Review: Cedar Point Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders

When hand-breaded chicken tenders returned to Cedar Point in 2016 with the reintroduction of the Frontier Inn, we were extremely pleased. There is no comparing hand-breaded chicken tenders compared to the frozen version sold throughout most of the park.

However, the hand-breaded Frontier Inn chicken tenders did not go over as well as the park had hoped, thus bringing back Chick-fil-A in 2018. Have you ever not seen a line out the door at a park Chick-fil-A?

Guests could still get hand-breaded chicken tenders at the Crystal Rock Cafe in Cedar Point Shores.

In 2018, Cedar Point offered the hand-breaded chicken tenders at Stockade Refreshments in Frontier Town. However, for 2019, they have now been moved to the Round-Up further down the midway.

Unfortunately, the chicken tender options have really been parred down over at the Round-Up, eliminating sandwich and salad options. Now guests have the option of getting a chicken tenders basket in either plain or with buffalo sauce. Although they do not allow the buffalo version on the Cedar Point dining plan, which defies logic given it is only a sauce that makes them different.

While it never really bothered us, part of the problem with the former Frontier Inn chicken tenders was the breading was not always crispy while maintaining a tender chicken breast inside. They were either under or over cooked.

That issue appears to now be corrected with the Round-Up and Crystal Rock Cafe chicken tenders, as they have been prepared perfectly on multiple of our visits.

While the breading on the chicken appears to have been improved, guests only get three small pieces of meat which is a far cry from an adequate meal.

In addition, the fries served with the chicken tenders are your standard offering.

We understand the appeal of offering chicken tenders, and especially hand breaded ones. After all, chicken tenders happen to be one of the highest selling menu options in the park. However, the current version offered at Round-Up seem to have taken a step back in size.

Overall, we much prefer the Round-Up hand-breaded chicken tenders versus those sold elsewhere in the park.

Cedar Fair is making a big push to standardize the process of making the hand-breaded chicken tenders served at all the parks, so you get the same ones at Carowinds, Kings Island, or even Cedar Point. However, Cedar Point’s current version really need to play catch-up to some of the other parks. Give guests three adequately sized chicken tenders, not three small nuggets. And please, please, please give us a suitable fry option like the Sidewinder fries, tots, or something better than the frozen ones.

If you have to choose, head over to Crystal Rock Cafe (Cedar Point Shores) to get the hand-breaded chicken tenders versus those served at Round-Up.

Fact Sheet

What: Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders
Where: Round-Up (Cedar Point) and Crystal Rock Cafe (Cedar Point Shores)
Cost: $12.99 (Round-Up); $13.99 (Crystal Rock Cafe)
Calories: 810-1130
Dining Plan: Yes
Pros: Well prepared and seasoned chicken with crispy outside and tender inside.
Cons: Only includes three small chicken tenders. Poor quality fries.