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I tried Chick-fil-A's new chicken-and-waffles menu. It's proof that the nostalgia trend isn't going anywhere.

By

Erin McDowell

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Nostalgia is one of the hottest fast-food trends of the year, with many chains leaning into the past to grab customers' attention.

Chick-fil-A has spent much of 2026 embracing that strategy, in honor of the chain's 80th anniversary.

At the top of the year, the chain declared it a year of "Newstalgia," introducing retro cups and packaging while making soda-fountain-inspired floats and Frosted Sodas permanent menu items.

Its latest limited-time menu takes the strategy a step further by combining two familiar American favorites: chicken and waffles and s'mores.

Launched nationwide on August 24, the lineup includes three versions of a chicken-and-waffles sandwich, served with bacon, honey butter, and syrup, as well as a S'mores Milkshake and S'mores Frosted Coffee.

"Chicken and waffles and s'mores are much-loved classics, and we challenged ourselves to bring those flavors to our menu in a playful and unexpected way," Allison Duncan, Chick-fil-A's director of menu and packaging, said in a statement.

The menu quickly began attracting attention online, showing how effectively fast-food chains can turn comforting flavors into something that still feels novel and social-media-ready.

While online reviews of the new menu were largely positive — one TikTok creator said they waited over an hour in the drive-thru line just to try it — others said they found the waffles can get soggy even without the added syrup, and the overall flavor profile can border on too sweet.

I tried all five new items to see whether Chick-fil-A's latest nostalgia play lived up to the hype, and while I wouldn't order some of the items again, I walked away convinced that the trend isn't disappearing anytime soon.

Business Insider reached out to Chick-fil-A for comment on this story.

I started with the classic chicken-and-waffles sandwich.

The sandwich stacked Chick-fil-A's original breaded chicken filet between two maple-flavored waffles with three strips of bacon and honey-butter spread. It cost $8.95, excluding tax and fees.

I didn't agree with some social media users who said the sandwiches were too sweet, since I expected a maple-waffle sandwich to be sweet. Plus, a portion of classic syrup came on the side, giving me control over how much extra sweetness I added to each bite.

The large filet extended beyond the waffles, making it feel much more substantial than a typical fast-food breakfast sandwich.

All three sandwiches also come in a larger size once lunch and dinner start being served at the chain.

The sandwich came topped with three strips of bacon and honey butter.

Lifting the top waffle revealed that the sandwich's construction was actually quite simple.

Most of the sandwich's flavor came from the contrast between the salty chicken and bacon and the sweet waffles, honey butter, and syrup.

The classic version tasted like a weekend brunch condensed into one sandwich.

The bacon added just the right amount of saltiness and savory flavor, while the chicken breast was moist and crispy. The sweet maple waffles balanced it all out, adding a touch of autumn to this sandwich.

It felt more like eating a comfort-food brunch than ordering a standard chicken sandwich from a drive-thru.

Of the three versions, this one delivered the most straightforward version of the nostalgia theme.

The spicy chicken added more contrast to the sweet-and-savory combination.

The spicy chicken and waffles sandwich used the same waffles, bacon, honey butter, and syrup as the original. However, the darker, more heavily seasoned crust distinguished it from the classic version.

The sandwich cost slightly more than the original. It was $9.39, excluding tax and fees.

The heat lingered after each bite instead of hitting me right away.

The salty bacon reinforced the sandwich's savory side, while the honey butter softened some of the spice. I used the syrup sparingly, since the waffles already brought plenty of maple flavor.

Overall, the spicy chicken created a more balanced contrast between sweetness, salt, and heat. Of the three sandwiches, this was my favorite, as I thought it packed the most flavor.

Lastly, I tried the grilled chicken-and-waffles sandwich. It offered a lighter-looking take on the same indulgent concept.

The third version replaced the fried chicken with one of Chick-fil-A's grilled filets. Its visible grill marks and thinner profile made this look noticeably different from the first two sandwiches.

Without the breading, it also appeared less heavy, although the bacon, waffles, and honey butter still made it a substantial meal.

It cost $9.05, excluding tax and fees.

Without the breading, the bacon became much more prominent.

The bacon flavor came through much more heavily on this sandwich than with the other variations.

Despite the leaner filet, the sandwich still delivered the recognizable flavors of chicken, waffles, bacon, and maple. The grilled chicken just made each bite feel lighter than the fried version.

However, I thought the sandwich wasn't as decadent or flavorful as the other two, and I'd be most inclined to order the spicy version again.

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Erin McDowell

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Erin McDowell is a reporter on Business Insider's editorial partnerships team. She covers food, lifestyle, and entertainment for Business Insider and its partner sites, including MSN, Apple News, and Yahoo.She graduated from Elon University in January 2019, where she studied strategic communications and digital art. She has written for V Magazine, Milk.XYZ, OUT.com, Brides Magazine, and more. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and can be found on LinkedIn. Please send all inquiries, comments, or tips to [email protected].Selected stories:

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