Too much sauce?

Columnist checks out Chick-fil-A Condiments

Ryan Stanley, Reporter

Photographer: Junior Aubrey Easley
Chick-fil-A sauces vary in flavors, ranging from ‘Polynesian’ to their trademark ‘Chick-fil-A sauce.’ Columnist Ryan Stanley tested the eight sauces Friday, Sept. 14. “Fries, fries, fries. I can’t say it enough,” Stanley said. “If you’re a fry-person, you have to try ‘Zesty Buffalo’.”

As a Chick-fil-A employee, I’ve spent countless hours shoveling sauces into bags. The monotonous task is simple. Look at the orders on the screen, find the sauce, put it in the bag. Over and over. And there are options, lots of them.

The Chick-fil-A sauce list goes long: “Polynesian,” “Garlic & Herb Ranch,” “Zesty Buffalo,” “Sweet & Spicy Sriracha,” “Barbecue,” “Honey Mustard,” “Honey Roasted Barbecue” and “Chick-fil-A Sauce,” of course. (Mayo makes the list, too, but who uses that?) With choices like these, how do you decide what is best, or more specifically, what sauce goes best with what? Here are my personal rankings, from best to worst.

1. Chick-fil-A Sauce
There’s a reason the restaurant made their name as this featured sauce. It’s simply grade-A. This sauce goes with everything on the menu and has a combination of flavors to make every bite a blessing. From sandwiches to fries, to nuggets, it’s my No. 1 choice.

2. Barbecue
This choice shocked me. I sat down with my order, including a billion sauces and skeptically dipped my sandwich, nuggets and fries in the barbecue. The result was a savory flavor that no doubt is meant to be best friends with chicken. The smooth and rich taste pair it well with any menu choice.

3. Polynesian
I now understand the name of this sauce. Polynesia is made up of more than 1,000 islands in the Pacific. Look up a picture and tell me it doesn’t look like paradise, just like Polynesian sauce is a mini paradise in your mouth. It’s a perfect blend of sweet and tangy that equals out the crispy, but tender, chicken and pairs beautifully with nuggets.

4. Honey Mustard
You’re either a honey mustard or Polynesian fan, no in between. While I’m not the biggest supporter of honey mustard, I still have respect. It has tangy mustard and savory honey that make an excellent combination with nuggets or on the sandwich.

5. Zesty Buffalo
Fries, fries, fries. I can’t say it enough. If you’re a fry-person, you have to try zesty buffalo. The name doesn’t lie. Chick-fil-A perfectly captures the zesty and spicy flavor that makes me want to keep dipping. Although it feels watered down, it still packs a punch.

6. Garlic & Herb Ranch
The first time I tried this sauce, I wasn’t expecting anything worthwhile. I was mistaken. It has a creamy and smooth texture that pairs well with the sandwich and nuggets. My issue with the sauce lies in the name, I couldn’t taste the garlic or herb.

7. Sweet & Spicy Sriracha
This sauce made my eyes water; I was overwhelmed by flavors. It has red jalapeños that overpower the sweetness, but I thought it only went well with nuggets.

8. Honey Roasted Barbecue
This choice comes in the same-sized packets as the mayonnaise, which should be your first clue that no one actually uses it. Honey Roasted Barbecue tastes exactly like Chick-fil-A sauce. I loved the taste, but that’s because it’s just another name for the trademark sauce.