by Bottom Line: The Jalapeño Holly Chicken Salad Sandwich from Chicken Salad Chick is fresh, flavorful, and delivers a bit of a kick.
Chicken again, chicken again, chicken again. But this time, the protein that the restaurant industry loves to spice up is a little bit different. There are hot chicken sandwiches and spicy chicken tenders and even chicken fries with a kick. But Chicken Salad Chick is fresh-making chicken salad on a daily basis, and they have a few options that bring the burn. This is a growing fast-casual restaurant that got its start in 2008 in Alabama and currently has locations spreading across the country.
One recently opened near me, and I stopped by to try the Jalapeño Holly Chicken Salad Sandwich. That starts with their classic salad, which includes all-white meat shredded chicken, finely minced celery, mayonnaise, and their secret seasoning, along with plenty of diced, pickled jalapeños. You can get it on white or wheat bread—I chose wheat—and also add lettuce and tomato.
They are pretty generous with the portion of chicken salad they add to the sandwich, and it delivers some immediate tang followed by a nice creaminess. There isn’t much in the way of the sweetness you might expect from chicken salad, but as a savory salad, it works quite well. You definitely detect the jalapeños, and they add some nice flavor while also delivering a bit of a kick. The bread tastes fresh-made, and the veggies are crisp, making this meal seem almost healthy (just ignore all the mayonnaise in the salad).
The sandwich doesn’t seem that hot at first, but the heat builds up after a few bites and goes beyond Mild on my scale, approaching Medium. I still would have liked a little more heat, but it delivers a decent amount of burn. I don’t know if they offer the option to add extra jalapeños, but I’ll inquire about that next time I visit.
Nutrition-wise, the sandwich as I ordered it comes to 665 calories with 41 grams of fat. So while this may seem to be on the healthy side, it does push the calorie count a bit. That pasta salad I got on the side—which was quite tasty—added another 250 calories, so I’ll be paying some penance at the gym. But at least take some comfort in knowing the food is made with fresh ingredients.
They have two other chicken salads that promise some heat as well—Kickin’ Kay Lynne and Buffalo Barclay—and their Spicy Pimento Cheese also looks pretty good. So I’ll certainly be making a return trip at some point to try those out. They have new locations popping up all the time, so you can check for one near you on their website because Chicken Salad Chick offers a nice twist on chicken that is certainly worth seeking out.
Nutrition Info:
Calories: 665
Fat: 41g (6g Sat/0 Trans)
Protein: 26g
Carbs: 56g
Sodium: 1165mg
