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

Popeyes ghost-pepper chicken sandwich and Subway’s ghost-pepper nacho chicken sandwich.

I ordered the two sandwiches online via the food-delivery platform Doordash and received them within 20 minutes of placing my orders.

Both sandwiches had paper wraps, but only the Popeyes sandwich came in a foil bag. Twenty minutes was a short delivery window, but considering it was cold outside, I didn’t expect to receive warm sandwiches. But to my surprise, both were still warm.

Popeyes uses a brioche bun for its sandwiches while Subway uses a loaf, so the two sandwiches looked different in size and shape. I also noticed that Subway’s bread was topped with slices of pepper.

Popeyes’ new chicken sandwich is served on a toasted bun with a dill pickle, ghost-pepper sauce, and a crispy chicken fillet.
Popeyes ghost-pepper chicken sandwich came in a soft but nicely toasted bun.

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.

Two bites in, I thought the crunchy chicken was the best part of the sandwich.
Popeyes ghost-pepper chicken sandwich.

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.

Next, I tried Subway’s ghost-pepper spicy nacho chicken sandwich.
The SubKrunch toppings on the bread add an extra layer of crunch, which complements the bread nicely.

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.

Two bites in, I still hadn’t tasted the chicken, and I thought the sub should’ve been better stuffed with meat.
Subway’s ghost-pepper spicy nacho chicken sub.

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.

Overall, I don’t think either sandwich amplified the heat as advertised, but each was worth a try.
I thought the Popeyes sandwich tasted similar to its classic option, while Subway’s had a nice crunchy bread.

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.