Let's start this off by featuring our monster order at Statewide.
Trying the reaper before eating my own order was the worst mistake of all time. It completely ruined the first few minutes of this meal. So reaper is definitely way too spicy to be enjoyable for me.
Onto the actual content of this post, here's the rest of the spice levels:
Mild - completely not spicy, but the chicken was still well-seasoned and well-fried, resulting in a pretty good slider. This is perfect if you're not feeling anything spicy, and it really lets the other flavors from the pickles, slaw, and sauce to take over.
Medium - pretty similar to mild, and the spice is basically unnoticeable. The seasoning is still really flavorful and chicken is perfectly juicy with a solid crunch. This level is also fine if you're not a fan of spicy food, but has a bit more flavor and spice to it.
Hot - the first kind of spicy level, where the heat becomes relevant in the chicken's flavor profile. This is where the sweet and creamy sauce really helps out and balances the flavors. People who usually like spicy food should find this level perfectly fine.
Extra Hot - I'm not gonna lie this was so similar to the hot tender. I did use the honey packet and the slaw and sauce definitely helped cool it down, so it was still delicious and nowhere near the unpleasantness of the reaper. Also a good option for something spicy.
These fries were just fine, and it felt like the big chunks of chicken on top just didn't do too much for them. I preferred just the standard fries dipped in their sauce, which were crispier and cleaner.
Final review: Across all reasonable spice levels, the chicken was great: super flavorful beyond just spicy, juicy on the inside, and a hard, crunchy crust. I much preferred the sliders with the soft potato roll, acidic pickles, and sweet slaw as a well-balanced meal. The tenders were a bit too salty and one-dimensional by themselves. The sauce just worked with all the items, elevating both the fries and chicken. I just wish there was another spice level between extra hot and reaper because the difference between those is crazy. Overall a really solid place for chicken that is really different from the rest of fast food chains. 7/10
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