In 2006, McDonald’s rolled out the snack wrap, a simple and delicious handheld made with a tortilla packed full of fried chicken, lettuce, and shredded cheese. I was 10 at the time and begged my mom for one whenever we passed a Mickey D’s drive-thru. By 2016, McDonald’s phased out the snack wrap. I wasn’t eating much fast food then, but plenty of fans were crushed by its disappearance.
Recently, after speculation that the famed snack wrap would come back, McDonald’s finally announced its return. Around the same time, competitors like Popeyes introduced takes on the classic handheld. And now, just about every fast-food chain seems to have a version on the menu.
Of course, not all snack wraps are created equal. So, I set out to try as many as I could, aiming to see whether McDonald’s still holds the crown or if another spot has quietly taken over. After tasting several, I found a clear winner. Without giving too much away, I’ll just say the result surprised me.
Read on to find out which one wraps up the win.
How I Tested the Snack Wraps
I spent a few weeks testing snack wraps, hitting two locations per outing to avoid overload from trying too many in one day. At each stop, including places like McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, and others, I ordered any menu item featuring a fried chicken tender wrapped in a tortilla with fixings.
Across chains, the core formula stayed the same, but the ingredients and flavors varied widely. For example, Popeyes includes pickles, while McDonald’s adds lettuce. I judged each wrap based on whether the toppings enhanced the flavor or took away from it. The same went for sauces; some came with signature blends, so I evaluated how well they complemented the overall wrap.
More importantly, I focused on key elements: soft tortillas, crisp and flavorful chicken, and fresh, well-balanced toppings.
Below, you’ll find my ranking of six fast food snack wraps, along with which ones you should snag on your next drive-thru outing.
The Best Fast Food Snack Wraps, Ranked
6th Place: KFC’s Chicken Wrap
Ashia Aubourg
KFC served its chicken wrap with a dry tortilla. It was supposed to be toasted, but this one leaned more toward stale than crisp. That off-putting texture made it hard to enjoy the rest of the handheld.
Inside, the wrap included lettuce, tomato, and a pepper mayo sauce. The vegetables lacked freshness, and the aioli fell flat in flavor. While the chicken tender delivered the same seasoning as KFC’s iconic fried chicken, the breading became soggy once wrapped.
5th Place: Burger King’s Royal Crispy Wrap
Ashia Aubourg
I’d only ever tried Burger King’s Chicken Fries, so finding a tender in the wrap caught me off guard. According to the employee, they only serve the tenders in wraps, so I was curious to give it a try.
The tortilla leaned stale, and although the tomato and lettuce added some crunch, the chicken tender had an oddly artificial texture. The wrap comes in three flavors: classic (which I ordered), spicy, and honey mustard. Overall, even if I tried it with a different sauce, I don’t think I’d be able to get over the taste of the chicken tender.
4th Place: Arby’s Chicken Wrap
Ashia Aubourg
Arby’s wrap threw me off. Rather than using shredded cheese, they tucked in a thick slice of Cheddar, along with soggy lettuce and a chicken tender that tasted like it had spent too long in the freezer. The Parmesan peppercorn ranch delivered a delicious creaminess and savory kick, offering the only real highlight. Still, that sauce didn’t do enough to make me want to order the chicken wrap again.
3rd Place: McDonald’s Snack Wrap
Ashia Aubourg
I feel nostalgic about McDonald’s snack wrap, so while it didn’t reach the top of my rankings, it still delivered some delicious flavors. The handheld includes shredded cheese, lettuce, and your choice of ranch or spicy pepper sauce. I chose ranch and appreciated the taste of the add-ins and crunchy chicken coating, but the texture of the chicken fell short of the other winners. The strip lacked tenderness and tasted more like a microwaved item than something hand-breaded and fried.
2nd Place: Popeyes Chicken Wrap
Ashia Aubourg
Popeyes wraps come with one of the chain’s crispy, hand-breaded chicken strips tucked into a soft tortilla. As a longtime fan of their fried tenders, I found the wrap version to be a delicious (and more filling) upgrade.
Inside, the wrap includes crunchy pickles, crisp lettuce, and shredded cheese, all of which add texture and flavor. I chose the honey mustard spread, which added a satisfying sweetness and tanginess. The seasoning hit the mark, and the chicken stayed crunchy despite the generous layer of toppings and sauce, earning bonus points in my book.
1st Place Winner: Sonic’s Chicken Strip Wrap
Ashia Aubourg
Sonic packs its version of a snack wrap with a fried chicken tender, shredded cheddar cheese, lettuce, and tomato, all folded into a warm, soft tortilla. For the sauce, you can choose between a creamy honey chipotle aioli or a zesty Baja option.
The fried chicken delivered on flavor; it’s tender, juicy, and breaded in a crunchy coating that stayed crisp, even inside the tortilla. The lettuce added freshness, the tomato brought a nice burst of juiciness, and the honey chipotle sauce offered just the right balance of sweet and smoky.
I usually visit Sonic for chili dogs and slushes, but next time, I’ll definitely add one of its chicken strip wraps to my order.
Dining and Cooking