economie

I tried a famous fried chicken sandwich at Maine’s oldest diner. It was worth the trouble to actually get it.

August 17, 20240
A sign outside Palace Diner explained how to get a seat or order takeout.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The sandwich isn’t available on the diner’s separate takeout menu. You have to be put on the waitlist and dine at the restaurant to order it.

When we arrived at 9:30 a.m., we nervously asked the hostess if she was sure we would get to try it after the half-hour wait for a seat. She assured us they had plenty of chicken the Monday morning we went.

She was right — when we finally sat down, were able to order the sandwich without issue.

When the sandwich arrived, we were taken aback by how large it was.
Palace Diner fried chicken sandwich came with slaw.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I’ve had quite a few chicken sandwiches in my lifetime, so this was a high honor.

Palace Diner’s fried chicken sandwich was nearly impossible to hold in one hand. The chicken was super crispy on the outside, with kernels of fried goodness creating a shell around the thick, moist chicken breast. The tangy slaw was a perfect complement to the slight heat of the jalapeños.

The flavor profile of the sandwich could best be described as a slightly pickled flavor, almost like Asian-style chicken sandwiches I’ve had in the past.

Overall, I thought the fried chicken sandwich was worth the wait time and the price — it cost $20, excluding tax, and included the iceberg wedge salad. Since I was on a tight schedule, I boxed it up to snack on throughout the day.

From the soft yet sturdy sesame-seed bun to the quality of the chicken, I was very impressed by this chicken sandwich, so much so that Palace Diner is now a must-visit spot the next time I’m road-tripping through Maine.

While I had to make a separate trip just to try the chicken sandwich, that didn’t tarnish my overall experience at Palace Diner or the likelihood that I’d return just for that menu item.

However, next time, I’ll definitely make sure to get there early, so as not to miss out on the fried chicken sandwich to end all chicken sandwiches.