• A KFC is Eden, North Carolina was destroyed in an explosion soon after midnight on Thursday morning. 
• Local news stations report that the blast was felt up to two miles away from the KFC. 
• No one was inside the KFC at the time. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A late-night explosion demolished a KFC in Eden, North Carolina. 

Police reported to the scene at around 12:40 a.m. Thursday morning, local news channel Fox 8 reports. While the blast destroyed the KFC and damaged neighboring buildings, Eden Police Chief Greg Light said that no one was inside the building when it exploded.

According to Fox 8, an employee told police that he had smelled gas earlier in the night when he was closing the restaurant. A manager reportedly called the gas company at the time.

Police officers have not yet announced what may have caused the explosion. The Eden Police Department is conducting an investigation into the incident and the gas company is evaluating the situation and searching for a potential leak, WXII reports.

"We are devastated by this incident, but most importantly we are grateful that all of our restaurant team members are safe and no one was injured," a KFC spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider.

"We would like to thank the Eden police and fire crews, for their response and continued support," the statement continued. "We are cooperating directly with the investigating agencies as they work to determine the cause."

Light told Fox 8 that the blast was felt two miles away from the KFC. 

"I felt it several miles away and I understand it was felt even further away. It was [a] big explosion for sure," Eden Mayor Neville Hall told WXII. 

Locals have taken to the Eden Police Department Facebook group to share the impact of the explosion. 

"This explains why our whole house shook," one person commented. "We live about 1 mile from this scene. Prayers for all those affected by this tragic event." 

"Prayers to everyone," commented another. "I thought it was the sound of thunder. I live within a mile." 

"All of Eden is awake tonight after this and some people in Virginia say they felt it too," wrote a third. 

SEE ALSO: KFC is launching a Cheetos Sandwich across America, and it represents a massive shift in the chicken chain's strategy

Join the conversation about this story »

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• A KFC has opened in Hong Kong and is debuting a few new dishes, including a spicy chicken and nuts mooncake, just in time for Mid-Autumn Festival.
• The mooncake is a mixture of chicken, crushed almonds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds.
• The mooncake comes in a 'Moonlight Bucket' which is a bucket featuring Colonel Sanders as an astronaut with an LED light that doubles as a lantern. 

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Chick-fil-A restaurants generate more than double the revenue of McDonald's restaurants, according to a new analysis by Goldman Sachs citing Technomic data. 
• The Atlanta-based chain has grown rapidly over the last decade and now ranks as the fifth largest fast-food company in the US in terms of market share, up from the No. 23 spot in 2005, according to the report.
• "Steer clear from those in the fray of Chick-fil-A," analysts said. Companies most at risk from the Chick-fil-A threat include Popeyes, Jack in the Box, Wendy's, and KFC, analysts said. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Chick-fil-A is seemingly unstoppable. 

The Atlanta-based chain has grown rapidly over the last decade and now ranks as the fifth largest fast-food company in the US in terms of market share, up from the No. 23 spot in 2005, Goldman Sachs analysts wrote in a research note citing data from Technomic.

And despite being closed on Sundays, Chick-fil-A restaurants generate more than double the revenue of McDonald's restaurants, according to the data. 

"Our brand survey shows that Chick-fil-A has had the most brand momentum across [fast-food restaurants] — supporting the most increase in total revenue (in dollar terms) in the US," Goldman analysts wrote.

Read more:Chick-fil-A likely loses out on more than $1 billion in sales every year by closing on Sundays — and it's a brilliant business strategy

Looking ahead, Chick-fil-A's "rapid rise" is showing no signs of slowing, according to the note.

"Steer clear from those in the fray of Chick-fil-A," analysts said. "Our 2,000 consumer brand survey suggests they will continue to take share and grow."

Companies most at risk from the Chick-fil-A threat include Popeyes, Jack-in-the-Box, Wendy's, and KFC, analysts said. 

Chick-fil-A generated more than $10 billion in sales last year, up from $2 billion in 2005, as the company has expanded into new markets in the Northeast and Midwest.

The company's total number of locations grew by nearly 8% last year, on top of 7% growth the previous year, according to Technomic data cited by Goldman Sachs. By comparison, Chick-fil-A rival KFC closed more than 1% of its locations in the US. 

SEE ALSO: It costs nearly nothing to open a Chick-fil-A — but there's a catch

Join the conversation about this story »

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• KFC is the latest fast food chain to make a foray into the taco game. 
• Its "Double Tacos" feature a double soft and crusty shell, guacamole, pico de gallo, fresh tomatoes, melted cheddar cheese, and classic KFC tenders.
• The new menu item is available for $8.86 (€7.95) with drinks and fries for a limited time.  
• INSIDER spoke to Pierre Cailleau, head of sales and advertising at KFC France, about the new menu item.
• Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

Weeks after it debuted a chicken bucket that doubles as a lantern, KFC has become the latest fast food chain to make a foray into the taco game.  

The chain's new "Double Tacos" feature a double shell — a hard corn shell encased in a soft tortilla shell, similar to Taco Bell's Cheesy Gordita Crunch — as well as classic KFC tenders, guacamole, pico de gallo, fresh tomatoes, and melted cheddar cheese.

KFC's new menu item is available for $8.86 (€7.95) with drinks and fries at participating locations in KFC France for a limited time.  

"The Double Tacos are, for us, a game changer product to move on fast food," Pierre Cailleau, head of sales and advertising of KFC France, told INSIDER.

"The Double Tacos are a bold KFC experience. For our consumers, this a new way to enjoy tacos while highlighting the best chicken in the world."

Read more: KFC in Hong Kong is selling a spicy chicken-flavored mooncake that comes in a bucket that doubles as a lantern

Caillueau calls the Double Tacos "an exciting experience" and said that, so far, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

"We have had really positive consumer feedback," he added. 

KFC France has also been advertising its new Crispy Tenders Hot Dog on its Instagram page, which are KFC crispy chicken tenders slathered in American cheese, onions, jalapenos, hot sauce, and mustard in a hot dog bun.

KFC isn't the only fast food chain to try their luck in the taco business.

Companies including Jack in the Box and Burger King have both upped their taco game recently as well. Jack in the Box recently launched a miniature version of its beloved tacos, while Burger King brought back tacos for the first time in a decade.

• Read more:
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• You can now buy edible cookie dough from Nestlé Toll House that's safe to eat straight from the tub
• The 30 best places to visit in the world, ranked

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Yum! Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell and KFC, reported second-quarter earnings Thursday that beat analyst expectations. 
• Shares rose on the report. 
• Fast-casual restaurants have had a solid year with Starbucks and McDonald's also recently posting earnings beats. 
• Watch Yum! Brands trade live on Markets Insider. 

Fast-food is going strong.

Yum! Brands— the parent company of fast-food restaurants like Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut — released second-quarter earnings Thursday that beat analyst expectations. It's the latest fast-casual restaurant company to report an earnings beat.

Shares rose as much as 5.5% on the news. 

Here's what the company reported versus what analysts surveyed by Bloomberg expected: 

Adjusted earnings-per-share: $0.93 reported versus $0.87 (expected)

Revenue: $1.31 billion reported versus $1.27 billion (expected)

Taco Bell drove the strong company earnings, leading comparable sales with a 7% gain. Overall, comparable sales were up 5% during the quarter, the company said in a press release. 

KFC also posted strong growth, particularly in China, an emerging opportunity for the chain. Even Pizza Hut, which has struggled in the past, posted same store sales growth in the US and abroad in the second quarter. 

"Second-quarter results maintained early year momentum and helped us to exceed our already high expectations for a strong first half of 2019," said CEO Greg Creed in a statement. 

The strong earnings come just after Starbucks,McDonald's and even competitor Chipotle also reported strong second-quarter earnings. Fast-casual restaurants have had a great year — and some have even outperformed the S&P 500. 

Going forward, Yum is growing through franchising — it now has more than 2,000 total franchises— and increasing its growth rate by opening new units. In the second-quarter, the company opened 312 units, a 7% increase from the year prior. 

Yum's earnings were also given a boost from an early investment in Grubhub, the delivery service. In the second-quarter they saw pre-tax investment income of $24 million, which meant a $0.06 boost to earnings per share during the quarter. 

