Chick-Fil-A Fall 2026 Menu Review:  3 Chicken & Waffles Sandwiches Debut, But Only One Brings The Heat

Chick-fil-A is no stranger to shaking things up with its seasonal menu releases. Just look at the chain's Pretzel Bacon Cheddar Club from fall 2025, or the sweet-and-spicy Jalapeño Ranch Club Chicken Sandwich from that spring. This fall, however, the chain is focusing on another meal: breakfast. Putting a new spin on a nostalgic Southern comfort food favorite, Chick-fil-A is now offering Chicken & Waffles Sandwiches (available with a Original, Spicy, or Grilled filet), along with two s'mores inspired drinks — the S'mores Frosted Coffee and S'mores Milkshake.

If the lineup has left you with some decision fatigue, have no fear. I made the trek to my local Chick-fil-A in New Jersey to sample every item and give you the 411 on Chick-Fil-A's new fall menu. So whether you're looking to celebrate the end of summer with a campfire-inspired treat or indulge in a unique take on a comfort food classic, here's everything you need to know about the chain's latest launch.

In order to make sure I tried each item as its highest quality, I conducted my taste test in-store at my local Chick-fil-A to prevent the drinks from melting or the sandwiches from getting cold. 

The most important factors I considered were flavor, presentation, and innovation. A menu item was most successful when it had a bold yet balanced flavor that matched its description, looked as good as it tasted, and brought something new and different to the chain's current offerings.

Chick-fil-A's fall 2026 menu launched on August 24 and will be available for a limited time. While the chain typically stops serving breakfast at 10:30 a.m., this launch gives customers a way to enjoy its breakfast-inspired offering all day long. The Chicken & Waffles Sandwiches are available in breakfast-sized versions during breakfast hours and as large entrées for the remainder of the day. Both the S'mores Frosted Coffee and S'mores Milkshake can also be enjoyed at any time of day.

Prices for each variation of the new sandwich vary depending on what you order (and of course, by location). If you order the Chicken & Waffles Breakfast Sandwich, you can get it with an Original or Grilled filet for $6.19. If you opt for a Spicy fillet during breakfast, it'll be slightly pricier at $6.39. If you choose to enjoy the sandwich during lunch or dinner hours, you'll get a larger sandwich and, thus, a heftier price tag. You can get the Chicken & Waffles Sandwich with an Original filet for $9.49, a Spicy filet for $9.89, or a Grilled filet for $10.19. Both S'mores beverages are similarly priced, with the S'mores Frosted Coffee priced at $5.59 and the S'mores Milkshake priced at $5.79.

Both the Original and Spicy Chicken & Waffles Breakfast Sandiwches contain 530 calories, with 22 grams and 23 grams of protein, respectively. The Grilled Chicken & Waffles Breakfast Sandwich is the lightest option, containing 440 calories and 20 grams of protein. The full-sized versions of the Chicken & Waffles Sandwich contain 690 calories for the Original filet, 710 calories for the Spicy filet, and 540 calories for the Grilled filet.

As for the new beverages, the S'mores Frosted Coffee contains 400 calories, with 7 grams of protein. The S'mores Milkshake is a bit more indulgent, containing 650 calories and 12 grams of protein.

As I sat outside Chick-fil-A, I couldn't help but overhear the excited chatter of customers heading inside. It was centered on one thing: the new Chicken & Waffles Sandwich. And it's safe to say I understand the excitement. This Chick-fil-A menu item is unlike anything else the chain currently offers. Plus, its all-day availability gives late risers a chance to enjoy Chick-fil-A breakfast flavors after 10:30 a.m. And it's certainly worth trying — if you order it the right way, that is.

The Original version of the Chicken & Waffles Sandwich features Chick-fil-A's classic breaded chicken filet, applewood smoked bacon, and honey butter spread sandwiched between two maple-flavored waffles. Every component was delicious on its own, and my first bite was super tasty. But after two bites, I'd pretty much had enough. The maple waffles and honey butter overwhelmed the savory elements, making the sweetness of the sandwich overpowering and prompting me to pass on the accompanying maple syrup.

The Spicy version, though? That was my favorite sandwich of the day. It worked well where the Original version faltered — while the Original filet succumbed to the sweet maple and honey flavors, the Spicy filet fought back. It's no secret that Chick-fil-A knows how to do spicy chicken (it was Food Republic's pick for best fast food spicy chicken sandwich, after all), and this sandwich was no exception. The bold, spicy flavor of the Spicy filet perfectly complemented and balanced out the sweeter elements, making it the only version of the sandwich that I could actually envision myself wanting to order again.

