This might sound familiar to Southerners, but Chick-fil-A has ruined most other chicken sandwiches for me.

It’s not just about the quality, which is very high, relative to other fast food joints. It’s the value. A spicy chicken sandwich at Chick-fil-A costs $3.85. So, when you find a gourmet chicken sandwich that costs $10 or $12, you can’t help but wonder: “Is this honestly two or three times better than the fast-food version?”

Thanks to Gu’s Dumplings at Krog Street Market, there’s finally a chicken sandwich in Atlanta that’s worth the markup. Served on an 8-inch hoagie roll, the Szechuan chicken po’boy gives you more food than you would get from Georgia’s ubiquitous chicken chain.

As you’d expect, Gu’s Dumplings’ po’boy packs a wallop of flavor, too. The lightly breaded chicken is stir-fried with powdered Szechuan peppercorns. The chunks of fried chicken are juicy, and big enough to feel hefty, but small enough that you don’t feel like you have to unhinge your jaw. Topped with a nicely balanced coleslaw for moisture and texture, it’s the magical peppercorns that make the sandwich sing.

The intense Chinese flavors, solid execution and sheer size make this po’boy a bargain at $10.

Gu’s Dumplings. 99 Krog St. NE, Atlanta. 404-527-6007, gusdumplings.com.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

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