The company also repurchased 1.9 million of its own shares at $104 per share, a $196 million investment. It also reaffirmed that it is on track for its full year outlook of earnings per share of at least $3.75. 

Yum Brands is up 25% year to date. 

Join the conversation about this story »

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• I taste-tested fried-chicken sandwiches from Chick-fil-A, KFC, McDonald's, Arby's, Shake Shack, Burger King, Popeyes, and Wendy's to see how they compared.
• I judged the chicken sandwiches based on their buns, texture, and flavor, and my overall impression.
• With its juicy, crispy chicken and well-balanced flavors, Popeyes' classic chicken sandwich was far better than the rest. It was also the cheapest sandwich, at $4.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Chicken sandwiches are a privilege.

My dad did not eat a chicken sandwich until he immigrated to America in his mid-20s. His first chicken sandwich, which was later also my first chicken sandwich, was a McChicken.

There are no McChicken sandwiches in this taste test.

The culture of immigrants is a culture of always trying to do better than the generation before. My dad ate McChicken sandwiches.

I, as a member of the next generation, had to find a better chicken sandwich — maybe even the best fast-food chicken sandwich out there.

Read more:I taste-tasted the signature breakfast sandwiches from 6 major fast-food chains, and the winner was clear

I put together a list of the chicken sandwiches from the eight fast-food chains closest to Business Insider's office in Manhattan. If a chain had more than one chicken sandwich, I chose the one that seemed most like a classic chicken sandwich. I also avoided kid-sized or dollar-menu items like the McChicken and the Chicken Jr.

My methodology, as usual, was as scientific as my bachelor of arts degree. I judged the sandwiches based on texture, flavor, bun quality, and overall impression.

The contenders in this taste test are: Arby's buttermilk crispy chicken sandwich, KFC's Crispy Colonel sandwich, Wendy's homestyle crispy chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A's original chicken sandwich, McDonald's buttermilk crispy chicken sandwich, Burger King's crispy chicken sandwich, Popeyes' classic chicken sandwich, and Shake Shack's Chick'n Shack.

All prices listed are what I paid in the New York City establishments I visited for this test.

SEE ALSO: I tried the signature burgers from 5 major fast-food chains, and the winner was obvious

CALLING ALL FAST-FOOD FANS: Vote for your favorite and least favorite chains as we search for America's favorite fast food

ARBY'S BUTTERMILK CRISPY CHICKEN SANDWICH, $5 — I was surprised by how thin the chicken patty in this sandwich was, especially because everything else about it was so pretty.

BUN: Sweet and soft, but strong. Just the bun I was looking for. TEXTURE: The chicken was crispy but really, really thin. It seemed reheated.

FLAVOR: It tasted reheated too. All the accoutrements were great. The tomato was tart, the lettuce crispy, and the mayo fatty and sour. But the chicken was just wimpy.

KFC'S CRISPY COLONEL SANDWICH, $5 — I was surprised by how small this sandwich was, especially because it was the same price as the Arby's sandwich. It looked beige and not very fresh.

BUN: The bun wasn't bad, but it was pretty standard. It was small like the rest of the sandwich. TEXTURE: Chewy rather than crispy. The chicken was tough and very dry. It was difficult to choke down.

Read more:I tasted french fries from 8 major fast-food chains, and the winner surprised me

FLAVOR: It was also way too salty. There isn't really anything in the way of moisture left in the chicken — it's been salted out. OVERALL: This sandwich was small, salty, and plain, with no depth of flavor, and the chicken was terrible. I was disappointed.

WENDY'S HOMESTYLE CRISPY CHICKEN SANDWICH, $5.79 — The slab of fried chicken in this sandwich dwarfs its apparel.

BUN: It's a standard brioche bun, but it ultimately can't stand up to the behemoth piece of poultry it's meant to hold. TEXTURE: The chicken is kind of chewy, kind of crispy. It's better than KFC, but not by much. Plus, the tiny lettuce leaves kept falling out.

FLAVOR: The chicken drowns out all other flavors in this sandwich, and it's too mediocre to carry the sandwich by itself. OVERALL: The lettuce, tomato, mayo, and bun were victims of a poorly balanced sandwich that was too eager to showcase its chicken at any cost.

Read more:I ate the same meal at Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse, and LongHorn Steakhouse. Here's how they compared.

CHICK-FIL-A'S ORIGINAL CHICKEN SANDWICH, $5 — Chick-fil-A was named Americans' favorite fast-food chain of 2019 in a recent Market Force survey, so I had high expectations going in. It wasn't a very big sandwich though.

Source: Restaurant News

BUN: A standard bun. This one was nothing to write home about. TEXTURE: The edges were crispy, but anything touching the bun was soggy and soft. The pickles had no crunch.

FLAVOR: It was very plain. The chicken was thick and pretty good, but not as juicy as it could have been. I missed mayo, lettuce, or tomato, which Chick-fil-A includes only in the deluxe version. OVERALL: I'd expected more, so ultimately I wasn't impressed by this sandwich.

MCDONALD'S BUTTERMILK CRISPY CHICKEN SANDWICH, $5.69 — I hadn't expected such a good-looking sandwich from McDonald's.

Read more:I ate everything at Costco's food court, and it was clear that its trendiest items are also its worst

BUN: What a gorgeously brown, buttery, toasted potato brioche. It was sweet and light but tough — perfect for holding a tile of chicken the size of my face. TEXTURE: It was wonderfully crispy, but the breading was kind of dark, and the chicken was a little chewy and too bready.

FLAVOR: The chicken wasn't as thick as the chicken in some other sandwiches, but it was fairly juicy and a bit peppery. The tomato was tart and the mayo fatty, but the lettuce was more decorative than anything. OVERALL: I thoroughly enjoyed this sandwich. It's not the thickest or the juiciest chicken, but it's pretty good. And everything in the sandwich works well together. It's also one of the bigger sandwiches.

BURGER KING CRISPY CHICKEN, $6.29 — People don't usually go to Burger King for the chicken, which makes sense. The chicken in this sandwich was darker than chicken usually is ...

BUN: Sweet and dense, but nothing special. It was the right size for its contents though, which wasn't often the case during this taste test. TEXTURE: The chicken was pretty crispy, pretty juicy, and a little bit chewy.

FLAVOR: It actually tastes good, but also weird, like it's not quite chicken. I thought it tasted vaguely like Christmas. I'm not sure if the chicken was burnt or if it was just the spice mixture. The lettuce wasn't fresh. OVERALL: It tasted better than it looked, but I couldn't shake a bad gut feeling.

Read more:I ate apple pies from 5 fast-food chains, and the winning pie blew me away

POPEYES' CLASSIC CHICKEN SANDWICH, $4 — Popeyes added the classic chicken sandwich to its menu in May. Before, there was just the po'boy. The contrast in thickness between the Arby's chicken patty and Popeyes' patty was simply stunning. This sandwich was huge, even though it was cheaper than the others.

BUN: A sturdy toasted brioche with a hint of sweetness. TEXTURE: The chicken was unbelievably crispy, thick, and juicy, with a crinkly, crunchy layer of fried batter. The pickles too were crunchy.

FLAVOR: Everything in this sandwich tasted amazing. The pickles were tart, the mayo added a smear of fatty comfort, and the chicken was outstandingly juicy and fresh. OVERALL: I was wholeheartedly surprised and impressed by how good Popeyes' sandwich was, especially considering its price.

Read more:I ate soft serve from 7 major fast-food chains, and the winner surprised me

SHAKE SHACK'S CHICK'N SHACK, $7.09 — Shake Shack made some waves when it added a chicken sandwich to its menu in 2015. It's not a very wide sandwich, but it sure is tall.

BUN: The potato bun was very sweet and flavorful but crumbled under the weight of its contents. TEXTURE: A thin layer of breading still made for a solid, consistent crisp. The chicken was juicy, and the pickles were thick and crunchy.

FLAVOR: It was way too salty. The bun, lettuce, and mayo did very little to cut the overwhelming saltiness of the chicken and the pickles. I couldn't tell if the pickles were tart because they were so salty. OVERALL: This sandwich was, unfortunately, less than the sum of its parts. As per Shake Shack's standards, the individual ingredients were all high-quality. However, it simply needed a break from the salt.

