These Are The 2 Best New Fast Food Breakfast Sandwiches Of 2026 So Far

It's true that Americans have tons of breakfast options these days, and some fast food chains have even earned recognition for their breakfast sandwich offerings. The big picture view isn't quite as rosy, unfortunately, as many recent sandwich releases have been met with disappointment online. That got us wondering: Which new breakfast sandwiches made a positive impression on fast food fans this year? Our research led us to buzzy launches from Chick-fil-A and Bojangles, as both releases received a decent bit of praise in 2026. 

Both sandwiches are fully entrenched in comfort food territory thanks to ingredients like smoky bacon, melty cheese, and crunchy hash browns. And both items were characterized as hitting the spot where flavor, texture, and temptingness are concerned. In comparison, McDonald's Honey Brown Butter Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit was found to be ho-hum on Reddit and a few people took exception to the price ("$6.77 here in Seattle after tax," said a commenter). Now for the bad news: Chick-fil-A and Bojangles sandwiches are limited-time offers. It's hard to say when these sandwiches will depart from menus, so check your nearest location soon if anything piques your appetite.

The Carolina Crunch at Bojangles features a super-special twist. It's not the eggs, bacon, and American cheese, which are pretty standard when it comes to fast food breakfast sandwiches. Instead of bread, these fixings are nestled between two extra-large Bo-tato Rounds, aka fried, seasoned hash browns with a mild onion flavor. On Facebook, a Carolina Crunch fan described the sandwich as "a delicious mix with a bacon, egg and cheese between two Bo-Rounds. A must try at Bojangles!!"

According to a Bojangles press release heralding the meal, the sandwich was designed as a showcase for the Bo-tato Rounds, which is the most ordered breakfast side sold at the chain. It turns out the restaurant's instincts about its beloved side dish were spot on, as the Carolina Crunch had people interested from the outset. "What in the big back chronicles," commented a person on a Bojangles Facebook video before admitting, "I'll try it tomorrow." If you're new to the chain, it's one of the several things you should know about Bojangles' breakfast menu.

Fans of Chick-fil-A were privy to three varieties of a new breakfast sandwich this year. The restaurant's Chicken & Waffles line comes with regular, spicy, and grilled filets. Each sandwich is made with two maple waffles, bacon, honey-butter spread, and a side of syrup. A Redditor said, "The waffles have a very nice texture, and there are little chunks of sugary cinnamon...The bacon is good and there's plenty of it." As for the syrup, the fast food fan stated it was an especially nice touch to the spicy filet ("cuts the spicy chicken nicely"). 

Chicken and waffles remains a popular pairing in the U.S., as it offers a tempting combo of sweet and savory. This pairing works so well because each flavor balances the other and satisfies two cravings (sweet and salty) in one meal.