Best Yet! - 5

Tender: Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Springfield, IL

Classification: Upscale

Date: Friday June 28, 2019

This is a very special post!  I was accompanied by my amazing wife, Courtney, along with our fantastic son George!  This was George's first time being part of the tender lifestyle.  I'm pretty sure he fed off of my excitement throughout the meal.  This was my first time entering a Freddy's and I was very suspicious, but my wife had the utmost confidence about their food.  The atmosphere inside was typical of most fast-ish food locations.  Customers seemed happy, workers were doing their best to keep a smile on their face, and after seeing some of the food coming out, I became even more excited.  I was not particularly hungry at the time and regret some of the decisions that follow.

The Order:  After some price shopping on the menu I settled with the kids tender meal ($4.39) and splurged for the cheese fries (+$.60).   More on this bad decision is below.  The dipping sauce, ranch of course, was included. 

The Meal:  I was floored by what I received.  2 tenders that looked amazing, and very unlike any tenders I had ever seen.  The tenders came with the cheese fries in a basket with a fork stabbed into the pile of french fries.  The entire basket looked absolutely phenomenal.  The fries were long, thin, crispy, and hot...what else could you ask for?  The cheese sauce was definitely on the higher end of cheese sauces I have experienced.  The real star of the show though was the tenders, and for that I was thankful.  They were skinnier than I was anticipating, and thoughts they may have been on the dry side crept into my skull before indulging.  However, I could not have been more wrong.  The first part of the bite was awesomely crispy and tasty.  Once into the meat I discovered that it was as tender as could be.  There was no toughness to the meat whatsoever.  The joy that these 2 little tenders pumped into me was spectacular.  The ranch sauce did leave something to be desired. I would put in on the same level as Burger King's ranch.  Nothing to write home about, but can be utilized when necessary. 

What could be improved?  These are some top notch tenders, but they are not perfect.  Although it was delicious, it could have been a bit thicker with more to the actual tender.  The outer layer was also phenomenal, but the coat was a bit inconsistent.  Some bites were great, while others contained little if any crispiness.  My only regret here is not ordering more of these delectable tenders.

Final Score

Overall - 6 strip basket
Outer Layer - 8/10
Chicken - 8.7/10

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Limping Along - 4

Tender: Bumpers Grill, Broomfield, CO

Classification:  Upscale

Date & Time: 4:00PM, Sunday, September 21, 2014

Intro:  I'd like to thank my two VIP guests Courtney and Aaron for accompanying me on this adventure.  The atmosphere inside of Bumpers is strange.  Peanut shells litter the floor, couples find it necessary to suck face at all times, and strange men drinking whiskey sing lullaby's by the juke box.  There are 2 pool tables, a foosball table, Big Buck Hunter, a pinball machine, multiplayer trivia, and an outdoor volleyball court.  Despite all of these amenities, the real vortex of fun is across the street at a joint called Chipper's.

The Order:  The tenders are somewhat tricky to find on the menu, and appear to only be on the junior's menu.  After giving up on the tenders, I was alerted by Courtney that they are on the menu as a dish labeled "Strips 'n Dip.  At a $7.59 price point I was skeptical that would be supported by a pile of french fries, but my waitress assured me fries were included.  As would later be discovered, she didn't know who I was, or why I was at this joint.  

The Meal:  My 6 golden tenders were served with a generous bowl of ranch, which made me smile.  I knew there was plenty of ranch to out last the tenders, which is rare at most places.   What wasn't included were the french fries.  I suddenly found myself smack dab in the middle of every tender enthusiast's biggest dilemma.   Should I wait for the fries, or dig into the tenders?  Waiting meant that my tenders would not be at the peak of their potential.  Digging into them would have meant I wouldn't have any fries to compliment the tenders.  I decided not to wait.  The tenders were much better than I had thought they would be upon entrance to this establishment.  The chicken itself was quite tender, but a bit on the dry side.  What really hurt this tender was the batter.  It was crunchy, and paired perfectly with the dimensions of the poultry cut.  However, something was missing.  I still can't put my finger on what spices should have been used, but the battered lacked a zest I was looking for.  When the fries finally arrived, 3 tenders later, they too left something to be desired.  Most of the fries were cut way to wide and had a soft limp presence.   3 pitchers of Dales Pale Ale weren't enough to disguise the embarrassment the fries bestowed upon this place.

Brickyard BBQ Chicken Tender Score:  

Outer Layer - 5.5/10 

Chicken - 6.7/10

Overall - 3 Strip Basket

Not including french fries a tender entree is unacceptable. Bumpers is a place where one can easily get carried away with the amount of beer on tap and outstanding people watching that takes place.  Perhaps more pitchers of beer would help mask the flaws in the tenders I noted.  If you plan on making an appearance at this joint, I would recommend staying with a liquid diet.  Each of our throats were scorched by the pico de gallo that was served with the made in house tortilla chips.The black and blue burger and Mexican salad that my VIP guests ordered also scored very low in their eyes.