WINNER: POPEYES. Popeyes' classic chicken sandwich was clearly better than its competitors in every way. The chicken was incomparably crispy, juicy, and fresh, and all the elements of the sandwich were well balanced. Each bite was bursting with flavor. And its price tag is also the most appealing — at $4, it's the cheapest sandwich in the lineup.

RUNNER-UP: MCDONALD'S. The buttermilk crispy chicken deserves a shoutout for punching way above what one might expect from the golden arches. It both looks and tastes good. Though at $5.69 it's on the expensive side, it's certainly a step above the McChicken.

• Chicken nuggets are a fast-food favorite.
• I tried the chicken nuggets at McDonald's, Burger King,Wendy's, Chick-Fil-A, Shake Shack, and KFC to see which chain does them best.
• The chicken nuggets at Wendy's won out with their crispy coating, juicy chicken, and balanced flavor. At around 40 cents a nugget, they were also the best value.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Chicken nuggets are beloved by all — except maybe vegetarians.

It's easy to see why. They're inoffensive, easy to eat, and low in calories compared to other fast-food options. They're also the ideal vehicle for your dipping sauce of choice.

Calling all fast-food fans: Vote for your favorite and least favorite chains as we search for America's favorite fast food

But like most fast foods, not all chicken nuggets are created equal. A chicken nugget should be crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and has a balanced flavor.

Read more: I ate 8 chicken sandwiches from fast-food chains, and the best was also the cheapest

I went to six fast-food chains in pursuit of this perfect chicken nugget. The competitors were: Shake Shack, Chick-fil-A, KFC, Wendy's, McDonald's, and Burger King. All prices were what I paid in the New York City location I visited.

SEE ALSO: I ate the same meal at Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse, and LongHorn Steakhouse. Here's how they compared.

SHAKE SHACK — 6 PC CHICK'N BITES, $4.99 — I don't come to Shake Shack because it's a good value, but opening up this box of meager morsels was disappointing. After tax, they were practically a dollar each.

The batter and breadcrumbs were very crispy, and the chicken was tender and juicy.

But they were way too salty. I had to dip them in sweet honey mustard in order to balance them out.

I also noticed that they had a slight kick to them. Overall, though, I was disappointed at the quality and quantity for the price.

Read more: I tried the signature burgers from 5 major fast-food chains, and the winner was obvious

CHICK-FIL-A — 8 PC CHICK-FIL-A NUGGETS, $5.09 — I have yet to be especially impressed by any one item at Chick-fil-A. Yes, its tables have fresh flowers, but its food is just OK.

These were slightly bigger and more generous than Shake Shack's nuggets, but they were coated in just breadcrumbs, no batter.

They weren't quite as crispy as Shake Shack's nuggets. The breading felt secondary, almost like the nuggets had been grilled then coated in carbs. They weren't that juicy, either.

Read more: These are America's favorite fast-food chains, from Chick-fil-A to In-N-Out

But despite the lackluster texture, these had a solid, robust flavor that capitalized on all the savory charms of chicken.

KFC — POPCORN NUGGETS, $5.89 — These are more like popcorn chicken than the other brands' nuggets. They're also only sold in one size: large.

Even though the quantity was large, the nuggets themselves were tiny, tiny, tiny.

They were coated in a salty and near-impenetrable layer of batter crust.

The chicken inside was tough, dry, and completely tasteless. I reached for more honey mustard.

WENDY'S — 10 PC CHICKEN NUGGETS, $4.09 —When I think of Wendy's I think of beef, not chicken.

They were coated in a combination of batter and breadcrumbs that made for a delightfully crispy outer shell.

The chicken was juicy and soft. It was still processed but tasted like real white meat.

These had the exact texture that chicken nuggets should have, and they were balanced and mild without being flavorless.

Read more: I ate soft serve from 7 major fast-food chains, and the winner surprised me

MCDONALD'S — 10 PC MCNUGGETS, $5.99 — These are the nuggets I think of when I think of chicken nuggets.

They come in four shapes: bone, bell, ball, and boot. They're more processed than they let on...

Read more: Why McDonald's Chicken McNuggets come in only 4 shapes

Although they're nice and crispy on the outside, the chicken is dry, bland, and tastes pretty processed.

They're a consistent vehicle for sauce, but don't have any flavor of their own to offer.

BURGER KING — 10 PC CHICKEN NUGGETS, $4.59 — Burger King's Chicken Fries are arguably more famous than their nuggets, but both have the same adorable cartoon chicken on their packaging.

At first glance, these looked like a slightly dryer, more beige version of the McNugget.

That's exactly what they were. These were also unbelievably stale and dry. After finishing my first nugget, I had no desire to pick up another one.

The award for best nuggets goes the spectacular specimens at Wendy's. They had an enticing texture and full flavor while still being perfectly dippable. Crispy, juicy, and balanced, these were better than their competition in every way. They were also the best value for money, making them an easy choice for nugget fans.

• The business world is ruthless.
• But it's a realm that also welcomes a good comeback story.
• These companies managed to achieve or regain their iconic status after nearly going out of business.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

SEE ALSO: 6 companies that have filed for bankruptcy but you can still shop or eat at

DON'T MISS: If you bought anything from these 13 companies recently, your data may have been stolen

SEE ALSO: 4 retro video game and software stores that have been deleted from malls across America

Lego

This beloved Danish brand almost went to pieces earlier in the 2000s, when it came close to bankruptcy.

In 2004, new CEO Jorgen Vig Knudstorp began putting things back together by focusing on enhancing the company's engagement with fans and doubling down on fiscal responsibility.

In fiscal year 2018, Lego reported a revenue of 36.4 billion in Danish krone.

Marvel

About a decade before Marvel launched its mega-hit crossover film franchise with the 2008 movie "Iron Man," this venerable entertainment company appeared to be getting a little rusty.

The Wrap reported that Marvel Entertainment filed for bankruptcy in 1996 after getting clobbered by declining comic book sales. The company managed to power up by merging with American toy company Toy Biz and selling off the rights to popular characters like Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four.

Then, in 2009, the Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel for $4 billion.

FedEx

FedEx is known for delivering parcels overnight, but the company itself certainly wasn't an overnight success.

In fact, the delivery business almost stalled out for good in its early years.

FedEx launched in 1971, initially providing services to 35 cities. Within two years, the company was deep in debt. Founder Frederick Smith became so desperate that he bet the last of his company's money on blackjack in Las Vegas.

FedEx's success was in the cards, though, and Smith managed to turn an initial $5,000 into $27,000, staving off the company's closure.

Today, FedEx boasts a market cap of over $42 billion.

Airbnb

Airbnb is all about connecting travelers with an online marketplace for securing lodging. But setting up the company didn't prove to be a relaxing getaway for the founders. The fledgling startup hit a snag in 2008, when a total of 15 angel investors rejected the idea.

The site was failing to draw in revenue until the founders began printing cereal boxes depicting then-presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain around Denver at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. 

Airbnb founders Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk were invited to join the selective startup accelerator Y Combinator, and the rest is history.

Converse

The once-dominant shoe brand Converse was starting to look a bit scuffed by the time the early 2000s rolled around. In 2001, the company even filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Forbes reported. Nike ended up acquiring the brand for $1.9 billion two years later, according to the New York Times.

As of June, Converse generated quarterly revenues of $491 million, flat from the year before. But there's no indication that Nike is chucking out this beloved brand anytime soon.

• Fast food grew up with postwar America.
• As things have changed, so have the fast-food items that have been in vogue.
• From Taco Bell's much-loved Enchirito to the invention of the legendary McNugget to the many lives of the Frappuccino, these are the fast-food items that people were obsessed with from the years 1965 to 2010.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Many of the first fast-food chains popped up in the 1950s and early 1960s. They started out small. The industry began with local mom-and-pop hamburger stands seeking to serve the increasingly on-the-go commuter American. As suburbs sprouted, so did drive-ins and drive-thrus.

Things have changed since those times. We've had rock 'n' roll, hippie folk, funk, power ballads, punk, grunge, and death metal. We've fought several wars in Asia and even more in the Middle East. And we've seen some of America's most beloved and most bizarre fast-food items come and go.

