International KFC Menu Items You Won't Find In The U.S.
What do you think of when you hear 'KFC'? Well, unless you're a sitting member on the Kenya Flower Council, chances are that you think of chicken. And you know the drill, don't you? 11 herbs and spices, buckets, box meals, popcorn chicken, $5 fill-ups... that kind of thing. It's KFC!
Here's what you probably don't think of when you hear 'KFC': porridge, nachos, Parmesan chicken, shrimp donuts, or chocolate hazelnut fries. But to some people, those are as readily available at KFC as a fried wing or a drumstick. As with so many other international fast food chains, the demands of the international market mean that KFC menus in other countries include some seriously weird dishes — at least to us.
Some are attempts to replicate the local culinary customs, some are innovations likely considered too brazen for U.S. shores, and some — well, some are just plain weird. And of course, there are some we wish we could find in U.S. locations. Here are the KFC menu items you won't find in the United States.
The Big Boss at KFC Canada
It seems a little surprising that KFC has never attempted to supplant the market dominance of the Big Mac in the United States. Of course, it's entirely possible that they simply think it's impossible — if you're not even primarily a burger joint, what chance do you have of beating out the burger that is sold 550 million times every year? Let's face it: that's not gonna happen.
But nobody told KFC Canada. In 2014, Canadian KFC branches became home to a (sort of) brand new menu item: the Big Boss sandwich. The Big Boss is almost identical to a Big Mac. It's a double-stacked sandwich, topped with lettuce, pickles, cheese, and a special signature sauce. In Canada, KFC even sells french fries, making the parallels with the Big Mac all the more stark. The only difference? Instead of beef, it's made using fried chicken. At the time of its release, KFC Canada described the Big Boss sandwich as a "sandwich revolution," which provided "a fresh alternative to the iconic double burger."
Despite that, however, the company insisted that the Big Boss wasn't a copy of the Big Mac. "KFC is continuously innovating to adapt to a broad range of customers," insisted Canadian KFC rep David Vivenes. The chain's Facebook fans, however, weren't convinced. One user rather succinctly made clear their suspicions, when they said:
"It looks like a Big Mac made with chicken."
Truffle Parmesan Chicken at KFC Singapore
What's the fanciest thing you could go buy from your nearest branch of KFC right now? If you're American, you might have to go with one of their cakes, or maybe the pot pie. Pies are fancy, right? Okay, so it's not exactly haute cuisine. No one's denying that.
Things are different in Singapore, however. Pop into one of their KFC restaurants and you'll find yourself face-to-face with their Truffle Parmesan Chicken. Released to celebrate Chinese New Year in 2019, this particular twist on the traditional fried chicken recipe includes a truffle-infused cheese sauce and shredded Parmesan cheese — and comes with a free Sjora strawberry kiwi drink.
According to KFC themselves, the recipe was an attempt to draw in younger crowds, inspired by local hipster cafes — which frequently serve truffle fries and truffle pasta dishes. With their fried chicken alternative, KFC said they hoped to give Singaporeans "something different, something premium" that everyone could enjoy during the Chinese New Year.
In their own taste test of the new item, CNA Lifestyle said the Parmesan taste really cuts through on KFC's Truffle Parmesan Chicken, though the restaurant does, apparently, tend to drown the chicken in truffle oil. But hey, maybe you're into that.
KFC breakfasts at KFC Singapore
In America, you wouldn't dream of hitting up KFC for breakfast, unless you had a really, really specific craving (and you woke up really, really late). In some countries, however, the restaurant offers a whole range of breakfast items that have never shown up stateside.
For this, we're in Singapore again, where KFC suggests you 'wake up to the call of the chicken'. Here, you'll find KFC's original recipe porridge, cooked with crispy shallots, chopped spring onion and, in a flex as baffling as it is predictable, chunks of fried chicken. KFC Singapore also offers an Original Recipe Twister, which is basically a breakfast burrito made with fried chicken, as well as the American Twister, which is exactly that but with turkey bacon and hash browns. Then you've got the Original Recipe Platter, which is literally just fried chicken with breakfast sides (scrambled eggs, hash browns and a wholemeal bun, for some reason).
