I tried chili from two fast food places: Wendy's and Potbelly.Potbelly's chili was a little thicker, and had more meat. It also came with oyster crackers. That said, it was a little pricier ($3.50.) than Wendy's ($2.09), and smaller in size. Wendy's chili has a cult following. It was a little more soupy, and came with saltines. It was bigger and more than a dollar cheaper.I preferred the thicker chili from Potbelly.Chili is an iconic comfort foodespecially as it gets colder outside.If you want a cup and you want it quick, two of your best fast food options include Potbelly and Wendy's.While Potbelly always delivers quality food, the chili at Wendy's has garnered a lot of hype, so we had to see for ourselves which is best as part of an ongoingtaste test series.In the past, we've tried anything frommac and cheese andmashed potatoes tochocolate chip cookiesand frozen dinners.To keep things consistent, we ordered the smallest portion available at each restaurant (called a "cup" or a "small").The first stop we made was Potbelly.The restaurant is known for its sandwiches, but offers other tasty options like mac and cheese and soup.Potbelly has reasonable prices for the quality: a cup of their chili cost $3.50.Potbelly's service was efficient and friendly, and the chili came out piping hot. It was relatively thick, with black beans, peppers, and tomatoes mixed into it. It had more meat than add-ins, which I thought was the ideal ratio.The mixture of peppers, meat, and tomatoes gave it a dynamic flavor that was delicious. It was a tiny bit spicy, which gave it just enough zing for anyone to enjoy. It tasted fresh and wasn't too heavy. The portion size was perfect.Potbelly's chili comes with oyster crackers.The oyster crackers were really good with the chili, and added the perfect crunch.Next up: Wendy's. The chain may be known for its burgers, but Wendy's chili has become widely popular.Wendy's is always very affordable: a small chili cost $2.09.Its chili is so beloved that the internet is full ofcopycat recipes.The service was a little rushed, but efficient, and the chili came out steaming hot. However, it was a little more watery, and more like soup in my opinionit wasn't as thick as other chilis I've had. It also had more beans, peppers, and tomatoes than meat.Wendy's chili was a bit spicy, but not overwhelming for those who aren't a fan of spicy food.However, to me it tasted a little processed. Plus, the beans didn't taste fully cooked through, and you couldn't really taste any add-ins. It tasted mostly of tomato, probably because there wasn't much meat. However, for those who prefer their chili a little less on the beefy side, or more soupy, it's a great option.Overall it was still pretty good, not too heavy, and the portion size was great for the cost.At Wendy's, chili comes with saltine crackers and hot chili seasoning on the side.As someone who doesn't love spicy food, I avoided the seasoning, but it's nice to have options. And you can't go wrong with a side of saltine crackers.Overall, both chilis were solid choices and an excellent bang for your buck. But in the end, Potbelly was the winner in my book.My preference surprised me given the hype surrounding Wendy's chili. But the thickness of Potbelly's chili, in addition to the dynamic mix of flavors, made it worth the fact that it was a little more expensive in my view. Plus, their service was just as quick as Wendy's.That being said, Wendy's chili was cheaper, had a larger portion size, and still had a great taste. If you're not near a Potbelly and want to get a little more bang for your buck, Wendy's is a great alternative.VisitINSIDER's homepagefor more.Join the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: 3 surprising ways humans are still evolving
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