Read more:12 iconic restaurant chains that no longer exist in America

From the world-changing invention of the Chicken McNugget to the many lives of the Frappuccino, these are the fast-food items that defined America from 1965 to 2010:

SEE ALSO: I ate 8 chicken sandwiches from fast-food chains, and the best was also the cheapest

1965 — FILET-O-FISH SANDWICH, MCDONALD'S: Before the Filet-O-Fish, McDonald's sold mostly hamburgers. Catholics don't eat meat on Fridays during Lent, which was hurting sales for McDonald's until franchise owner Lou Groen came up with the famous fish sandwich. It's still on the McDonald's menu today.

Source:Business Insider

1968 — PICKLE-O'S, SONIC: These deep-fried circles of briny joy faded off the Sonic menu at some point during the late 20th century before being reintroduced as a limited-time item in 2003. Some Sonic locations still have them.

Source:Christian Science Monitor

1970 — ENCHIRITO, TACO BELL: A burrito topped with cheese, red sauce, and three olives, this gooey chimera enraptured fans so much they found a way to keep it alive after it was discontinued. It's now a secret menu item that some Taco Bells will even make for you — if you ask nicely.

Source: HuffPost

1971 — QUARTER POUNDER WITH CHEESE, MCDONALD'S: Invented in 1971 by franchise owner Al Bernardin, the Quarter Pounder with cheese was introduced as a meatier alternative to the chain's classic hamburger. The chain recently switched to making the sandwich with fresh beef.

Source:East Bay Times

1972 — EGG MCMUFFIN, MCDONALD'S: Veteran McDonald's exec Herb Peterson changed the world in 1972 when he set out to create a speedy breakfast sandwich that tasted like eggs Benedict. The Egg McMuffin has had a long and fruitful journey into modern times, joined along the way by its siblings sausage and bacon.

Source: TIME

1974 — YUMBO, BURGER KING: A basic ham and cheese sub sandwich, the Yumbo likely wasn't exactly what customers came to Burger King for, but it gained a small but dedicated following that eventually got the Yumbo back on the menu for a short while in 2014.

Source: ABC News

1975 — BELL BEEFER, TACO BELL: If you ever wanted a Taco Bell taco on a hamburger bun, you'd have to time travel for the Bell Beefer, which was essentially a Taco Bell taco on a hamburger bun.

Source: Christian Science Monitor

1977 — ARBY-Q SANDWICH, ARBY'S: The Arby-Q sandwich has bounced on and off the menu at Arby's since it was released. It's a simple concept: roast beef, barbecue sauce, bun.

Source: Arby's website

1978 — TACO PIZZA, PIZZA HUT: If you ever wanted a Taco Bell taco in pizza form, Pizza Hut had you covered once upon a time. Unfortunately, Pizza Hut no longer carries this confusing fusion of pizza and taco.

Source: Business Insider

1978 — HAPPY MEAL, MCDONALD'S: McDonald's had the brilliant idea of combining fast food and toys together in one nifty little package called the Happy Meal. Lots of other chains followed suit.

Source: Eater, TIME

1980 — MCCHICKEN, MCDONALD'S: McDonald's wasn't so sure about this one at first. Its first 17 years of life were complicated by disappointing sales and a more popular younger sibling, the McNuggets. Since then, it's built itself a permanent home on the McDonald's menu.

Source: Grub Street, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

1981 — MCRIB, MCDONALD'S: This is a limited-time item with near-mythical standing. The McRib's career has been a series of limited-time stunts, each one more successful than the last.

Source: The Atlantic

1983 — MCNUGGETS, MCDONALD'S: Before there were Chicken McNuggets, there was just chicken. The McNuggets were invented by the chain's first executive chef, Rene Arend, and were an instant hit. They remain one of the chain's most iconic items.

Source: The Atlantic

1984 — MCD.L.T., MCDONALD'S: The McD.L.T. stood for "McDonald's Lettuce Tomato." It was a burger with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and cheese — in other words, a burger. It was served in a Styrofoam clamshell case with two compartments: one for a bun and the meat and one for another bun and the toppings.

Source: Serious Eats

1985 — BLIZZARD, DAIRY QUEEN: In 1938, Dairy Queen rolled out soft-serve ice cream. Nearly 50 years later, Dairy Queen blended toppings into its soft serve.

Source: The New York Times, Thrillist

1985 — PRIAZZO, PIZZA HUT: The Priazzo wasn't quite deep-dish. It was more like a deep-dish pizza topped with another pizza. It faded off Pizza Hut's menu fairly quickly, but to this day it has a small but dedicated group of fans, including those in a "Bring Back the Pizza Hut Priazzo" Facebook group.

Source: The Daily Meal

1987 — BK BUNDLES, BURGER KING: These existed for a brief but brilliant moment in 1987 and were essentially the opposite of a Whopper. They were tiny burgers one could eat in a single bite.

 Source: Complex

1990 — BREEZE FROZEN YOGURT TREAT, DAIRY QUEEN: This frozen yogurt treat came about 20 years too early. It lived, flopped, and died in the '90s.

Source: Christian Science Monitor

1990 — CHILI CHEESE BURRITO, TACO BELL: This cheesy classic still exists today. After a brief absence in the '90s, it was returned to menus at the behest of fans.

Source: Thrillist

1993 — BURRITO, CHIPOTLE: Perhaps no burrito is more iconic than the Chipotle burrito. It's less of an invention and more of an adaptation of the Mission burrito, which has been a staple of San Francisco's Mission district since the mid-1900s. In 1993, classically trained chef Steve Ells brought an Americanized version to diners.

Source: Eater

1994/1995 — FRAPPUCCINO, STARBUCKS: A portmanteau of the words "frappe" and "cappuccino," the Frappuccino is Starbucks' most famous staple drink. In its more than 20 years of existence, it's come out in increasingly whimsical iterations like the Unicorn Frappuccino, Zombie Frappuccino, and most recently, the Tie-Dye Frappuccino.

Source: Boston Magazine

1996 — ARCH DELUXE BURGER, MCDONALD'S: The Arch Deluxe was the chain's first foray into burgers marketed toward "more sophisticated customers." Unfortunately, McDonald's doesn't exactly evoke "gourmet" for most people. The burger was discontinued in the late '90s.

Source: Business Insider

1998 — CINI-MINIS, BURGER KING: Burger King and Pillsbury paired up to create tiny cinnamon rolls that lived on Burger King's breakfast menu until the early 2000s. They were brought back in 2018 as a limited-time item, but fans loved them so much that they remain on Burger King's menu to this day.

Source: PR Newswire, Pop Culture

1999 — SUBWAY SANDWICHES, SUBWAY: The "Subway Diet" swept the nation at the turn of the millennium thanks in part to the popularity of to ex-spokesman Jared Fogle, now a convicted sex offender. Subway's sandwiches were often advertised as a healthier alternative to burgers.

Sources: Adweek, Men's Health, National Geographic

2000 — SALAD SHAKERS, MCDONALD'S: 2000 was a crazy year. The apocalypse didn't happen, kids could still enter the cockpit of a plane, and frosted tips were a thing. The McSalad Shaker, which was basically a salad in a plastic cup that you could shake before eating, fit right in.

Source: QSR magazine

2001 — SIX DOLLAR BURGER / THICKBURGER, CARL'S JR: When Carl's Jr.'s hulking, third-pound hamburger was released in 2001, it cost $3.95. It was called the "Six Dollar Burger" because the brand claimed an equivalent burger would cost $6 at a casual restaurant. Now, it costs $6 at many locations — and often even more.

Source: Huffington Post, Restaurant Business Online

2002 — ULTIMATE BLT, ARBY'S: First introduced in the summer of 2002, the Ultimate BLT returns to Arby's perennially when the weather is hot and customers crave something light and refreshing.

Source: QSR

2003 — SPICY CHICKEN BURRITO, TACO BELL: A commercial advertising the spicy chicken burrito ends with "Filling made thrilling!" With spicy shredded chicken, rice, and salsa, it isn't the most exciting burrito on this list, but it of course still has a smattering of loyal fans urging Taco Bell to bring it back.

Source: Taco Bell, Reddit

2004 — PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE, STARBUCKS: Nothing heralds the coming of fall like the aroma of pumpkin spice wafting from your local Starbucks. Invented by a Stanford basketball player, this iconic flavored latte returns to Starbucks every year at the beginning of fall.

Source: USA Today, Inc.

