I tried Popeyes’ and Subway’s new ghost-pepper sandwiches. They were inventive, but not spicy enough to give me a real scare.

The Popeyes chicken fillet was the right amount of crispy and juicy.

However, I wish the chicken fillet was slightly larger than the bun, or at least the same size, so I could enjoy a piece of the chicken in every bite.

I thought I could have better assessed the burger’s spice level if there had been more sauce spread across the bun, but to me, this burger just tasted like a regular Popeyes chicken sandwich.

I understand that prep can vary widely from store to store, and from employee to employee, but I was surprised by how mild the sandwich was. When I contacted Popeyes about my experience, a rep assured me it was a one-off incident.

Other customers have reported a much better experience. Tasting the sauce had one reviewer “coughing from the peppers” — in a good way — so it’s possible this sandwich really does pack a punch.

Subway introduced its nacho chicken sub earlier this summer but decided to amp up its heat this season by launching a ghost-pepper bread.

According to the chain, the bread is freshly prepped daily and sprinkled with ghost pepper, habanero, and paprika-seasoned panko breadcrumbs, followed by Monterey cheddar cheese and jalapeño slices.

If I had to judge the bread by itself, I would say it had a nice, crunchy exterior, almost like an herb cracker, and a soft interior. I enjoyed the jalapeño slices on top, although they were mostly for flavor than spice.

Much like my experience with the Popeyes sandwich, I couldn’t distinctly differentiate the nacho-chicken flavors from the supposed spicy bread.

While this was my experience, a representative from Subway told me that other guests had said the “ghost-pepper bread and new sandwiches really come with a kick.”

The representative also suggested I give it another try. Apart from the spice, I thought it was a decent sub that could become a complete meal with some extra chicken toppings, so I’m open to trying it again.

So which sandwich took the top spot for its spiciness? Sadly, to me, both tasted equally mild.

I did not go in expecting sweltering heat that would turn my cheeks red, but I did think the sandwiches would leave a little tingling on my tongue. However, that was not my experience.

Since my spice tolerance is considerably lower than people competing in spice challenges, I think competitors would find easy wins with these sandwiches.

Judging by the success of Popeyes’ ghost-pepper wings, though, it’s possible that with the right customizations and a generous amount of sauce, the chain’s new sandwich could hit the right spot for Gen Z customers.

Overall, I enjoyed Popeyes perfectly balanced crispy and juicy chicken, while Subway’s new ghost-pepper bread had a nice crunchy texture, which I thought contrasted well with the vegetables.