Following Popeyes' chicken sandwich craze this summer and fall, and the general popularity of Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell seems to be dipping its toes in the chicken game too.

This year's 'chicken wars' has been out in full swing, and possibly we have our winner. People everywhere have been going crazy for Popeyes' limited edition chicken sandwich. Things got so wild that the chain smugly announced it had completely sold out the fried chicken sandwich.

The announcement caused a viral storm, with everyone who has had the chance to taste the sandwich boasting as though they were part of some elite group, and those that are yet to try it backing away from stores with grumbling tums.

During the peak of Popeyes' chicken sandwich craze, people reportedly drove from state to state in the hope of finding the item on sale. And for the desperate few, some allegedly sold them on Craigslist. One that broke the record was listed on eBay retailer, selling at $20,000.

It seems Popeyes will face some serious competition. Taco Bell's launching its Chicken Tenders in a bid to be the best.

That's right. Taco Bell is entering the crowded crispy chicken sandwich market with its own Mexican-inspired spin, though it's not really a sandwich.

Battle of the chicken delights

The chain recently announced it'd be trialing its crispy tortilla chicken in Houston, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. They plan to introduce it nationwide next year.

This item is a new twist on their classic taco with all-white meat strips that have been marinated in jalapeño buttermilk and rolled in a crunchy tortilla chip coating. And they can be stuffed into a taco and served with a creamy chili pepper sauce.

You can try the tenders in a taco for $2, get 2 tenders for $3, or 3 tenders for $4. You can also get these delicious treats in the chain's $5 and $7 boxes.

The chain created over 100 versions of the chicken tenders before landing on the perfect recipe.

Many fast-food chains are trying to come up with innovative ways to serve up their chicken. Whether it's Popeye's buns, dripping in Nashville hot oil, or dunked in Chick-fil-A sauce, Taco Bell is no exception.

With the addition of chicken tenders to Taco Bell's menu, the California-based chain is poised to compete with popular chicken chains like Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, and Raising Cane which have all reported swift growth recently.

Will Taco Bell win?

Popeyes was dominating the chicken sandwich market in 2019. Only time will tell whether Taco Bell's chicken tenders will knock them out of the leader board.