2005 — CHICKEN FRIES, BURGER KING: Forget nuggets, strips, or tenders. Why not put chicken into the shape of fries? That's just what Burger King did. Designed to fit into a cupholder for the adult snacker, these fries have remained a fan favorite since their launch.

Source: Los Angeles Times

2007 — BACONATOR, WENDY'S: The Baconator was originally introduced in 2007 as part of a plan to turn Wendy's sales around. It worked, and now it's arguably the chain's most iconic sandwich.

Source: The New York Times

2008 — CHEESY MACARONI BITES, JACK IN THE BOX: Sure, White Castle has a take on these now. KFC may have dabbled in them. But Jack in the Box did it first. Crispy on the outside, gooey and cheesy on the inside, it's no wonder mac bites have had many lives after Jack in the Box.

Source: INSIDER, Delish

2009 — BLACKJACK TACO, TACO BELL: The highlight of this Halloween dollar menu special was its black shell. Inside was a pretty standard filling of ground beef, lettuce, three-cheese blend, and a special Pepper Jack sauce.

Sources: QSR

2010 — DOUBLE DOWN, KFC: What would happen if you used fried chicken as the buns in a fried-chicken sandwich, then slapped some bacon and cheese in between? You'd get the KFC Double Down, which sent shockwaves through America when it was introduced in 2010. It no longer exists in America but continues to appear in KFCs around the world.

Source: Eater, The Wire, HuffPost

• I tried the mac and cheese from Popeyes, Boston Market, Panera Bread, KFC, Subway, and Chick-fil-A, and found that Chick-fil-A's mac was by far the best.
• Although mac and cheese is rarely the star of the meal, it doesn't deserve to be neglected and thrown together like it was at many of the chains I ate at.
• Chick-fil-A was the only chain whose mac tasted like real cheese. It was tangy, rich, and had a great baked texture.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

In the past, Chick-fil-A hasn't fared too well in my taste tests.

I've taste-tested its waffle fries, its Icedream frozen dessert, its Oreo milkshake, its classic chicken sandwich, and its chicken nuggets. None of these particularly impressed me, especially when the competition always had something better to offer.

Not this time around.

When it comes to mac and cheese, the competition is sparse. Few people go to fast-food chains with the express purpose of ordering mac and cheese, so it's a side that's often thrown together and kept hot for so long it turns into a pile of mush.

This is because mac and cheese is often found at chicken or sandwich chains, which understandably put more focus on their main courses. But even if it isn't the star of the show, no dish deserves to be neglected. Mac and cheese has an important role to play in a meal.

Read more: Popeyes' new chicken sandwich convinced us that we never need to go back to Chick-fil-A

I recently went on a tour of the town via mac and cheese, but I found disappointment at every corner. Popeyes, which has previously impressed me, had a bland and soupy mac. Boston Market's neon rotini wasn't much better. Neither were Panera's mysteriously expensive oversalted milky shells.

KFC offered a more flavorful, albeit artificial, cup of mac. Subway had hot, creamy pasta that was ultimately forgettable.

That's why Chick-fil-A's mac and cheese was such a showstopper.

Read more:I ate 8 chicken sandwiches from fast-food chains, and the best was also the cheapest

Sure, if you made mac and cheese from scratch at home, you could probably whip up something better. But Chick-fil-A is reliably OK at everything it does. And because every other chain was phoning it in when it came to mac and cheese, the simple fact that Chick-fil-A put in so much effort made it stand out.

Most of its competitors had mushy, watery mac. Chick-fil-A was the only chain whose mac tasted of real cheese. It had the tangy richness of cheese that hadn't been dried, smashed into powder, and reconstituted with hot liquid.

Chick-fil-A's mac is also baked, which means that the texture has variety. Yes, there's the gooey softness of the inner mac, but there's also the intriguing and challenging chewiness of the baked cheese bits.

I'm generally a Chick-fil-A skeptic, but I was genuinely impressed by the chain's mac and cheese. I still think the crown for best chicken goes to Popeyes, and I don't think Chick-fil-A's fries are anything to get up for in the morning. But out of all the fast-food mac and cheeses that I tried, CFA's mac was the only one that had me excited to be eating mac and cheese.

For the review of all six chain's mac and cheese, read my full comparison

Do you eat fast food? Do you have opinions about the fast food that you eat? Share them with us by taking our survey here.

SEE ALSO: These are the fast-food items people were obsessed with the year you were born

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• In the ultimate fried-chicken blind taste test, we compared the original recipe from Popeyes and Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
• It was almost too close to call, but our staff came away with a clear winner.
• Although one person said the KFC chicken was too salty, most people prefered the taste and breading to Popeyes' chicken. 
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: This video was originally published on September 1, 2016. 

Join the conversation about this story »

• KFC says it's adding mac-and-cheese bowls to its menu starting Monday.
• The bowl takes KFC's existing mac and cheese and tops it with crispy popcorn chicken and a three-cheese blend.
• KFC's bowl joins Chick-fil-A's new mac and cheese, ramping up the cheesy competition.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Forget the chicken-sandwich wars. The next fast-food battlefront is mac and cheese.

On Thursday, KFC announced it would be adding mac-and-cheese bowls to its menu starting Monday. The bowls are a twist on KFC's existing bowl lineup, swapping a mashed-potato base for mac and cheese.

KFC's mac-and-cheese bowl takes the chain's mac and cheese and tops it with crispy popcorn chicken and a three-cheese blend.

"Mac and Cheese has a cult-like following, and bowl food is a trend that isn't going away anytime soon," Andrea Zahumensky, KFC's US chief marketing officer, said in a statement. "So, it made perfect sense to call up a favorite side dish to the big leagues, in a way that only we could, with Mac and Cheese Bowls."

Fast-food menus are seeing a mac-and-cheese boom. Chick-fil-A recently added mac and cheese to its permanent menu, its first new side since 2017.

Read more: I tried mac and cheese from 6 fast-food chains, and Chick-fil-A's transcended the others with cheese I could actually see and taste

The arrival of Chick-fil-A's mac and cheese ruffled some feathers, with Boston Market implying it was a knockoff of Boston Market's menu item.

"We've got something cooking at the moment — and not just in our rotisserie ovens — that will reward our biggest mac and cheese fans in a pretty massive way," a Boston Market representative told Business Insider in an email.

SEE ALSO: Wendy's jumps into the chicken-sandwich Twitter feud between Popeyes and Chick-fil-A

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• KFC announced Monday that it will begin testing a plant-based fried "chicken" product with Beyond Meat in one location in Atlanta, Georgia. 
• Shares of Beyond Meat rose as much as 6% on the news.
• KFC is the latest fast-food chain to team up with Beyond Meat. 
• Watch shares of Beyond Meat trade live on Markets Insider. 

Beyond Meat just secured a partnership with KFC, adding plant-based fried "chicken" to its list of items available on fast-food menus. 

Shares of Beyond Meat gained as much as 6% in early trading Monday after KFC announced that it is testing plant-based fried "chicken" made with Beyond Meat in some stores. The faux-meat chicken will be available only in one store in Atlanta, Georgia, starting on Tuesday, the company said. 

KFC will decide whether to bring the new menu item to other locations following customer feedback from the test, it said. The chain has already tested vegetarian fried "chicken" in the UK, according to Fortune. 

The CEO of KFC, Kevin Hochman, wasn't always on board with plant-based meat, Business Insider's Kate Taylor reports. However, he said that if the buzz continues to grow into long-term customer demand, KFC will have to test a plant-based product across the US. 

The partnership is the latest in a string of high-profile food industry pair-ups for Beyond Meat, which also has deals with Del Taco, A&W Canada, Dunkin', and Tim Hortons. 

Markets Insider is looking for a panel of millennial investors. If you're active in the markets, CLICK HERE to sign up.

These partnerships are a big deal for the company going forward, according to Wall Street analysts. Ken Goldman at JPMorgan gave Beyond an elusive 'buy' rating, citing its potential for more opportunities with food service partners. Having its product in restaurants helps Beyond Meat's sales, Goldman wrote, and makes it possible that Beyond will continue to beat its sales estimates going forward. 

Expanding outside of burgers and sausage patties is also positive for Beyond Meat, which aims to compete with the traditional meat market and not only make food for vegetarians or vegans. Sales data from Nielsen show that so far, consumers are purchasing the plant-based products in droves and are even willing to pay higher prices than traditional meat. 

