A formerly limited-time-only menu item at Gold Star Chili is staying. The Cincinnati chili chain announced Wednesday that the Spicy Chicken Sandwich is now a permanent addition to the menu.
First launched this spring, the Spicy Chicken Sandwich quickly became a fan favorite, says Gold Star. The sandwich features a southern-style fried chicken breast with pickles and “Hellacious” sauce, a secret mix of flavors made with ghost pepper hot sauce, on a toasted bun. The sandwich was introduced as a counterpart to the restaurant’s Classic Chicken Sandwich and its “Heavenly” sauce.
A battle between heaven and hell ensued, with Gold Star asking fans to vote for their favorite sauce option. Gold Star says the number of votes cast for the Hellacious sauce proved it was popular enough to keep on the menu full-time.
“At Gold Star, we invite guests to come as they are and like what they like, so this spicy LTO gave our adventurous diners something to get excited about. In the case of the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, the public made their voices heard loud and clear that this one needed to stay,” Gold Star President and CEO Roger David said in a press release. “We’re always looking to come up with new, special offerings in our kitchen that surprise and delight our guests, the Spicy Chicken Sandwich being the latest example. We look forward to bringing more special offerings to the table as you never know what we’ll cook up next!”
You can get the Spicy Chicken Sandwich at all of Gold Star’s 50 grill locations. You can find locations, hours and menus at goldstarchili.com.
This article appears in Jul 23 – Aug 5, 2025.