When a fast-food chain executes a seasonal menu flawlessly, it’s almost quietly satisfying. In honor of the company’s 80th anniversary, Chick-fil-A has been running a campaign called “Newstalgia” that combines well-known comfort food concepts with innovative execution. However, it appears that the campaign has finally found its footing with the fall 2026 lineup, which will be released nationwide on August 24. Waffles and chicken. S’mores. Two things that don’t require reinvention but were nevertheless successful.
It’s easy to understand why the Chick-fil-A Chicken and Waffles Sandwich is the main attraction. The construction is fairly straightforward: three strips of applewood-smoked bacon, honey butter spread, maple-flavored waffles, a classic Chick-fil-A chicken filet, and a side of traditional syrup. Warm, sweet, salty, and just the right amount of sticky. Repackaged in a paper bag that you can pick up from a drive-through window, this combination has been a mainstay at Southern diners and brunch spots for decades.
The rollout’s all-day angle makes it somewhat more intriguing than a standard LTO. In keeping with the morning experience, the sandwich will be served as a smaller portion with a larger waffle during breakfast hours, which run until 10:30 a.m. The lunch and dinner versions then switch to a larger chicken filet, slightly shifting the sweet-to-savory ratio in favor of the latter. Additionally, the sandwich has more flexibility than most seasonal items because customers can select between Original, Spicy, or Grilled filets. Although it’s still unclear if the spicy version will win over customers, it’s probably a safe bet if Chick-fil-A’s trend continues.
The sandwich is not particularly novel. In 2025, it conducted a small test in a few locations, and the company decided to move it toward a national launch after it created enough buzz. Early evaluators at those test sites weren’t afraid to give it high marks; some even described it as an almost flawless execution.
It seems that Chick-fil-A was purposeful in delaying the full rollout until after the local reaction had subsided. In a fast food setting, where innovation is often hurried to market, that kind of deliberate pace is a little out of the ordinary.
The fall menu features two S’mores-inspired drinks in addition to waffles. Chick-fil-A’s Icedream, chocolate shortbread, graham cracker crumbles, marshmallow-flavored syrup, and a marshmallow whipped topping are all combined to create the S’mores Milkshake. The S’mores Frosted Coffee is a perfect match for anyone who wants the campfire flavor without the sugar overload of a full milkshake because it uses the same flavor components and centers them around cold-brewed coffee. Both have a time limit and work fairly well within the “Newstalgia” framework. S’mores are nostalgic by nature. The twist is to make them drinkable.
In the company’s announcement, Allison Duncan, Director of Menu and Packaging at Chick-fil-A, stated clearly that the objective was to take flavors that consumers already enjoy and take them to unexpected places. It’s a modest way of presenting what is a fairly certain seasonal wager by fast food standards. In the American South, chicken and waffles are associated with weekend brunch tables, late-night diners, and soul food traditions. Depending on who you ask, placing it inside a Chick-fil-A wrapper is either a logical development or a minor oversimplification.
Probably the most clever aspect of the entire launch is the availability from breakfast to dinner. Breakfast is still treated like a walled garden by the majority of fast food restaurants; if you miss the morning window, that’s it. It’s difficult to disagree with Chick-fil-A’s assertion that waffles don’t have a curfew. It’s another matter entirely whether the fall menu makes a significant impact on business. However, the Chicken and Waffles Sandwich appears to be a seasonal offering that truly deserves the attention it is receiving.