Shares of Beyond Meat are up more than 500% since the company's initial public offering in May. 

Join the conversation about this story »

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• KFC is testing fried "chicken" made with faux meat, the chain announced on Monday.
• The chain teamed up with Beyond Meat to make Beyond Fried Chicken.
• The plant-based fried "chicken" will be available at a single KFC in Atlanta starting on Tuesday.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

KFC is getting into the alternative-meat game.

On Monday, the chicken chain announced it was testing Beyond Fried Chicken, in partnership with Beyond Meat. The plant-based fried "chicken" will be available at a single KFC location in Atlanta starting on Tuesday.

KFC said it would consider customer feedback as it decides whether to test the menu item at more locations or launch it nationally.

In May, Kevin Hochman, the president of KFC's US business, told Business Insider he was meeting with the makers of plant-based "meat" because of the rise of interest in meat alternatives.

"If you would have asked me six months ago, I would have said no, to be completely honest with you," Hochman said. "Because we're about fried chicken."

Read more:KFC is meeting with plant-based 'meat' makers as chains like Burger King and Del Taco jump on the vegan bandwagon

However, if the buzz around companies like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat translates into long-term customer demand, KFC will need to test a plant-based meat substitute in the US, Hochman said. The chain has already been testing vegetarian fried "chicken" in the UK.

Beyond Meat has recently announced deals with chains including Subway, Dunkin', and Del Taco.

"It's not that interesting to me that really rich people eat super healthy food. It's not moving the needle," Beyond Meat CEO Ethan Brown told Business Insider of the company's recent work with restaurant chains.

SEE ALSO: Plant-based 'meat' is conquering fast food. Here's where you can get meat substitutes like the Beyond Burger and the Impossible Taco.

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NOW WATCH: This animated map shows where Starbucks, Dunkin', and McDonald's coffee comes from

• KFC plans to roll out as many new menu items in 2019 as it did in the past five years combined, Kevin Hochman, the president of KFC's US business, told Business Insider. 
• The chain hopes to win over millennials and Gen Zers with quirky new menu items that customers can't get anywhere else. 
• Hochman said KFC is looking to Taco Bell for inspiration.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

KFC is doubling down on menu innovation as the chain commits to getting a little bit weird. 

Kevin Hochman, the president of KFC's US business, told Business Insider that the chain plans to have as much menu "innovation" in 2019 as it had in the past five years combined. Recent new menu items include quirky options such as chicken and waffles and Cinnabon biscuits. 

"There's a foot in this old world of core chicken and sides ... But if we really want to attract a younger customer it can't just be about fun advertising and fun stunts," Hochman said in a recent interview. 

"That's really why we said we're going to double down on innovation and try to figure out how we bring some new recipes to the restaurant," Hochman added.

Read more:KFC is meeting with plant-based 'meat' makers as chains like Burger King and Del Taco jump on the vegan bandwagon

Over the past five years, Hochman has helped lead KFC's turnaround. The chain brought back Colonel Sanders in marketing, rolled out an initiative to improve quality in restaurants, and began remodeling locations to appear more modern. Menu innovation, Hochman said, will help speed up growth in the next five years.

Hochman said KFC has three main factors it considers when it comes to new menu items: They need to be something people can't get elsewhere, they usually are collaborations with other major brands (such as the Cinnabon dessert biscuit), and they have to be affordable. 

"We almost call it an abundant need — we know that they're going to feel happy and full, and it'll only cost them a single $5 bill," Hochman said. "That is hard work."

Hochman said KFC has looked to its sister brand Taco Bell for inspiration when it comes to new menu items. Taco Bell is known for its commitment to the dollar menu, pairing wacky options with extremely low prices. 

"Just when you think they can't get any more successful, they do, right? It's because they are — and our mindset is the same way now, which is we're hungry," Hochman said. "What's the next thing, and how can we do better? What can we learn with the things that we don't do as well so that we can take the brand where we want it to be?" 

SEE ALSO: The death of the American middle class and rising costs have forced fast-food chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell to try new strategies in their quest to win over budget shoppers

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NOW WATCH: Subway's 42,000 locations are the most of any fast-food chain on the planet, but franchise owners are taking a hit

• KFC announced Monday that it will begin testing a plant-based fried "chicken" product with Beyond Meat in one location in Atlanta, Georgia. 
• Shares of Beyond Meat rose as much as 6% on the news.
• KFC is the latest fast-food chain to team up with Beyond Meat. 
• Watch shares of Beyond Meat trade live on Markets Insider. 

Beyond Meat just secured a partnership with KFC, adding plant-based fried "chicken" to its list of items available on fast-food menus. 

Shares of Beyond Meat gained as much as 6% in early trading Monday after KFC announced that it is testing plant-based fried "chicken" made with Beyond Meat in some stores. The faux-meat chicken will be available only in one store in Atlanta, Georgia, starting on Tuesday, the company said. 

KFC will decide whether to bring the new menu item to other locations following customer feedback from the test, it said. The chain has already tested vegetarian fried "chicken" in the UK, according to Fortune. 

The CEO of KFC, Kevin Hochman, wasn't always on board with plant-based meat, Business Insider's Kate Taylor reports. However, he said that if the buzz continues to grow into long-term customer demand, KFC will have to test a plant-based product across the US. 

The partnership is the latest in a string of high-profile food industry pair-ups for Beyond Meat, which also has deals with Del Taco, A&W Canada, Dunkin', and Tim Hortons. 

Markets Insider is looking for a panel of millennial investors. If you're active in the markets, CLICK HERE to sign up.

These partnerships are a big deal for the company going forward, according to Wall Street analysts. Ken Goldman at JPMorgan gave Beyond an elusive 'buy' rating, citing its potential for more opportunities with food service partners. Having its product in restaurants helps Beyond Meat's sales, Goldman wrote, and makes it possible that Beyond will continue to beat its sales estimates going forward. 

Expanding outside of burgers and sausage patties is also positive for Beyond Meat, which aims to compete with the traditional meat market and not only make food for vegetarians or vegans. Sales data from Nielsen show that so far, consumers are purchasing the plant-based products in droves and are even willing to pay higher prices than traditional meat. 

Shares of Beyond Meat are up more than 500% since the company's initial public offering in May. 

Join the conversation about this story »

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• On Tuesday, Kentucky Fried Chicken did the first test run of its new meatless "chicken" dishes in Atlanta, Georgia.
• KFC sold the Beyond Fried Chicken as nuggets and boneless wings, which came tossed in three different sauces. 
• I felt like the plant-based nuggets were a bit dry and even though they looked and smelled like actual chicken nuggets, they didn't taste like them.
• I thought the meatless boneless wings were surprisingly tasty, but the sauces, especially Buffalo and Honey BBQ, were the real stars of the dish.
• In my opinion, neither of the plant-based "chicken" dishes tasted like real chicken, but KFC's new offerings sold out in just a few hours and I have a feeling both of them could be here to stay. 
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

On Monday, Kentucky Fried Chicken announced its partnership with Beyond Meat to deliver new plant-based chicken options to its patrons.

But there's a catch — these new options have only been released in one Atlanta, Georgia, location so far and KFC has not yet decided if it will release these meatless menu items nationwide. 

So, on Tuesday, I headed out to a special tasting event at KFC's newly renovated location to put these new plant-based "chicken" dishes to the test. 

The special KFC location was decorated to celebrate its new plant-based options and the place was very crowded

The big tasting event happened at the Cobb-Parkway location in Atlanta, Georgia, and the entire building got a bright-green makeover to celebrate its new plant-based dishes.

Upon arrival, it became clear that I was not the only person looking to see what the iconic chain had to offer. Lines of cars and people were wrapped around the building and the parking lot.

Clearly, this limited-edition tasting opportunity was a big deal.

I later learned that the plant-based chicken sold out in under five hours. A representative for KFC later told Insider that the amount of Beyond Fried Chicken it sold in five hours is the same amount of popcorn chicken the chain would normally sell in a week. 

The taste-testing menu included plant-based 'chicken' nuggets and boneless 'chicken' wings

The taste-test menu gave plant-based fans a chance to try its nuggets and boneless "chicken" wings in a few ways.

