Since starting at The Impulsive Buy, I’ve reviewed three new Dunkin’ Donuts products, none of which I was, um, all that crazy about. I fully intend, however, to continue reviewing their products because DD keeps introducing distinctive new items that pique my interest. (I suppose it also doesn’t hurt that there’s a Dunkin’ Donuts right across the street from my apartment and I’m too lazy to walk any farther to pick up other review items.) Their latest offering is the new Chicken Salad Sandwich.
After doing a limited rollout in the greater New York area a few months back, Dunkin’ Donuts has recently undertaken a broader release of the Chicken Salad Sandwich. I’m guessing the chicken salad is being marketed alongside the tuna salad to re-confuse Jessica Simpson about what exactly Chicken of the Sea is; similarly, I am making a Jessica Simpson joke to confuse any people who don’t remember their reality TV news from 2003.
I ordered my Chicken Salad Sandwich on a croissant and without cheese, just as it’s depicted in all the ads. At first glance, it looked like I probably could’ve asked for a Mayonnaise Sandwich with Some Chicken or Whatever Miscellaneous Meat You Have Back There, and I would’ve gotten more or less the same thing. Even good chicken salads aren’t particularly pleasing aesthetically, so I couldn’t judge the sandwich strictly on appearance.
Unfortunately, the experience of actually eating the chicken salad wasn’t any better. The chunks of chicken were relatively sizable and plentiful, but they tasted very bland and were completely overpowered by the presence of the mayonnaise. The celery pieces added some much needed crunch to the texture of the chicken salad, yet there weren’t enough pieces to prevent the overall sandwich from being too mushy. The croissant was the same type Dunkin’ Donuts uses for their regular breakfast sandwiches, but this sandwich is served cold so my croissant was un-toasted and lacking in its customary flakiness.
As for the mayonnaise… well, the nicest thing I can say is that at least the mayo doesn’t suffer from both conditions of the famous Woody Allen quote “Boy the food at this place is really terrible.” “Yeah, I know, and such small portions!” The mayo is definitely odd-tasting, and there’s plenty of it. At first it tasted jarringly sweet, and although each bite got me a bit more acclimated to the mayo’s sweetness, the blandness of the chicken and celery and the absence of any more ingredients meant the chicken salad just didn’t have any other flavors worth detecting. Additionally, more of the excess mayonnaise got squeezed out the sides of the sandwich with each bite, so the whole eating process was much messier than it really had to be.
The Chicken Salad Sandwich was altogether pretty bad. Once again, I would recommend you skip Dunkin’ Donuts’ latest offering. That being said, I appreciate their efforts in steadily introducing new products that are true departures from their regular menu and not just a re-packaging and re-naming of existing ingredients and items. (I’m looking at you, Taco Bell. I hope you know I ate that Beefy Melt Burrito because I was drunk and it was 99 cents, not because I thought you had something new and worth trying.) So Dunkin’ Donuts, stay the course and just keep coming out with different products, and I will keep trying them until that day comes when I can write a positive review on a new item I actually enjoy. (Or until I move into a new apartment, whichever comes first.)
(Nutrition Facts – 1 sandwich on croissant – 560 calories, 340 calories from fat, 37 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 45 milligrams of cholesterol, 890 milligrams of cholesterol, 38 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 6 grams of sugar, 17 grams of protein, 2% vitamin A, 2% vitamin C, 4% calcium, and 15% iron.)
Other Dunkin’ Donuts Chicken Salad Sandwich reviews:
Foodette Reviews
Item: Dunkin’ Donuts Chicken Salad Sandwich
Price: $2.99
Size: 1 sandwich
Purchased at: Dunkin’ Donuts
Rating: 3 out of 10
Pros: Chicken was sizable and plentiful. Celery added good crunch. Dunkin’ Donuts’ willingness to introduce actual new products. Having a Dunkin’ Donuts right across the street from my apartment. Annie Hall. Drunk-eating Taco Bell.
Cons: Chicken was bland. Not enough celery. Too much mayonnaise. Jarringly sweet mayonnaise. Croissant wasn’t toasted. Sandwich got messy. Drunk-eating Taco Bell.
