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15 Wendy’s Menu Items Ranked

When the first Wendy’s store opened up, nobody could have anticipated that it would have been as successful as it has been. After all, the founder, Dave Thomas, only set up the store to create summer jobs for his children. 

But now, Wendy’s is one of the greats. With almost 6,000 stores open across the USA, and a Twitter account that is guaranteed to give you the giggles, Wendy’s is popular for a lot more than just their food.

But, it is their food that has given them their name, and it is their food that keeps people coming back for more. 

In particular, the square burgers at Wendy’s have been a huge source of popularity for the store, but Wendy’s has so much more to offer. So many different options that you might find yourself struggling to choose what to eat. 

That is why we’ve put together this handy list, ranking all the options at Wendy’s from best to worst. So, to find out what comes out on top, keep on reading. 


15. Crispy Chicken Sandwich

In the bottom spot, we have Wendy’s ‘Crispy Chicken Sandwich’.

Now, you might have been tempted to order this burger because its low price suggests that it is a bargain.

But, its low price could also be explained by something else, and that is its poor quality. Don’t get us wrong, this burger is definitely edible, but in most cases it isn’t enjoyable. 

The crispy chicken sandwich also struggles in terms of performance because it has so much excellent competition from other fast food chains.

From the McDonald’s McChicken to the Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, there are lots of burgers that simply outperform Wendy’s crispy chicken sandwich in every single way. 

So, if you want to know what the worst thing that you can order at Wendy’s is, then it is definitely their crispy chicken sandwich. 


14. Double Stack

For some people, you can’t beat a good ol’ beef burger.

But, you might change your opinion on this when you order the Wendy’s ‘Double Stack’.

This burger has marginally beaten their crispy chicken sandwich, simply because it tastes better, but that doesn’t mean that it is a good burger by any means. 

When you first see the double stack, you will be hit by one thing, and that is disappointment. The name suggests that this should be a big burger, but it is actually very small, and there is one reason for this.

Instead of using regular size hamburgers in this burger, Wendy’s has instead opted to double stack 2 junior size hamburgers instead. So, the double stack alone will not be enough to fill you up. 

While this burger actually tastes alright, the size and appearance means it cannot rank any higher on this list. 


13. French Fries

If you’ve read our guide to the best fast food French fries, then you will know that we don’t think much of the fries at Wendy’s.

There are so many reasons why we don’t like these French fries, but ultimately it all comes down to the fact that the French fries at Wendy’s are unreliable.

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To some, it will be unbelievable that Wendy’s can get their French fries so wrong. After all, the style of the French fries at Wendy’s is simple, they are just skinny, straight cut fries.

Yet, Wendy’s has managed, time and time again, to under-season and under-cook these fries to the point where customers have come to expect disappointment. 

Don’t get us wrong, Wendy’s offers lots of excellent, yummy food, but sadly their fries are not one of these. 


12. Dave’s Single

Wendy’s is famous for their square burgers, and if you order a ‘Dave’s Single’ you will get to enjoy one of these.

We say enjoy in a very loose sense, because Dave’s single definitely isn’t the best burger that Wendy’s offers. That being said, it is still a lot better than the double stack which we looked at earlier. 

The Dave’s Single has the edge on the burgers that we have looked at so far because it is designed using quality ingredients.

Not only does it use great quality ingredients, but this burger is also adult-size, so it is a lot more filling than the double stack.

But, the single burger patty is lost amongst the other ingredients in this dish, which is why we have ranked it so low on this list. 

All in all, the Dave’s Single isn’t necessarily a bad burger, but it could definitely do with a bit more meat, which is why we prefer the ‘Dave’s Double’ which we’ll take a look at shortly. 


11. Crispy Chicken Nuggets

No matter which fast food restaurant you visit, chicken nuggets are usually a safe bet.

That is, unless you are visiting Wendy’s. For some reason, Wendy’s experiences the same issues with their ‘Crispy Chicken Nuggets’ as they do with their fries, and because of this they are usually inconsistent. 

Sometimes when you visit Wendy’s, you will receive perfectly cooked chicken nuggets that taste truly delicious.

But other times, you will receive mushy or grainy nuggets that are clearly overdone or undercooked.

Throughout the years, Wendy’s has made changes to their chicken nugget recipe, and it seems that they are still struggling to get it right. 

With tough competition from McDonald’s, Wendy’s were never going to have the best chicken nuggets on the market. But with the way that their nuggets currently taste, they are more likely to be the worst. 


10. Grilled Chicken Sandwich

As we have seen, the crispy chicken sandwich at Wendy’s has its issues, but so does the grilled chicken sandwich.

That being said, we find the grilled chicken sandwich marginally better than its crispy alternative. This is mainly down to the flavors of this burger. 

The chicken used in the grilled chicken sandwich is rather chewy. It has a rubbery texture, but in some ways, this is to be expected when you consider the very low price mark of this burger.

This chewiness is something that you can get over when you try the honey mustard that is also in this burger. 

The grilled chicken sandwich is by no means the best burger that Wendy’s has on offer, but it is better than some of the other options we have looked at. 


9. Chili

The chili at Wendy’s is amazing. Some other fast food joints have tried to make chili, but none of them have been able to execute it quite as well as Wendy’s does.

After reading that, you might be wondering why such a delicious option has only just scraped into the top 10. So, let’s take a look. 

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The main drawback of the chili at Wendy’s is the ingredients used to produce it. Instead of using minced meat, Wendy’s uses expired burger meat. That alone is enough to put a lot of people off.

