Chicken Bar vs. Ranch1 (The Epic Battle!!!)

I love Ranch 1.  I wrote about it a few weeks ago, and while I know not everyone is on board- I stand behind what I originally said.  If you are looking for a grilled chicken sandwich, that tastes like real chicken, and french fries that taste like they are made from real potatoes (plus you don’t mind a chicken breast that has been pounded thin before being grilled) then Ranch 1 is your place.  It’s one of the few fast food places my wife actually likes (loves is a more appropriate word)- and any place she’s into, where I can “get fries with that”, is alright with me!  (Click here to read the original Ranch 1 post)

So, you can imagine my confusion when I started seeing these new Chicken Bar’s popping up.  The first one, I saw on 8th Ave. and 45th St…. and then another on 52nd and Lexington.  Same colors… similar logo… it’s chicken.  Very strange.  I couldn’t believe that this new chain was clearly ripping off Ranch 1.  Did they really think that their chicken sandwich was going to be that much better to support 2 chicken chains like this in the city???  I decided a visit was in order, and last week I headed to this “Chicken Bar” with every intention of pitting it against Ranch1 in a “one on one” fast food chicken battle of death.  (I would have liked to have made it a 3 man battle royale, but sadly there is no Chick Fil-A in Midtown…)

Arriving at the Chicken Bar on Lexington & 52nd, I was reminded again of how similar the logos are to each other.  Both have got the yellow, red and white thing going… but the Chicken Bar sign is clearly newer- and a bit nicer.  I like the abstract, “hidden” chicken head in the Ranch1 logo, over the obvious big chicken in the Chicken Bar logo, but a vinyl awning can’t touch the class of a 3-D neon style sign.  Chicken Bar 1, Ranch1 Zero.

Both places have “employees” giving out $1 off coupons around the corner from their respective restaurants.  I think it’s pretty obvious who wins this one.  No offense to the lady on the right… I’m sure she cleans up real nice- but she is clearly not a gigantic yellow chicken.  Ranch 1 ties it up… One to One.

The truth is, who cares about the coupons, and the signs and the big yellow chicken (well, actually- I care about the chicken so that’s a bad example).  The food is the most important.  What I ordered, and conclusion of the fierce battle that will literally cause your brain to explode in disbelief…. after the jump.

Walking into Chicken Bar, it became clear that something was going on here.  Not only was the menu practically identical to Ranch1, but they even had a sign with the exact same slogan…  “Best Grilled Chicken on Earth”.  Total craziness.  I ordered the “Bar Original” which was the same price ($6.25) as the “Ranch 1 Classic” and came topped with a bed of greens, AND toasted almonds!!!  How could they steal the toasted almonds????  It’s the Ranch 1 chicken sandwich signature move.  It would be like Andre the Giant beating Hulk Hogan with the… signature move that Hulk Hogan used to do.  (What was the Hulkster’s signature move?  I remember he just shook his head “No”, like in a “You’re not going to beat me” kind of way… and then just body slammed the guy.  Was that his signature move?) 

 

And then it dawned on me… and the cashier confirmed it.  Ranch 1.  And Chicken Bar.  Are the same place.  That’s right. 

Oh, I’m sorry… did I just blow your mind???

I’m not sure exactly why… but Ranch 1 has opened four locations, re-branded as Chicken Bar.  So, it turns out the epic battle, is actually a draw… but there are a few differences that might make one better then the other for some people:

  1. The Chicken Bar locations are newer and nicer.  The one on 52nd btw. Lex & 3rd has a nice, large seating area, unlike the Ranch 1 on 46th St. that shares space with a deli.
  2. Even though the Bar Original Combo and the Ranch 1 Classic Combo are the same price ($6.25), a lot of the other combos on the Chicken Bar menu are slightly more expensive (by about 25 cents) then Ranch 1.  Strangely, the Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowl Combo from Ranch 1, has been re-branded Dragon Chicken Teriyaki at Chicken Bar, and costs 20 cents less!  Very strange.
  3. The Chicken and Cheese Combo at Ranch 1 is called the All-American Classic at Chicken Bar.  I guess they don’t want to remind people that they are eating cheese?
  4. And the strangest change… the Chicken Philly Combo at Ranch 1, is now the Vivo Italiano at Chicken Bar.  Both come with Mozzarella, sauteed peppers and sauteed onions.  I guess people like Italy better then Philadelphia.
  5. There’s no Popcorn Chicken at Chicken Bar, but they have Buffalo Wings (Ranch 1 doesn’t).
  6. The French fries at Chicken Bar are a little thinner than Ranch 1 (like regular shoestrings) but they still taste like they come from real potatoes (and are sprinkled with a salty form of crack).
  7. And for some reason, they don’t have a big yellow chicken handing out their coupons.  (Big mistake)

So there you have it… Ranch 1 and Chicken Bar are the same place.  If you knew all along, then I apologize… I’m just not that bright.  To read more about Ranch 1 (and by default, the Chicken Bar) check out the original Ranch 1 post.

Chicken Bar, Multiple Locations in Midtown

  • 599 Lexingon Ave. (52nd btw. Lexington & 3rd), 212-230-1100
  • 717 8th Ave. (btw. 45th & 46th), 212-245-5111

There are also 2 non-midtown locations

  • 1273 1st Ave (at 69th St.) 212-734-0077
  • 40-42 West 8th St. (at 6th Ave.) 212-358-1111

6 Comments

  • From Wikipedia:

    After doing his Hulking Up Taunt, he will point his finger at the opponent and shake it. Then the opponent goes for a punch but Hogan blocks it and punches the opponent’s head three times. Then he irish whips the opponent to the ropes and when he runs back Hogan gives him a big boot to the face. Usually after he will clap his hands twice then put his hand to his ear to the three sides of the ring where the audience is, then do his signature leg drop.

  • The Chicken Bar by Lex and 52 was Previously a Ranch 1. They changed to Chicken Bar no more than a year ago. I found it very odd. Makes more sense now.

  • I believe the Chicken Bar at 45th and 9th used to be called the Best Grilled Chicken Sandwich on Earth. I think they were all called that, including the Ranch 1’s. About three or four years ago, the 45th and 9th location had a particularly nasty review from the health department, so I never ate there then. I don’t know if it has come under new management, or if the health department review taught it a lesson, but since then they’ve really improved the cleanliness and the health dept reviews have been sufficiently glowing. The name changed about a year ago.

  • Ranch 1 coupons are awesome! You don’t have to wait for the little flyers anymore. There are 4 Ranch 1 coupons for Midtown east & west on 8coupons.com. The best part is you can send it to your cell phones as a text message and have it handy and ready to whip out to redeem by flashing the deal on your cell phone to the cashier.

    Go to 8coupons.com and search for “ranch”

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    Chicken Bar at 52 & Lex is now closed — sign on the door said they lost their lease. Conveniently, a Ranch 1 employee was giving out menus and coupons for their store on 3rd Ave…

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