 A Nugget on the McNugget:  The 4 Mcnugget shapes are bone, bell, boot, and ball.

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Progress - 3

Tender: Brickyard BBQ, Burlington, WI

Classification:  Upscale

Date & Time: 8:30 PM, Friday November 22, 2013

Intro:  The Brickyard BBQ isn't known for their tenders.  They specialize in Southern Style BBQ and lesser cuts of meat, primarily focusing on beef.  They do tout their special Root Beer BBQ sauce.

The Order:  I was a bit skeptical of the $5.95 price point.  I was unsure of whether or not ordering the tenders, along with a side of fries, would be enough to satisfy my voracious appetite on this particular evening.  My dinner guest and I were given a complimentary beer. I theorized the restaurant must have figured out who I was and were trying to pad their tender score.  This tactic, though friendly, would certainly not affect my critique of their tenders.

The Meal:  I was served 2 baskets.  One was almost over flowing with french fries and the other was packed full of tenders.  I was stoked!  The first bite, always a clean bite with no sauce, was magnificent.  The chicken was astoundingly tender.  The fries had the perfect depth/width ratio, and were cripy yet soft on the inside.  The root beer BBQ sauce was a bit on the disappointing side.  It was very runny, and I believe they simply added root beer and BBQ sauce to a bottle and shook it up.  The flavor was excellent, but the execution of the sauce was sub-par.  Whatever ranch sauce this place uses is top notch, and I required 2 cups.

Brickyard BBQ Chicken Tender Score:  

Outer Layer - 7.8/10 

Chicken - 9/10

Overall - 5 Strip Basket

This was one of the finer tender moments in my life.  The heaping basket of fries, and numerous tenders had me smiling the entire meal.  The wait staff at this restaurant was excellent, though it did take a while for us to get out bill.  Be prepared to have a stock pile of napkins at your disposal, especially if you decide to try the root beer BBQ sauce.  This tender has a very high tender score, but what hindered its performance was a poor chicken to outer layer ratio.  The chicken was amazing, but i wish there had been more of it in each tender.



 A Nugget on the McNugget:  At the Beijing Olympic games, Usain Bolt ate an estimated 1,000 McNuggets in the 10 days he spent there.

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Saddened by These - 2

Tender: Charcoal Grill Chicken Tender

Classification:  Upscale

Date & Time: 8:30 PM, Thursday November 14, 2013

Intro:  The Charcoal Grill in Burlington, WI is known for decent food.  Figuring that this place would fall into the upscale category, I couldn't stay away from ordering the tenders.  What ensued was pure disappointment.

The Order:  At a $6.99 price point, I knew my supply of tenders would be sufficient.  To go with the tenders I also ordered a side of fries to go along with the the 2 dozen bacon wrapped water chestnuts my crew had coming.  As always, I ordered a side of ranch to accompany the tenders.

The Meal:  The disappointment began as soon as I received my tenders.  Their dark brown color immediately led me to believe they had been over cooked.  The disappointment was encouraged by the fact that my tenders were served on plate by themselves.  The restaurant should certainly have included the tenders in the basket that contained perfectly golden waffle fries.

These were some of the worst tenders I've ever experienced.  Extremely crusty, dry, and flavorless is describing them nicely.  I found myself dipping these tenders very deep into the ranch sauce which ran out after only 3 of my six tenders.  My foul mood prevented me from ordering another side of ranch from the waitress.  I found myself considering revising the scoring system to include 0 tenders.....a thought I never thought I would have.

I found myself chugging through the tenders so that I could finally eat something pleasurable.  Though sick by the time the tenders were gone, I devoured the perfectly golden and crispy french fries.  The real star of the meal was the bacon wrapped water chestnuts.  They were served in a pool of some sort of Asian sauce that was other worldly.

Charcoal Grill Chicken Tender Score:  

Outer Layer - 2/10 

Chicken - 3/10

Overall - 1 Strip Basket

These tenders probably deserve a 0, but 1 tender will hold you over until your water chestnuts arrive.  No one should have to experience these tenders.  The water chestnuts are the go to option on the Charcaol Grill's menu. I would recommend a burger, water chestnuts, wrap, pizza, and even a salad before the tenders.  Even if the restaurant was out of all the other food and all they had was tenders, you would be better off going hungry.


 A Nugget on the McNugget:  At the Beijing olympic games, Usain Bolt ate an estimated 1,000 McNuggets in the 10 days he spent there.

