I ordered the same meal from Popeyes and Chick-fil-A and I preferred the crispier chicken tenders

My Chick-fil-A meal cost $13.88, not including taxes and delivery fees. I ordered it through the Seamless app from my local restaurant in Brooklyn, New York.

Since I ended up trying two full meals, I shared the leftovers with my roommate.

As soon as I got my order, I started off with the lemonade. It was quite pulpy but tasted homemade.

When I popped open the box containing the chicken tenders, I could immediately smell the fried chicken.

There were small bits of fried breading scattered on the outside, which I always love with a chicken tender.

The sauce clung to the tender.

However, they weren't as crispy as I expected. I wanted a distinct crunch when I bit into the tenders, but they didn't deliver that. In the end, it's largely up to personal preference.

The fries I received were slightly undersalted, which I've never experienced at Chick-fil-A before. This was clearly due to the specific batch of fries I received and is not to say all Chick-fil-A waffle fries are underseasoned. Still, I was a tad disappointed.

The waffle shape allowed me to scoop the sauce, rather than simply dipping the fries in. As far as fry shapes go, Chick-fil-A has mastered it.

However, I wanted a bigger serving size. By the time I reached the fries, I had practically run out of sauce.

I ordered a handcrafted three-piece tender combo. It came to $12.39 before taxes and fees.

I thought the serving size was super generous, especially for being slightly cheaper than the meal from Chick-fil-A.

Right away, I saw how different the tender's texture was from the Chick-fil-A tenders. It was crispy, flaky, and crunchy.

The sauce clung tightly to the crispy tenders.

However, I was surprised by the lack of distinct flavor. I thought the chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A packed more of a buttery, savory flavor than the Popeyes ones.

When not included in the combo, a regular-size order of Popeyes' Cajun fries cost $3.19 at my local location.

In terms of seasoning, these fries easily beat out the Chick-fil-A waffle fries, at least in my opinion.

However, I still preferred the waffle fry shape for dipping.

The tenders were super crispy, crunchy, and paired perfectly with the dipping sauce. The inside was also juicy and plump. However, I did think the meat of Chick-fil-A's tenders was more flavorful.

The fries were literally spilling out of the box when I opened it. In terms of value and flavor, I had to give it to Popeyes.

It provided for easier dipping.

I found Chick-fil-A's version to be slightly too pulpy and not sweet enough, even though it did taste like it could have been homemade. However, on a hot summer day, Popeyes' lemonade would have hit the spot just a tad more.

Though I ordered the same menu items from both chains, the meals were quite different in terms of flavor and value.

I really enjoyed Popeyes' crispy chicken tenders, the serving size of well-seasoned fries was undeniably huge, and the lemonade was super refreshing. Plus, it also cost less than the meal from Chick-fil-A.

While Chick-fil-A is undeniably a favorite for many people – after all, it is America's favorite brand — Popeyes came out on top for me.