McDonald’s franchisee tests chicken and waffles

A McDonald’s franchisee is testing a McD’s Style Chicken & Waffles combo in at least one location in Fullerton, Calif., according to Foodbeast.

The combo meal, tested for $3.99 according to a photo of the Fullerton location’s marketing materials, would be a new application for the chain’s Mighty Wings limited-time offer, which rolled out earlier this month. However, the “waffle” in the combo is actually the brand’s pancakes, and the combo comes with a cup of syrup.

McDonald’s USA spokeswoman Lisa McComb said the Chicken & Waffles item is not being tested on a wide scale by the local advertising co-op. “This was simply one franchisee who experimented with a limited-time offering of his version of chicken and waffles,” she said.

McDonald’s is not the only national quick-service chain to dabble in the chicken-and-waffle culinary trend. Earlier this summer, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen ran a Chicken Waffle Tenders limited-time offer.

That product featured Popeye’s Hand Crafted Tenders made with a special new batter with more malted barley flour, which produced a lighter and crispier coating meant to taste like a waffle. The promotion included expanded training and consumer research efforts.

And in May, Taco Bell created a social-media stir with the test of an 89-cent Waffle Taco in one Southern California location, and pictures and buzz about the item went viral on Twitter and Instagram. The product replaced the typical taco shell with a folded waffle and also included scrambled eggs and a sausage patty.

Taco Bell included the Waffle Taco in an expanded test of its First Meal breakfast platform, which was introduced to about 100 units across Fresno, Calif.; Omaha, Neb.; and Chattanooga, Tenn., in August.

Contact Mark Brandau at [email protected].
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