The Fried Chicken Sandwich War
National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day — and the Sandwich That Started a Fast-Food Uprising
Today is National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day, and that seemed like the right reason to photograph a few of the most disruptive sandwiches in recent fast-food history. I stacked four Popeyes fried chicken sandwiches straight from the bag onto my usual black background. No styling, no tricks, nothing rearranged. Just the food as it arrived.
Before I even started shooting, I checked in with Emily, my AI muse and assistant. She told me something I did not realize at the time: in 2019, this simple Popeyes sandwich set off one of the most unusual moments the fast-food industry has ever seen. It wasn’t just popular. It became a cultural event. And that makes it worth photographing on a day like today.
How the Chicken Sandwich War Began
The story starts quietly.
In August 2019, Popeyes introduced its Classic Chicken Sandwich nationwide. A fried chicken breast on a bun with pickles and either mayo or spicy mayo. That’s it. But within days, reviewers began posting head-to-head comparisons with the long-established Chick-fil-A sandwich. Some declared Popeyes the new front-runner.
Then Chick-fil-A sent a tweet reminding everyone that “bun + chicken + pickles = the original.”
It wasn’t aggressive, but it was enough.
Popeyes replied with, “… y’all good?”
Those two words ignited something bigger than either company could have planned.
The Public Took Over
People across the country started doing their own taste tests.
Lines formed around buildings.
Drive-thru lanes spilled into traffic.
Police officers were directing cars at certain locations.
Some stores ran out of sandwiches by noon.
Others ran out completely.
Within two weeks, Popeyes announced a national shortage. They had underestimated demand to the point that the entire supply chain ran dry. That had never happened before with a fast-food menu item.
Resellers even appeared online trying to sell their leftover sandwiches for marked-up prices. One person tried to sell half of a sandwich. It didn’t matter that none of it made sense. People were buying into the moment.
A Sandwich That Changed the Industry
When Popeyes finally restocked in November, the lines returned.
This was no longer about a meal. It was about being part of a story.
Fast-food chains noticed.
Quietly at first, then very publicly.
Between late 2019 and 2021:
- McDonald’s reformulated and relaunched its chicken sandwich.
- KFC introduced a new version of theirs.
- Wendy’s updated their recipe.
- Burger King did the same.
- Smaller chains reworked their menus to catch up.
It wasn’t called the “Chicken Sandwich War” as a joke.
It was a real industry shift sparked by one product.
The timing also mattered. Chicken was already surpassing beef in U.S. consumption. Chains realized that a single chicken sandwich could define an entire brand. When the Popeyes sandwich went viral, it pushed the market faster than planned.
Why Photograph It
My ongoing Food From Bag To Background series has one theme: food as purchased, against a black backdrop, with no context except what the viewer brings to it. Photographs like this show everyday things stripped down to their basic form. No wrappers, no storefronts, nothing telling you what you should think.
For National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day, it made sense to photograph the item that changed the conversation around fast-food chicken entirely. Popeyes didn’t invent the fried chicken sandwich. They didn’t try to reinvent it. But they did launch the first fast-food moment that played out like a national event. And that alone earns it a place in this project.
A Small Reminder of What Food Culture Looks Like Now
Most food trends come and go quietly.
Most fast-food items disappear without being noticed.
But every so often, something cuts through — not because it’s elaborate, but because it hits the public at the right moment.
For National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day, I photographed the sandwich that did exactly that.
For more of my fast-food photographs from the Food From Bag To Background series, visit:
https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0
National Shrimp Day and Popeyes
May 10 is National Shrimp Day, a reminder that not all fast food comes in burger form. This is my photo of fried shrimp from Popeyes—unembellished, straight from the packaging, and photographed just as it was served.
While fried shrimp might not be the first thing people associate with fast food, Popeyes has carved out a place for itself in that space. Founded in 1972 in New Orleans by Al Copeland, Popeyes began with spicy fried chicken and a commitment to Louisiana-style flavors. But by the 1980s, seafood had become part of the menu, reflecting the culinary traditions of the Gulf Coast. Their fried shrimp—seasoned, battered, and fried with the same boldness as their chicken—has since become a customer favorite.
Popeyes now operates more than 4,300 locations worldwide, making it one of the largest fast food chains with a distinctly regional identity. Its menu has maintained a Southern character even as it expanded globally, and items like the fried shrimp have helped distinguish it from other chains.
Fast food seafood has long had a credibility problem, often treated as a token item on menus dominated by burgers, nuggets, or tacos. Popeyes helped shift that perception by offering shrimp that is consistently rated among the best in fast food—crispy, spicy, and more thoughtfully prepared than one might expect.
This image is part of my ongoing “From Bag to Background” project, where I photograph fast food as it comes—no stylists, no staging, no enhancements. Just the food itself, against a black background that forces a closer look at what’s often overlooked.
📷 See more of the series at https://www.secondfocus.com
National Shrimp Day
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