I felt a bit uneasy before this particular taste test. Chicken and waffles is a classic combination, but grilled chicken and waffles? Now that was a first — even for a relatively seasoned food reviewer like myself. And it's safe to say my reservations were warranted.

If I could describe the Grilled Chicken & Waffles Sandwich in one word, it would be "odd." Perhaps I simply had a mental block regarding this unique combo, but, to me, grilled chicken just lacks the same decadence of a fried filet that allows the savory protein to naturally translate well into a sweeter dish. Dipping the sandwich in the maple syrup that came with it felt even more off-putting — grilled chicken and maple syrup aren't exactly a match made in heaven.

In a sense, the flavors of the sandwich weren't drastically different from (chicken is chicken, after all), but the concept was a miss for me. I understand that Chick-fil-A offers a grilled filet variation for many of its sandwiches, but I just don't know if they really needed to do the same for this one. If this sandwich earns bonus points for anything though, it's uniqueness. I certainly can't say I've encountered this combination before — or that I necessarily hope to again.

Choosing s'mores as the core flavor of the drink launch feels like a great move — what heralds the end of summer and transition into fall better than a campfire dessert? Historically, Chick-fil-A knows how to make a good milkshake, which are oh-so-tasty thanks to its meticulous recipe and the inclusion of its signature Icedream dessert. And the S'mores Milkshake was no exception. It was sweet, creamy, and everything a good milkshake should be. The milkshake features chocolate shortbread and graham crackers piece and marshmallow syrup and is topped with a marshmallow whipped topping.

If I had one critique of the S'mores Milkshake, it's that I enjoyed it because it was a tasty shake — not necessarily because it nailed the s'mores flavor palette. It was certainly marshmallow-forward and tasted more like an Oreo milkshake (likely thanks to the chocolate shortbread) with the addition of marshmallow flavor. It certainly could've benefited from some real chocolate to give it that authentic s'mores flavor. I was also a bit disappointed to see that the whipped topping wasn't toasted as it appears to be in the promo photo. Still, the S'mores Milkshake was certainly tasty and something I could certainly see myself ordering again.

While the S'mores Milkshake was marshmallow-heavy, the S'mores Frosted Coffee highlighted the other core s'mores elements: chocolate and graham crackers. The drink combines Chick-fil-A's cold brew with its Icedream dessert, marshmallow syrup, chocolate shortbread, and graham crackers. The result was a thick, indulgent, refreshing coffee-forward frozen treat that pleasantly surprised me.

More importantly, this drink delivered a much more convincing s'mores flavor than the S'mores Milkshake. The chocolate was bolstered by the coffee flavor and came through much more prominently, and I could actually taste the graham cracker as opposed to just knowing it was there from the presence of the cookie chunks. The only thing that could've made the drink even better was if it featured a more marshmallow-forward element (I mean just imagine that creamy marshmallow whipped topping on top).

If I had to order another one of the two drinks again, ironically, I'd probably go for the S'mores Milkshake (Chick-fil-A does make some of the tastiest shakes in the game). But when it comes to which drink better understood the assignment? The S'mores Frosted Coffee was the clear winner. If you're looking for a more authentic S'mores drink paired with a pretty bold coffee presence, the S'mores Frosted Coffee is a no-brainer.

Another season, another interesting launch from Chick-fil-A. The Chicken & Waffles sandwich is a super unique addition to the chain's menu, and its all-day availability is a major plus for those who never make it in time for breakfast. That said, only one truly shines through as a genuine hit. The Spicy Chicken & Waffles Sandwich felt truly balanced, making both the sweet and the savory elements shine. It was the clear standout of the launch and, dare I say, the only variation I'd recommend spending your money on (as long as you can handle the heat).

My primary critique of this lineup is that the items don't necessarily come together to create a cohesive meal. Between the maple waffles, honey butter, and s'mores-inspired drinks, there's a lot to love if you've got a sweet tooth. But unless you order the Spicy Chicken & Waffles Sandwich, pairing a sandwich with either beverage could quickly lead to a sugar overload. I'd consider spacing things out — maybe try a graham-cracker-centric frozen coffee one day and a sweet-and-spicy maple-flavored chicken sandwich the next. Like the last days of summer we all want to hold onto, this feels like a menu best savored slowly, one treat at a time.