You know that Dunkin’s chicken salad are pre-made they take out an cup like a pudding cup. Tear off the lid plop it on the crossiant and serve.
Lazy chicken salad prep makes angry bob angry.
Sounds like the dunkin u went to made your sandwich wrong, based on the description
they always do dat, tear of the lid and put on the croissant
Holy crap I gagged when I saw that picture. Nasty.
Haven’t had the chicken salad yet. Rolled the dice on the tuna salad last week. Just a croissant filled with wet glop.
I actually love the chicken salad sandwich. On a lunch break from work, when faced with an array of nasty fast food chains, this option tops my list. I think the flavor is decent also, yet I must mention again I’m comparing it to other fast food chains. If you’re from Upstate NY and know what Brook’s Barbeque is, the chicken has that flavor. I have no interest in knowing how they do it or why (haha) but it does. For someone who exercises alot, this option is a great fuel up for your day. It is high in protein and doesn’t leave you feeling lazy with a ball of fast food sitting in the pit of your stomach. Pairs nicely with an iced black green tea – if you find a Dunkin not lazy enough to tell you ‘they can’t make it iced’ haha.
This sandwich is AWSOME, plenty of chicken and celery, My wife and I have it and promote it all the time. Thanks DD.
I came across this website looking for the nutritional value of the chicken sandwich. I was suprised to see the negative comments. I bought one this morning, refrigerated it until lunch, warmed it up in the microwave and I though it was delicious!! Clarksville, TN. Two thumbs up on your chicken salad sandwich!
I don’t know what happened to my spell checked version of my post ^.
I’ve had it and you describe it very well. Although my sandwich didn’t have the large chicken pieces. Talk about swimming in weird flavored mayo–hello!–and I like mayo so that is saying a LOT.
I have to say that their chicken salad sandwich is by far the best I’ve had… I’ve been trying to come up with a similar chicken salad.. I love it!
I had the chicken salad sandwich and I think it is so good. I love the mayonnaise favor, I always crave it.
Really!!! The guy that wrote this article HAS NO TASTE!!! This sammy is delicious!!! It’s not a weird tasting mayo it’s sweet!! Get with the times!! Salads ALL OVER blend sweet & savory!! Dunkins croissants r fabulous!!! The chicken had plenty of flavor & there is plenty of it! I shop at Penzey’s regularly & use spices & herbs in ALL my dishes!! Most commercial chix salad is blades but no DD!! EVERYONE I tell to try it becomes addicted!! YUMMY!!
OMG I agree with your review. At over 500 calories and full of chemicals I will not get this again.
I had one of these today and saw what I believe are hives on my chin. Talk about chemicals! Health-wise, this is a sandwich to avoid.
I recently had Dunkin Donuts Chicken Salad Sandwich while visiting in Albany NY. I loved it so much I wanted to have it every day while we were there. And then we had them at the airport while waiting to board our plane. I give it two thumbs up!!
I’ve tried the DD chicken salad. It was not the best chicken salad I’ve ever tasted, but it was quite palatable. For the price worth the $2.99. The buttery croissant helped to enhance the flavor of the sandwich. Yes, the chicken was bland, but the sweet mayo and buttery croissant makes this sandwich a winner. After all this not a 5 star restuarant
Chicken salad wrap did not taste like chicken … Bacon and cheese overpowered the mush of the salad. I did not taste or identify any celery or anything to give crunch. Was just surprised at the bacon and cheese. I ordered in drive thru and did not see any mention of bacon or cheese… Maybe ( in all fairness), I missed that. The hope of a lower calorie small sandwich was destroyed with this sandwich .
I looovvveee this sandwich crave it all the time, found this website while looking for the recipe, am shocked to see any negative comments
I love this sandwich so much, but hate croissants.
You guys should try it on an everything/onion bagel. It’s he beat thing you’ll ever have.
😉
I love there chicken salad croissant sandwiches. I haven’t tasted any celery in mine at all. I don’t like celery. So that’s a good thing. I like the consistency of the chicken salad with the mayo. Everything. Everything we go by a DD I stop & get a couple of these sandwiches. We don’t have a DD where I live. Please don’t change the recipe. I love it the way it is. Thanks!