The burger chain’s extensive, costly rebranding encompasses this latest 2022 version, which has implemented some adjustments and is part of a newly introduced menu item by Burger King this week: the Italian Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich. BK’s fresh “flavorful” buns encase a slice of mozzarella and a portion of marinara sauce, effectively creating a chicken parmigiana sandwich. Burger King initially introduced a chicken parmesan sandwich as early as 1979, and after a break of seven years in the 2010s, the fast food franchise reintroduced its Original Italian Chicken Sandwich in 2021. As previously reported by The Takeout, a chicken parmesan sandwich is not a novelty for Burger King.
“Yum” and “yikes” are two words that perfectly capture the essence of conversation. While the Parmesan Veal Sandwich is also a delicious option, the Chicken Italian Sandwich has been a favorite since the late ’70s. Burger King has always experimented with Italian-inspired dishes, and the creation of Parmesan chicken is a beautiful testament to the classic Italian cuisine. As an Italian-American, there are few things that bring me as much happiness as enjoying a plate of Parmesan chicken.
Burger King is making a very hard effort to figure out its chicken-based menu for 2022. The brand has axed the short-lived line of Ch’King chicken sandwiches, which have now been transformed into a similarly diverse array of sandwiches like the BBQ, Swiss & Bacon, and Italian among its compatriots.
I want more marinara. However, the sauce and cheese were a bit lacking. Unlike other chicken sandwiches, the patty inside is not a messy ground-up piece of white chicken meat. King’s Burger does not offer a decent Parm chicken on the market, right? (When will a fast food chain decide to go to the corner of the market?) I am always in the mood for a Parm chicken because I mostly wanted to try the new sandwich.
I immediately reverted back to liking the chicken sandwich pretty much after detecting a hint of marinara in the BK Menu. My brain lit up momentarily when I bit into the sandwich and it turned into a bit of Italian. But this isn’t a bad thing after all, the toppings don’t make the chicken seem bad. I must say that all the pomp separating these two sandwiches for comparison is more alike than they should be, and I also bought a standard BK chicken sandwich for the sake of comparison.
Excellent, not good. The necessary impact to fully deliver just doesn’t come through in this sandwich. I absolutely adore the King Burger, with a piece of chicken drowned in marinara sauce that is not dabbed politely but rather generously. However, it doesn’t quite satisfy that persistent craving for something very long-lasting. I can vaguely sense that something needs a quick fix when I see this sandwich, reminding me of Parmesan. Surprisingly limited (considering the quality of Italian food) in Los Angeles where I live, this sandwich is a gorgeous monstrosity that perfectly captures the cheesy and salty essence of the classic Parmesan chicken. Should I not be prepared for judgment on this half-hearted attempt?