill pickle chips, sandwiched between two slices of toasted buttery buns.
The sandwich was definitely not a letdown as the chicken breast tastes very well-seasoned and juicy, much to my delight. The fries on the other hand were very light, crispy and not very oily, making it a guilt-free experience.
While I was told to enjoy my meal in any way I liked, I felt that the sandwich and fries were best paired with sauces.
Gathering opinions on the best sauce flavour, everyone had a different opinion. I heard from the staff that the most popular sauce in America was the Chick-fil-A sauce.
True enough, the Chick-fil-A sauce was one of my favourites, as it was slightly smoky, creamy and sweet.
Alongside that of my favourites was the Garden Herb Ranch sauce, a delicious buttermilk ranch sauce with garlic, onion and a hint of herb.
The Honey Mustard sauce has a sweet taste of honey with the tanginess of mustard.
For those who love spice, try the Sweet and Spicy Sriracha sauce, as it does pack a considerable punch that is not too overwhelming, while tasting sweet at the same time.
Overall, the saying “less is better than more” rings true for me. While the offerings are not extremely unique or packed with ingredients, the entire meal complements one another very well.
I would definitely recommend dipping the sandwich and fries into the different sauces, as it elevates the flavour profile and makes it a really enjoyable experience.
Visit the Chick-fil-A Pop-up and Enjoy Fun Activities in Store
While enjoying the meal, don’t forget about the additional activities available in-store! Snap a picture and make memories at the cute photo wall right at the entrance, and feel free to pull out your favourite sauce packet from the wall and snap a picture with it.
Dine-in customers will receive a little card filled with fun and simple activities to complete. Once completed, the card can be exchanged for a exclusive little gift, while stocks last!
If you have yet to secure tickets for the pop-up, fret not! Chick-fil-A has opened up spots for takeaway walk-ins, limited to the first 200 customers daily. More details can be found on Chick-fil-A’s Instagram @chickenandsmiles.
Chick-fil-A Popup in Singapore (26 to 28 June)
Where: 8 Raffles Avenue, #01-13C, The Esplanade Mall, Singapore 039802
Opening Hours: 11 am to 2 pm, 3 pm to 7 pm
More details can be found on Chick-fil-A’s Instagram @chickenandsmiles.