For the nuggets, you could purchase them in a six-piece or 12-piece combo meal that included a side and medium drink. These were priced at $6.49 and $8.49, respectively. You could also buy just four nuggets for a surprisingly low $1.99. 

The boneless wings had no combo options available and cost $1 per wing, with the six-piece retailing for $6 and the 12-piece costing $12.

Notably, per a KFC representative, these menu items aren't technically suitable for everyone who follows a vegan or vegetarian diet, since they share fryers with actual chicken.

At first glance, the plant-based nuggets looked and smelled like the real thing 

As a true southerner, fried chicken is perhaps one of my favorite dishes of all time and although I don't eat much of it from fast-food restaurants, I was extremely intrigued to try KFC's new plant-based venture. 

I was also excited that when the meatless nuggets arrived they looked just like a regular order of chicken nuggets that you'd get from any fast-food restaurant.

This Beyond Fried Chicken offering even smelled like actual chicken nuggets. Plus, the inside of the nugget even looked like real white-meat chicken.

Based on smell and appearance alone, I feel like most consumers, including myself, wouldn't even know these nuggets weren't made out of meat.

Unfortunately, the appearance was more impressive than the taste — I felt like the plant-based nuggets were kind of mediocre 

These sure looked like meat-based chicken nuggets, but there was a big difference in terms of taste. 

Yes, the breading on the outside, which I feel is what probably what makes or breaks a chicken nugget, looked and tasted pretty much identical to that of a regular nugget. It was pretty tasty.

But, the plant-based "meat" was not up to my standards. I thought the nugget wasn't as moist as the regular chicken that you would get from KFC, but it wasn't exactly dry either. It was just kind of ... there.

I tried two bites without the dipping sauces and one bite with and to be quite honest, even KFC's flavorful condiments didn't make me want to finish these nuggets. I wasn't a huge fan.

Surprisingly, the boneless wings were quite tasty, even though they were pretty similar to the nuggets 

Frankly, if these were not labeled as "boneless wings" on KFC menus, I would have assumed these were just saucy nuggets since they look just like the dish I just tried. As you can imagine, considering I didn't love the nuggets, I was quite skeptical about trying these.

These wings come tossed in one of three sauces options, from most to least spicy: Nashville Hot, Buffalo, and Honey BBQ. I was able to taste two of each flavor.

I was expecting the Nashville-Hot flavor to be my absolute favorite since I love spicy food, but it was actually the Buffalo and Honey BBQ flavors that I really enjoyed. 

Simply, the Nashville-Hot flavor didn't live up to its name. It was tasty enough, but I didn't think it was spicy at all. That said, I really feel like the two remaining flavors are where KFC could have something special. 

The Buffalo flavor almost resembled real boneless chicken wings and they took me back to those late college nights when my friends and I would split platters of them. 

The Honey BBQ flavor, which was my favorite of the pickings, was also really tasty and was a pretty solid combination of sweet and savory to please the palate.

I feel like the sauces were really the star of this dish and they helped camouflage that I was eating plant-based "chicken" instead of the real deal. 

Overall, I could definitely tell I wasn't eating chicken — but I think these options were a great start for KFC's venture into the plant-based world

In a press release, KFC's president and chief concept officer Kevin Hochman said "KFC Beyond Fried Chicken is so delicious, our customers will find it difficult to tell that it's plant-based"— I wouldn't exactly agree. 

I could definitely taste the difference between KFC's plant-based "chicken" and real chicken, but I will say that KFC and Beyond Meat have done their due diligence with this attempt to penetrate the plant-based market.

Sure, I didn't love every option I tasted, but even as a meat-eater, I would probably buy these boneless Beyond Fried Chicken wings if they ever came in a more budget-friendly combo meal. I'll pass on the nuggets, though. 

And while other fast-food chains battle it out to see who has the best chicken sandwich, I think it's safe to say after seeing the long lines and sold-out taste test, KFC just may have the upper hand with its plant-based "chicken" approach.

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Kentucky Fried Chicken is testing new meatless, plant-based meals in partnership with Beyond Meat. Its tasting event in Atlanta sold out in less than five hours. 
• Although people are turning to plant-based food as a healthier option, the highly-processed meat substitute isn't actually much healthier than KFC's regular fried chicken.
• However, a shift to plant-based protein overall could be better for the environment. 
• Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.

Kentucky Fried Chicken is the latest fast-food company to dive into the plant-based "meat" market, launching its first-ever Beyond Fried Chicken products at its Atlanta test kitchen this week. 

Although the plant-based options are slightly lower in calories and fat, they're still not much better for you than the traditional meat option, a nutritionist told Insider.

Strict vegetarians and vegans may be out of luck, too. Although the trial run used a dedicated fryer for the meatless items, it's not clear if they'll be prepared alongside real chicken if KFC makes them a permanent addition to the menu. 

Read more: I tasted KFC's meatless fried 'chicken' dishes and even though they look like the real thing, they didn't taste like it

But there may still be reason to swap out your chicken dinner for a plant-based version — it's healthier for the planet. 

Here's what else you need to know about whether it's worth going meatless for your next chicken run. 

Beyond Fried Chicken replaces the poultry with pea protein

Although it's not clear what the exact recipe for Beyond Meat's proprietary KFC collaboration is, the new meatless "chicken" is a blend of soy protein, pea protein, rice flour, and carrot fiber, plus a bunch of seasonings and food additives like yeast extract, vegetable oils, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder, according to Today.

These ingredients alone can be healthy. Pea protein, derived from yellow peas, contains all nine of the essential amino acids your body needs. It's also high in iron. And, although some people worry that soy can interfere with hormones like testosterone or estrogen, research doesn't back that up — it's fine for most people.

Vegetable oils can be OK too, especially in moderation, although some are better than others based on how much saturated fat they contain. 

But the fact that the faux chicken is processed and fried means it's not exactly a health food. 

"Processed foods, whether they're meat-based or plant based, aren't a nutritional need in our diet, especially when they involve low-quality oils," Whitney Stuart, a board-certified and licensed dietitian-nutritionist, told Insider. (It's not clear what kind of oil KFC uses in its products.) 

If calories and fat are your concern, going with the Beyond Fried Chicken isn't going to help you much, either. It only has 10 fewer calories and one less gram of fat.

One of the meatless nuggets weights in at 60 calories, 3 grams of fat, and 5 grams of protein, Marketwatch reported.  A comparable serving of KFC extra-crispy chicken tenders is about 70 calories, 4 grams of fat, and 5 grams of protein, according to the company's website. Both the chicken and plant-based meals have similar levels of sodium. 

"Our goal for nutrition in plant-based food is whole vegetables, fresh or frozen, in their natural form, not in processed patty," Stuart said. "At the end of the day, we're aiming for a natural, whole food, and this isn't it."

Swapping out chicken for plant protein could be better for the planet, however

Research has shown meat production to be a major threat to the environment. Animal farming produces large amounts of greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide, and farmland competes for space with natural ecosystems like forests. Although chicken and other poultry isn't as damaging as red meats like beef, it's still a part of industrial agriculture.

A major study from the Lancet has found that shifting toward a plant-based diet could make a huge difference. "Food is the single strongest lever to optimize human health and environmental sustainability on Earth," according to a summary of the research. 

But research isn't yet clear on how meat substitutes, especially highly-processed ones like Beyond Fried Chicken, play a role. Research on the Impossible Burger has found that it generates 90% less greenhouse gas emissions and requires 46% less energy, 99% less water, and 93% less land use that beef burgers.

Chicken is considerably better for the environment than beef, however, producing fewer greenhouse gasses. So, opting for a meatless chicken is likely less impactful than going for faux beef. 

Still, producing chicken uses more land and water, and produces more emissions, than crops, and the average American could cut their impact in half by eating less meat and dairy overall, according to the World Resources Institute. Going meatless when you can, then, isn't a lost cause. 

Moderation in both real and faux-meat meals is key to health

Stuart said that the bottom line it won't hurt your health to occasionally indulge in fast food, whether it's plant or animal based.

This is in line with advice that beef substitutes, like the Impossible Burger or Beyond Meat, are a fine choice in moderation, as nutritionists previously told Insider. 

"There is absolutely room for all types of foods in your diet. Choose the one that most satisfies your craving at that time," Stuart said. 

