So, The Sandwich is sold out?

Good.

Don’t misunderstand, I’m not here to take shots at the latest social-driven food craze. Yes, I’ve had the Popeyes fried chicken sandwich, and yes, it's pretty good. And part of me loves that even in this day and age, food still has the power to bring the nation together in a rapturous bout of collective excitement and joy. Still, I can’t help but wish our deep-fried affection had found a more worthy target.

Now, thanks to a forced time out, we just might get that chance.

Better food at any level is a good thing, and as the latest excuse to get twitterpated, Popeyes' sandwich fills the void. But it’s hard not to conclude that chicken sandwich mania has less to do with the sandwich itself and more to do with media-inspired food FOMO — who wants to be the person who hasn't tried the darn thing?

SANDWICH MANIA: Popeyes chicken sandwich causing chaos at this Phoenix location

If that’s you, though, don’t worry. You’re not missing much. It’s one of the better fast-food options out there, but honestly, that’s an awfully low bar. And even if you don’t give a hoot about supporting local independent business rather than a corporate megachain with 3000-plus locations built on factory farming and paltry wages, there’s another really good reason to focus on fried chicken sandwiches from our homegrown restaurants instead.

They taste better.

So, while Popeyes is busy reloading their supply chain and our national food media retrenches for "The Chickening, Part II," now is the perfect time to explore the fried chicken sandwiches that probably should've gotten your feathers ruffled in the first place.

Here are 13 of my favorite chicken sandwiches in metro Phoenix to get you started.

Chzburgr

White meat is overrated. Kelly Fletcher knows where the flavor is, and he stacks his fried chicken sandwich with craggy, crispy, juicy thighs, plied with crisp vegetables and a lick of sweet honey mustard.

Details: 4920 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale. 602-314-5407, chzburgr.com.

The Dressing Room

The fine bun, crisp slaw and juicy chicken would be plenty, but the standout element of this sandwich is the dredge — light, flaky and beautifully seasoned with a subtly distinctive spice blend.

Details: 220 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. 602-777-0763, conceptuallysocial.com/the-dressing-room.

Handlebar Diner

The far reaches of east Mesa get left out of the conversation too often, but Adam Allison’s Crispy Clucker is a straightforward and skillful rendition that gives the denizens of Eastmark little incentive to travel west.

Details: 5149 S. Inspirian Pkwy., Mesa. 480-389-9911, handlebardiner.com.

Ingo’s Tasty Food

Ingo’s crispy breaded breast shines with a smear of spicy aioli and a pillow-soft bun from the LGO bakeshop. But this sandwich’s signature twist is a layer of slivered Granny Smith apples, crisp and tart and icy cool.

Details: 4502 N. 40th St., Phoenix. 602-795-2884, ingostastyfood.com.

The Larry

Name notwithstanding, this isn’t a fast-food sandwich. At The Larry, “KFC” means Korean Fried Chicken — a gorgeous chunk of chicken spiked with gochujang mayo, topped with pickled cucumber and resting on a devastatingly delicious brioche bun.

Details: 515 E. Grant St., Phoenix. 602-432-0752, thelarryphx.com.

Mingo’s Louisiana Kitchen

Cory Mingo’s hot chicken po’ boy turns standard-issue crunchy fried tenders into something unusually compelling, blasted with a fiery house spice mix and plied with cool, creamy slaw.

Details: 3424 W. Southern Ave., Phoenix. 480-865-4212, mingoslouisianakitchen.com.

Monroe’s Hot Chicken

Nashville hot chicken isn’t traditionally sandwich fare, but I’m not mad at Monroe’s for making it so. That tender brioche holds a lot of cool, creamy slaw, which you’ll need to tame the blistering chile heat coming off the chicken.

Details: 45 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix. 602-872-7100, monroeshotchicken.com.

Nocawich

Nocawich’s crispy chicken sandwich has a lot of sass, and I’m not just referring to the name. Eliot Wexler’s “What the Cluck?” boasts a juicy chicken breast, tweaked with creamy slaw, honey Dijon and killer house pickles between a yeasty house-baked Parker roll.

Details: 777 S. College Ave., Tempe. 480-758-5322, nocawich.com.

Pedal Haus Brewery

Though it’s mislabeled as Tennessee Hot, Pedal Haus makes an excellent buffalo chicken sandwich, featuring a buttermilk fried breast dunked in vinegary hot sauce with all the trimmings on a fabulous sesame seed bun.

Details: 730 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. 480-314-2337, pedalhausbrewery.com.

State 48 Brewery

State 48’s sandwich is built on big honkin’ chicken breast with a high-caliber cronch and a deep, dry chile burn and thick, pillowy brioche.

Details: Multiple Valley locations, state48brewery.com.

Welcome Chicken + Donuts

The basic sandwich is WC+D’s twice-fried beauty of a breast with a heap of chipotle slaw. But the smart play is to let them take it for a dip in one of their sauces. I’m especially fond of the Vietnamese sauce, a sweet and slick fish sauce caramel with a little herbal punch.

Details: 1535 E. Buckeye Road, Phoenix. 602-258-1655, welcomechickenanddonuts.com.

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Welcome Diner

A signature dish since the days of Old Dixie’s, Welcome Diner still slings the Bumble Bee — a big chunk of crispy chicken breast on a griddled biscuit with beer mustard and pickles that’s doused with a gooey, sweet ocean of honey.

Details: 929 E. Pierce St., Phoenix. 602-495-1111, welcomediner.net.

Worth Takeaway

This charming little sandwich shop in downtown Mesa slings a great crispy chicken, topped with crisp house pickles, sweetened with fiery Sriracha honey and nestled into tender, fresh ciabatta.

Details: 218 W. Main St., Mesa. 480-833-2180, worthtakeaway.com.

Tried something delicious lately? Reach the reporter at dominic.armato@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-8533. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @skilletdoux, and on Facebook at facebook.com/darmato.

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