On top of this, the chili at Wendy’s is also incredibly unhealthy, with more than half of your recommended daily salt intake, 15 grams of fat, and 9 grams of sugar. 

So, the chili at Wendy’s is probably the best chili that you can get at a fast food restaurant. But, once you see what is used to make it, you will understand why we have ranked it so low. 


8. Homestyle Chicken Sandwich

Every Wendy’s chicken burger that we have looked at so far has been disappointing, but if you want a chicken burger that is truly delicious, you should check out their ‘Home Style Chicken Sandwich’. 

With this burger, it is almost as if Wendy’s took a look at all the flaws in their crispy and grilled chicken sandwiches, and fixed them to produce the ‘Home Style Chicken Sandwich’.

The chicken in this burger is juicy and full of flavor, the battery is crisp and yummy, and the additional lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise complements the natural flavors perfectly. 

So far, we have been pretty scathing about the menu options at Wendy’s, but we haven’t got a bad word to say about their home style chicken sandwich. 


7. Vanilla Frosty 

The vanilla frosty is a dessert that some people have an issue with.

This issue isn’t so much about the vanilla frosty itself, instead it is about vanilla ice cream as a flavor, and the fact that quite a lot of people think it is boring.

But, if you are a fan of vanilla ice cream, then you will love the ‘Vanilla Frosty’. 

This is an item that was first added to the Wendy’s menu back in 2006, and has been a staple ever since.

A lot of people bad mouth the vanilla frosty, but if it was that bad, it wouldn’t still be on the menu today. It might not be as popular as its chocolate competitor, but we still think it is a great dessert option. 

So, if you aren’t a fan of chocolate ice cream, you will be more likely to prefer the Vanilla Frosty. 


6. Spicy Chicken Sandwich

As we have said, the homestyle chicken sandwich is one of the best options that Wendy’s offers.

But, if you prefer something a little spicier, then you will love the ‘Spicy Chicken Sandwich’.

This burger takes all the good parts of the homestyle chicken sandwich and combines it with a range of seasonings to create a yummy, spicy burger. 

Alongside a range of spices which are added to the chicken and its batter, the spicy chicken sandwich also comes with lettuce, mayo and tomato, all served in a premium bun.

But make sure that you don’t mention the word “crispy” at all in your order, otherwise you could end up with the spicy version of the crispy chicken sandwich, which isn’t nice at all. 

So, just make sure that you order the “spicy chicken sandwich” if you want to enjoy this yummy burger. 


5. Dave’s Double

We spoke about the Dave’s Single earlier, and this is essentially the better version of that burger.

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Like we said, the Dave’s Single is notably lacking in the meat department, and the burger itself is overpowered by the other ingredients.

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The Dave’s Double solves this issue by simply including another burger patty in the bun. 

As the Dave’s double is so similar to the Dave’s Single, there’s not much more that we can say about this burger. But, it is definitely the better version of the Dave’s single.


4. Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

You will probably be surprised to see a salad ranking so high up this list, but the salads at Wendy’s are next level.

Our favorite is the ‘Apple Pecan Chicken Salad’, and we’ll tell you why. 

The apple pecan chicken salad is made using roasted honey-glazed pecans, green and red apple chunks, chicken breast, blue cheese, cranberries, and a pomegranate vinaigrette.

This can seem like a strange combination of flavors, but you shouldn’t knock it before you try it.

Whether you order a full or half portion of this salad, you are guaranteed to enjoy it because it is just that yummy.

So, if you are looking for a healthier alternative, then this is the perfect thing to order when you visit Wendy’s next. 


3. Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger

One of the best burgers that Wendy’s sells is their ‘Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger’.

This burger is incredibly yummy, but it has one major drawback, and that is its size. For this reason, it is best to enjoy this burger as a snack. 

While it is small, the Jr. bacon cheeseburger is very cheap. This means that you can easily order a couple if you want to fill yourself up.

With all the classic ingredients of a cheeseburger, including beef, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and bacon on top. This burger is truly delicious, and it is just a shame that they do not offer a larger version of this delight. 

If they did, this would be our go-to order every single time. 


2. Classic Chocolate Frosty

In the number 2 spot, we have the ‘Classic Chocolate Frosty’.

As we mentioned earlier, when it comes to desserts at Wendy’s this is the winner, and it is easy to see why. 

We love the vanilla frosty, but we can see why a lot of people think that it is boring. Especially when you compare it to the chocolate frosty.

The chocolate frosty has been on the menu since 1969, and it isn’t going anywhere soon.

You can enjoy your frosty the classic way by using a spoon, or you can use it for dipping purposes, which has become very popular in recent years. 

But however you enjoy your Wendy’s frosty, there is no denying that the chocolate flavor is simply superior, and likely always will be. 


1. Baconator 

Finally, taking the top spot, we have ‘The Baconator’.

Whenever you hear people speak about Wendy’s, you can guarantee that they will mention the Baconator in the next breath, and this is simply because this burger is that good. 

It’s easy to see why this burger is so popular. This burger starts with a bun, then a quarter pounder, topped with American cheese, and then 3 slices of bacon.

On top of this, add another burger, another layer of cheese, a mountain of ketchup, and 3 more pieces of bacon before the bun is placed on top. 

When it comes to burgers, the Baconator is an absolute beast. But if you are hungry, then this is one sure fire way to fill yourself up, and that is why it is the best thing on the menu.

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

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