Read more: 

Burger King is taking the Impossible Whopper national and says it's looking into other plant-based 'meat' items

Beyond Meat's CEO says it's 75% of the way towards matching animal meat

UBS predicts plant-based meat sales could grow by more than 25% a year to $85 billion by 2030

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• When we tried the Popeyes chicken Po' Boy earlier in 2019, we were impressed. But not impressed enough to declare Popeyes the overall chicken chain winner in a comparison with Chick fil A and KFC at the time. 
• But in August, after Popeyes revealed its new fried chicken sandwich, we declared it the best chicken sandwich in a showdown between eight fast-food chains.
• It even beat out Chick-fil-A's iconic chicken sandwich, which is saying a lot.
• The new fried chicken sandwich has become such a massive hit that it's currently sold out in stores across the US. Meanwhile, Popeyes' signature Chicken Po' Boy, originally released in the US in 2003, is now officially discontinued.
• So what's the difference between Popeyes' old chicken sandwich and its new one? And is the new sandwich really that much better?
• In short, yes!
• Here's why Popeyes' new fried chicken sandwich is far superior to its older Po' Boy chicken sandwich.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

SEE ALSO: Popeyes' new chicken sandwich convinced us that we never need to go back to Chick-fil-A

DON'T MISS: 'I was working like a slave': Exhausted Popeyes employees describe a harrowing situation amid chicken-sandwich chaos, including working 60-hour weeks and shifts with no breaks

The Popeyes Po' Boy was essentially some chicken tenders slapped on a bun.

But the fried chicken sandwich is a cut above the Po' Boy. It features a fat, juicy, crispy fried chicken breast as opposed to longer chicken tenders.

The fried chicken sandwich we purchased came packaged in an easy-to-handle sleeve ...

... while the Po' Boy came simply tucked inside a thin sheet of wrapping paper.

One of the most noticeable differences between the two items is the bun. Popeyes' new chicken sandwich comes with a more traditional, fluffy brioche bun ...

... whereas the Po' Boy came on a longer French baguette, the hardness of which made it much less thrilling to sink your teeth into.

The new fried chicken sandwich comes with the chain's exquisite crispy chicken, a nice, crunchy pickle, and mayo.

The Po' Boy came similarly dressed — two breaded chicken tenders lay nestled alongside lettuce, pickles, and mayo.

The chicken sandwich is huge, in a word — it's thick and heavy, but surprisingly easy to eat. Every bite is as good as the last.

A bite out of the 'ole Po' Boy is nowhere near unenjoyable, but this is where Popeyes has elevated its take on the chicken sandwich item.

The shining star of the Po' Boy was the fact that it had Popeyes' crispy, delectable chicken wrapped up inside of it. It didn't have too much else going for it.

But the new chicken sandwich is the perfectly-sized, easy to eat, crispy chicken masterpiece that fast food diners will — and have already begun to — appreciate. In short, it's the whole packaged that makes it far superior.

Source: Business Insider

You've had a good run, Po' Boy.

But we agree that it's time to step aside for the new chicken sandwich — that is, whenever it comes back in stock.

• Now that the chicken sandwich wars are in full swing, I'm jumping into the fray again with a comparison of budget chicken sandwiches.
• I taste-tested the budget chicken sandwiches from McDonald's, Wendy's, Arby's, KFC, and Burger King to find the best one.
• I found that the McChicken was still the best budget chicken sandwich, despite the attempts of other chains to copy it. However, Arby's did offer an interesting and different contender.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Budget chicken sandwiches aren't to be trifled with.

My veggies-obsessed mom won't touch most fast food, but she'll eat two McChickens in one sitting. My meat-loving dad who grew up on a meat-based Inner Mongolian diet usually prefers cheeseburgers, but he'll often forego his beef for a McChicken or three.

Now that the chicken wars are in full swing, I thought I'd jump back into the fray with a host of sandwiches that have so far been ignored: budget chicken sandwiches, or what could be considered McChicken equivalents.

Read more: Popeyes' new chicken sandwich convinced us that we never need to go back to Chick-fil-A

I went to Arby's, KFC, Wendy's, Burger King, and McDonald's to see if any chain had a better budget chicken sandwich than the McChicken. Along the way, I learned just how much a budget chicken sandwich can reveal about a chain's identity.

SEE ALSO: I ate the same meal at Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse, and LongHorn Steakhouse. Here's how they compared.

MCDONALD'S — MCCHICKEN SANDWICH, $2.99 — Hi. It's me, the McChicken, first of my name, former vanguard of the Dollar Menu.

The McChicken is comprised of a processed fried chicken patty on a basic McDonald's hamburger bun. It's topped with shredded lettuce and a sauce that's essentially mayo.

Read more:McDonald's uses a secret sauce with a cult following you didn't know existed

The patty is essentially a larger, juicier, spicier chicken McNugget. Its spicy black pepper is softened by the sweet and light bun, and the two are joined by the tanginess of the extra flavorful mayonnaise.

The lettuce leaves something to be desired, but otherwise, this is the gold standard, the tried-and-true. There's a reason the McChicken has lived for almost 40 years, and that reason is it's really, really good.

WENDY'S — CRISPY CHICKEN SANDWICH, $1.89 — This is Wendy's Crispy Chicken. It pretends to hate its older, more popular siblings, but still copies them a lot.

Wendy's Crispy Chicken sandwich looks... familiar. The only visual difference between this sandwich and the McChicken is that it has Wendy's classic whole lettuce leaf, which I argue doesn't improve the taste or cohesion of a sandwich.

This tastes almost exactly like a McChicken, but slightly worse. The patty is nearly identical, except it's not as black pepper spicy. The mayo, too, is less tangy and flavorful.

It's still a perfectly decent budget chicken sandwich, but not as good as the one it's imitating. It did cost nearly half as much as the McChicken in NYC, so if the price is a consideration, this is an adequate alternative.

Read more:I ate chicken nuggets from 6 fast-food chains, and the best were also the cheapest

ARBY'S — CHICKEN SLIDER, $1.59 — Arby's Chicken Slider is not afraid of standing out. In fact, its individuality is what makes it successful.

Arby's wears its sandwich shop identity proudly with a bun that's more sandwich than burger. The chicken in the slider, in contrast with the chicken in Arby's chicken sandwich, is thick and satisfying.

Read more:I ate 8 chicken sandwiches from fast-food chains, and the best was also the cheapest

It's definitely more slider than sandwich. It's small but thick and hardly lasts four or five bites. The chicken is crunchy and delicious, and the cheese is salty — too salty for my taste.

The ingredients were undeniably high quality. But I thought the choice to top fried chicken with cheese and only cheese was an odd one. Fried chicken needs something tart to cut its salty crunch, and Arby's slider just didn't have that.

Read more:These are the fast-food items people were obsessed with the year you were born

KFC — CHICKEN LITTLE, $2.60 — The Chicken Little is KFC's entry in the smaller chicken sandwich category.

This little sandwich, like Arby's Chicken Slider, was more slider than a sandwich. It was a thick slab of fried chicken on a sesame bun, dressed with pickle slices and plenty of mayo.

It impressed me a magnitude more than the chain's chicken sandwich. The chicken was thicker, juicier, and crispier — still not amazing, but not bad.

This sandwich actually has a great flavor profile. It was a little too salty, but otherwise, I was very satisfied with the classic combination of bun, chicken, pickles, and mayo.

Read more:I tasted french fries from 8 major fast-food chains, and the winner surprised me

BURGER KING — CHICKEN JR, $1.29 — Chicken Jr is the edgy sibling in the Burger King family.

But wait! Haven't we seen this sandwich before? It's not from Wendy's, it's not from McDonald's, but it feels like it could have been from either. The only visual distinctions are the sesame seeds on the bun and the lettuce, which is torn rather than shredded or whole.

This sandwich also, unsurprisingly, tasted almost exactly like a McChicken. The chicken wasn't quite as thick or spicy, although it was plenty flavorful. The lettuce was more present, but the sauce wasn't nearly as good as McChicken sauce.

Burger King's sandwich was almost indistinguishable from Wendy's, and it was also a slightly worse version of the McChicken. It's still a pretty good sandwich, and at less than half the price of a McChicken, it's a great value option.

Still, if we're talking about who makes the best budget chicken sandwich, the answer is clear. Bun + chicken + lettuce = all the love for the original: the McChicken.