Here are the top fast-food restaurants in the U.S. for crispy fried/chicken‑sandwich style chicken, with a short note on what each is best known for. (Sources: industry sales lists, large consumer polls and recent taste tests.) (qsrmagazine.com)

1. Chick‑fil‑A — Consistently rated the most popular for a classic, well‑seasoned crispy filet and huge loyalty. Best for: consistency and classic flavor. (qsrmagazine.com)
2. Popeyes — Famous for a very crunchy, large fillet and bold seasoning (the sandwich that kicked off the “chicken wars”). Best for: crunch and juicy, heavily seasoned fillets. (turbotacoshack.com)
3. Raising Cane’s — Focused on tenders/fingers with an iconic dipping sauce; extremely popular for crispy tender‑style chicken. Best for: chicken fingers and simple, comfort‑food combos. (qsrmagazine.com)
4. KFC — Longtime fried‑chicken specialist that’s improved its chicken‑sandwich offerings; big, flavorful pieces and familiar seasoning. Best for: size and classic southern seasoning. (turbotacoshack.com)
5. Jollibee — Reader polls and food‑media lists have ranked Jollibee’s Chickenjoy among the top fast‑food fried chicken options in the U.S. Best for: very juicy, crisp pieces and gravy for dipping. (wtfwire.com)
6. Wendy’s — Solid crispy and spicy chicken sandwiches with a noticeable peppery/spicy option. Best for: spicy variants and availability. (futureofwellness.com)
7. Shake Shack — A more premium option: crispy, well‑battered fillet on a potato bun (higher price). Best for: upscale fast‑casual crispy chicken sandwiches. (franetic.com)
8. Wingstop — Known for wings, but its sandwich/wrapper offerings get high marks when you want flavored, crispy chicken (Lemon Pepper, Mango Habanero). Best for: bold flavored breading/sauces. (parade.com)
9. McDonald’s — Improved “Crispy” offerings in recent years; widely available and good for a quick, affordable crispy option. Best for: convenience and value. (parade.com)
10. Zaxby’s / Bojangles / Church’s (regional picks) — Regional chains that rank very highly where they operate (South/Midwest) for crispiness and southern‑style breading. Best for: regional fried‑chicken styles and variety. (qsrmagazine.com)

Quick tips for choosing:

• Want maximum crunch? Try Popeyes or KFC. (turbotacoshack.com)
• Want classic, balanced flavor and consistency? Chick‑fil‑A. (parade.com)
• Want the best tenders/finger experience? Raising Cane’s. (qsrmagazine.com)
• Looking to try something different (gravy, extra juiciness)? Jollibee (where available). (wtfwire.com)

If you want, I can:

• Narrow this to the best crispy chicken sandwiches only (versus buckets/tenders), or
• Show top options near you (I’ll need your ZIP or city to find nearby locations).