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The Hunt for the World's Best Chicken Tenders - 1 - Gonzo for Go Cup

Tender: KFC Go Cup/KFC Crispy Strip

Classification:  Fast Food

Date & Time: 1:30  PM, October 31, 2013

Intro:  Today I sampled the hottest craze in the Chicken Tender community.  The KFC Go Cup is a cup, split into two semi circles, one side is  filled with 2 KFC Crispy Strips, and the other with a side of wedges.  They offer other Go Cup options, but lets be real, the tender cup is the only true option.  I've had it many times before today's judgment, and in my mind may be best value in chicken tenders today....or so I thought.

The Order:  My visit couldn't have started off worse.  The drive-thru was unusually busy for 1:30.  After waiting for the only other car in line to order, it was my turn.  As I rolled down my window I was welcomed by an onslaught of wind and rain that made ordering a real chore.  After the order was made I was welcomed by a cold uninterested woman.  There was no "Hello," she only mumbled "$2.62"

The Meal:  The crispy strips are the main attraction of the Go Cup. The strips themselves offer an excellent cripsy outside powered by the Colonel and his secret blend of spices. The chicken was steaming, flavorful, and tender.  I recommend eating the KFC crispy strip without any diping sauce.  The tender is usually so good that to dip it in anything would be a mistake.  The only drawback of the Go Cup is the side of wedges.  I'd much rather trade the wedges for an extra tender.

KFC Go Cup Tender Score:  

Outer Layer - 8.1/10 

Chicken - 8.3/10

Overall - 3 Strip Basket

KFC's Go Cup is an excellent option for a quick on the go snack, and $2.62 is a steal for 2 crispy strips and some wedies from KFC.  If  you want to make a meal of it though I suggest purchasing two Go Cups.  Its overall score could have easily been a 4 or 5 strip basket, but the potential for these tenders to sit around a while in a warmer really hampers its ability to shine on a regular basis.  The KFC crispy strip is severely affected by sitting around.  The outside becomes not as crispy and the chicken dries out rapidly.  When they are fresh they can take on any tender from any classification, but its inconsistencies will always make the KFC Crispy Strip just a serviceable chicken tender.


 A Nugget on the McNugget:  In Japan there is no 10 piece McNugget option, but you can get a 9 piece.

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The Hunt For the Worlds Best Chicken Tenders - 0 - The Tender Facts

The Hunt For the World's Best Chicken Tenders - The Tender Facts

This blog has been created to shed light on an often under appreciated American hero....the Chicken Tender. The goal is to provide an unbiased and fair assessment of the local chicken tender fare.  By following this blog readers will gain an understanding of the do's and don'ts when making their tender decisions.   Also falling in the realm of chicken tenders are delicacies known as boneless wings, nuggets, and strips.

Tender Class - Chicken tenders are available at nearly every restaurant. For this reason, each tender that gets reviewed will fall into a classification.  The classifications will allow readers to better select which tenders make the most sense for them at that time.  The classifications are as follows:

Frozen - These are the tenders you cook yourself.  They inlcude options from Banquet, Perdue, and Tyson.  The tenders in this class vary wildly in taste and quality.  Tenders in this class require a large amount of dipping sauce as they are usually somewhat bland and flavorless.  If your tight on cash though, this is the class you want to dable in.  Buying in bulk is an option here, and is highly recommended.

Fast Food - This class is self explanatory.  It includes restaurants such as McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, White Castle, and Carl's Jr.  Although this classification includes some of the most dangerous and addictive tenders, their quality can often suffer because they are prepared ahead of time.  A consumer eating out of this class often enjoys a fair amount of tenders for a very fair price.  Another drawback of this class is that it is common to under order and be left feeling hungry at the end of your meal.

Upscale -  This classification includes bars, bowling alleys, and restaurants such as Applebee's.  These tenders are always made when you order, so take some more time to arrive in your mouth.  The wait is usually worth it as the tenders arrive hot and fresh.  Dipping sauces at the establishments also seem to be of a higher quality than the Fast Food classification.  The biggest drawback of the Upscale class is often price.  Tenders here often run 2 to 3 times as much as the Fast Food, but the increased quantity and expected increase in quality should be enough to offset this.

Specialty -  This classification is where the celebrities of the chicken tender world reside.   Buffalo Wild Wings, Pizza Hut Wing Street, local eateries who flaunt their tenders, and homemade tenders all fall into this classification.  Price here can be all over the board.  Dipping sauces are of the highest quality and an expanded variety will be found at most locations.

Rankings -  Each tender that is reviewed will receive three rankings.  The outer layer, chicken, and overall will all be evaluated.  The outer layer and chicken will be scored on a 0-10 scale.  The overall score is based on the number of tenders I would order in a typical chicken tender basket meal.  This scale runs 0-7 tenders.

Although this blog's primary concern is the chicken tender, it will also feature reviews of other fine eats like nachos, garlic bread, and potato chips.  Comments are always welcome, and please let me know if you think there is a tender out there that I should review.

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