Hey there, foodies! If you’ve been wandering around your local Burger King lately, you might’ve spotted their “Mexican” Original Chicken Sandwich on the menu and wondered what exactly makes this sandwich “Mexican” Well, I’ve done the taste-testing for you, and I’m here to break down everything about this international menu addition that’s got people talking – mostly about how un-Mexican it actually is!
The Quick Answer
If you’re in a hurry, here’s what’s on Burger King’s Mexican Original Chicken Sandwich:
- A long chicken patty (not a breast fillet)
- Ghost pepper cheese (that’s surprisingly not very spicy)
- Crispy-fried jalapeños
- Standard sesame seed bun
That’s it! No special spices no Mexican-inspired sauces no nothing else that would make this remotely “Mexican” in any authentic way.
My First Impressions
When I first ordered the Mexican Original Chicken Sandwich at my local BK, it came wrapped in regular sandwich paper with “Mexican” handwritten in marker over “Original Chicken.” This already felt like a bad sign – like the “Mexican” part was literally an afterthought!
The sandwich is part of Burger King’s new “international” sandwich trio, which weirdly includes an American version (um, isn’t Burger King already American?). The other international option is Italian. But I was most curious about the Mexican version because, well, ghost pepper cheese and jalapeños sounded promising!
Breaking Down Each Component
The Chicken
Let’s start with the base of any chicken sandwich – the chicken itself! The Mexican Original Chicken Sandwich uses the same elongated chicken patty that’s in other Original Chicken Sandwiches at Burger King. It’s not a breast fillet but a formed patty.
The chicken itself is… fine? It tastes okay, but there’s nothing special about it. I was hoping maybe they’d add some Mexican-inspired spices to the breading, but nope! It’s the same chicken patty they use in their other sandwiches.
The Ghost Pepper Cheese
Now this is where things should get interesting! Ghost peppers are known for being extremely hot, so I was a bit nervous about trying this. As someone who finds McDonald’s Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich too spicy (yeah, I’m a bit of a wimp with heat), I was preparing myself for a mouth-burning experience.
But guess what? The ghost pepper cheese was shockingly mild! It had a slight kick but nothing that would make you reach for water. In fact it was weirdly tangy in a way that I’ve never experienced with any queso before. The texture reminded me of Tostitos Nacho Cheese Dip, which isn’t exactly a gourmet comparison.
The Jalapeños
The crispy-fried jalapeños were piled on generously, I’ll give them that. They added a nice crunch and a bit of heat, but again, nothing that would satisfy someone who really loves spicy food. They were fine, but they didn’t elevate this sandwich to anything special.
The Bun
The sesame seed bun was actually pretty good! It was fresh and held everything together well. No complaints here, but also nothing that makes it “Mexican” in any way.
Is It Actually Mexican?
I mean… no. Not even close. As the original reviewer so perfectly put it, “This sandwich is about as Mexican as I am. Which is to say, not Mexican at all.”
Even Taco Bell, which is widely acknowledged as not being authentic Mexican food, feels more Mexican-inspired than this sandwich! There’s nothing in the flavor profile that would remind you of Mexican cuisine – no cumin, no cilantro, no special spices or sauces.
If you’re craving Mexican food and decide to get this sandwich instead, you’re gonna be REALLY disappointed. It wouldn’t even satisfy a Taco Bell craving, let alone an actual Mexican food craving.
How Does It Compare to Other BK Sandwiches?
The Mexican Original Chicken Sandwich is part of BK’s international lineup, which includes:
- Mexican Original Chicken Sandwich (new)
- Italian Original Chicken Sandwich (similar to the Italian Royal Crispy Chicken already on menu)
- American Original Chicken Sandwich (basically just their regular sandwich)
What’s weird is that the American and Italian sandwiches are just slightly different versions of sandwiches already on the Burger King menu. The Mexican one is completely new, but also completely underwhelming in terms of delivering on its theme.
Who Might Actually Enjoy This Sandwich?
Despite all my criticisms, the sandwich isn’t terrible. It’s just misnamed and misleading. You might enjoy this sandwich if:
- You want a mild, slightly tangy chicken sandwich with a bit of crunch
- You like the idea of jalapeños but don’t actually want much spice
- You’re already a fan of BK’s Original Chicken Sandwich and want a slight variation
You should avoid this sandwich if:
- You’re actually craving Mexican flavors
- You want something authentically spicy
- You’re expecting anything remotely resembling Mexican cuisine
The Price and Availability
The Mexican Original Chicken Sandwich is part of Burger King’s nationwide rollout of these international sandwiches. Prices may vary by location, but it’s generally priced similar to other specialty sandwiches at BK.
I haven’t seen any special promotions for these sandwiches specifically, but Burger King often runs deals through their app, so it might be worth checking there if you’re determined to try this sandwich despite my warnings!
