Battle for best chicken tenders in South Florida is on! Nominations are now open

The chicken tender battle rages on here in South Florida, with the competition heating up faster than the oil used to cook them in.

New chains have been flocking to our area in recent years, and — unless you’ve been cooped up — you’ve seen that you can’t drive a few blocks on a busy street without one trying to lure you in for a bite of their core offering: chicken tenders that are deliciously deep-fried on the outside and bursting with juicy white meat on the inside. (Take the stretch of Federal Highway in Pompano Beach that’s become home to so many chicken joints that people can’t decide on a name for it. Is it Chicken Corner, The Chicken Coop, The Chicken Strip, or The Coop Capital?)

Once considered just a trend, chicken tenders have morphed into a must-have on every menu. They’re always the go-to choice on the kids’ menu — picky eater or not!

But we know not all chicken tenders (aka fingers or strips) are created equal, so we’re about to ruffle some feathers for our next installment in the Best of South Florida Dining series. We’re asking readers where they find the best chicken tenders in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Technically, chicken tenders come from the small strip of meat located just beneath the breast, which is the tenderloin. But we won’t be that strict for purposes of our competition. We’re looking for nominations for your favorite spots that serve chicken tenders, fingers or strips — just not traditional bone-in fried chicken! (If you missed that finger-licking-good contest, you can read all about the winner here).

In your nomination form, tell us not only where you get them but also what makes them so great. Is it the crispy coating? The size? The juiciness factor? Oh, and don’t gatekeep those sauces. We want to know what you’re dipping into these days! If we like what you have to say, your comments may be used in a future story.

Submit your nominations by using the form below or, if you can’t see it, click here. Nominations are open until Tuesday, Aug. 19.