Best New Menu Item

Introduced in August at Popeyes’ nearly 2,500 domestic locations, this seemingly simple sandwich of battered chicken breast on a buttered, toasted brioche bun with two pickles and a choice of mayonnaise or spicy Cajun spread shattered expectations and created social media battles with other chicken chains. Despite supply hiccups, the new item drove same-store sales growth of 34.4% for the fourth quarter of 2019.