My Honest Opinion
Look, I’m not gonna lie to you – this sandwich is a bit of a letdown if you’re expecting anything with authentic Mexican flavors. It feels like Burger King just threw some jalapeños and a cheese they’re calling “ghost pepper” on their standard chicken sandwich and called it a day.
The sandwich itself isn’t bad – it’s just… fine. It’s an okay fast food chicken sandwich with cheese and jalapeños. If that’s what you’re in the mood for, you probably won’t be disappointed. But if you’re craving Mexican food, you’d be better off going literally anywhere else.
What Burger King Could Have Done Better
If Burger King really wanted to make a Mexican-inspired chicken sandwich, they had so many better options! They could have:
- Added some actual Mexican spices to the chicken breading
- Used a proper queso with authentic flavors
- Included some guacamole or avocado
- Added pico de gallo or salsa
- Used a different type of bread like a torta roll
- Included some Mexican-inspired sauce with actual heat and flavor
Any of these would have made the sandwich feel more genuinely Mexican-inspired rather than just slapping the word “Mexican” on the wrapper.
The Bottom Line
The Mexican Original Chicken Sandwich from Burger King is a cheesy jalapeño chicken sandwich that’s perfectly edible but has absolutely nothing to do with Mexican cuisine. If you go in with the right expectations (i.e., expecting a mild chicken sandwich with jalapeños), you’ll be fine. But if you’re hoping for authentic Mexican flavors, keep on driving.
Some Alternatives If You’re Actually Craving Mexican Flavors
If this review has you craving actual Mexican-inspired fast food, here are some better options:
- Taco Bell (still not authentic, but at least uses Mexican-inspired flavors)
- Chipotle or Qdoba for fast-casual Mexican-inspired food
- Del Taco for Mexican-American fast food
- Or better yet, find a local authentic Mexican restaurant!
Final Thoughts
I’m really not sure what Burger King was thinking with this sandwich. It feels like they just needed a third “international” option to round out their menu and decided Mexican would sell well, but then didn’t put any effort into making it actually feel Mexican.
The sandwich itself isn’t terrible – it’s just misleading. If they had called it a “Jalapeño Cheese Chicken Sandwich” instead, I probably wouldn’t be so disappointed! But when you promise Mexican flavors and deliver none, that’s a recipe for disappointment.
So there you have it – everything you need to know about what’s on (and what’s not on) the Mexican Original Chicken Sandwich at Burger King. If you decide to try it anyway, adjust your expectations accordingly!
Have you tried this sandwich? What did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
P.S. Just remember – if an employee at your local BK has to write “Mexican” on the wrapper with a marker, that’s probably telling you everything you need to know about how “Mexican” this sandwich really is!
New toppings, same sandwich
Take, for example, Wendys Italian Mozzarella Chicken sandwich, which is still currently on the menu nationwide. While the thing is decked out with a fried mozzarella patty, a slice of mozzarella, and marinara, its all on top of the same fried chicken breasts that form the core of its basic Original Chicken Sandwich. Its almost like the poultrys hiding out among all those accessories.
Burger King debuted its own Italian Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich within weeks of Wendys release; this offering had a similar build to Wendys, sans the unique mozzarella patty. Without the extra pizzaz of the fried cheese layer, it fell pretty flat.
Notably, Popeyes—the sandwich purveyor that kicked off the whole sandwich battle in the first place—seems to be pushing the boundaries of the chicken sandwich in a different way. Rather than slather a bunch of stuff atop its existing chicken fillets, the chain has debuted the Blackened Chicken Sandwich, which is heavily seasoned and not breaded at all. Flavor is being concentrated in the poultry, rather than everything that surrounds it.
The chicken sandwich is getting its 2023 makeover.
Remember the good old days when fast food menus everywhere were getting pelted with chicken sandwiches? We struggled to keep up with all the new offerings, conducting many taste tests, and at the end of 2021, we concluded wed like to see fewer of them hit the market in 2022. However, its now 2023, and if youve noticed, theres been no end in sight to the chicken sandwich parade. But weve noticed a new microtrend in the chicken sandwich landscape lately: as fast food chains are changing their angle of attack, theyve strayed away from simplicity and started adding more toppings.
Burger King’s *NEW* Mexican Chicken Sandwich Is Surprising!
FAQ
What does Burger King put on their chicken sandwich?
Our Original Chicken Sandwich is made with white meat chicken, lightly breaded and topped with a simple combination of shredded lettuce and creamy mayonnaise on a sesame seed bun.
What sauce is on the Burger King chicken sandwich?
BK’s royal sauce is available on their regular, spicy, and bacon and swiss chicken sandwiches, along with their classic and spicy chicken wraps.