If you'd rather go for a sandwich, though, you could always try the Riser, a chicken fillet burger topped with whole egg and a slice of cheese; or the Brekkie, which contains turkey bacon, fresh whole egg, sliced tomato and cheese. Or, of course, you could get pancakes. But doesn't that seem kinda boring in comparison?
Shrimp Stars and Fish Donuts at KFC Singapore
Someone needs to have a word with the folks down at KFC Singapore, either to tell them to ease off a little or to give them a hell of a pat on the back — because we're back in the Lion City yet again for this one.
Back in 2012, KFC's Singapore branches began offering Shrimp Stars and Fish Donuts. And while that sentence might look like nonsensical word salad ("New to KFC Singapore: mutton trees and fairy legs! Turkey hats and blue fenders!"), that's certainly not the case. Shrimp Stars are essentially shrimp nuggets in the shape of stars that are breaded and deep-fried. Fish Donuts, meanwhile, are fish patties breaded and deep-fried in the shape of donuts. The two items are also available together as a so-called Snacker's Combo.
And that's basically it. Not exactly the most complex recipe in the world, and the shape of these things does kinda make it look like you're eating a weird and terrible school dinner. All in all, though, it's probably a nice idea — if you're the kind of person who goes to fried chicken restaurants for the fish.
Nachos (kind of) at KFC Australia
The closest you're gonna get to nachos in a U.S. KFC is probably the chain's wedges — and that's a pretty big stretch.
But you can in Australia! Or, at least, KFC's own version of nachos, which aren't really nachos at all. And only if you live in Melbourne. And you go to one particular place. At 2 a.m. Oh, also, this all happened in 2019, so even if you do manage to get to that spot in Melbourne at 2 a.m., they'll probably just tell you to go home. It did happen, though, as part of the chain's inexplicable "daylight savings food truck party," which took place for exactly one hour in the middle of the night back in April 2019. The party featured a food truck, local DJs and, of course, KFC's own "chachos."
In case you're wondering, KFC's Chachos consisted of a box of Original Recipe Tenders topped with avocado, "Supercharged Sauce," cheese sauce, and salsa. According to Lifehacker Australia, they're pretty delicious, too — and even better, they're totally free, too! Or, more accurately, they were free.
Sorry.
But hey, now we know that KFC Chachos are a thing, and we can keep crossing our fingers that they'll show up here one day.
Nachos (actually) at KFC South Africa
Okay, we get it — you're kinda bummed out that KFC's nachos turned out to not really be nachos. But panic ye not! All you need to do is hop on a plane to South Africa and you'll be able to get your hands on genuine KFC nachos.
There is another catch here, though, and that's the fact that these come as part of a sandwich; the Nacho Cheese Crunch Burger, in fact. This item is made from a chicken fillet dunked in nacho cheese sauce, topped with a slice of cheese, "cheese-flavored nacho chips" (aka "literally Doritos") and a little mayo to top it all off.
Shortly after its debut, MenStuff headed down to their nearest KFC to give this new sandwich a go. According to them, the chips "add a serious edge of crackleness and are actually an awesome addition," while "the combo of sweet-chili chips on chili cheese sauce [made] for a fairly sultry experience."
Honestly, we're not too sure if this one would work particularly well, but you've still got to give KFC South Africa a little credit for taking something only a college stoner could invent at 4 a.m. and turning it into a nationwide marketing initiative.
Chizza at KFC Singapore (and maybe other locations)
Yeah, you've probably figured this one out. The cleverly-named Chizza is, indeed, a chicken pizza. And no, that doesn't mean chicken as a topping, either. Generously referred to by The Independent as a "low-calorie, high-protein" pizza, the Chizza is quite literally a pizza made with a fried chicken base, topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella. It also comes with ham, pineapple, and KFC sauce as pizza toppings, which, of course, are always bound to be vote-winners.
So where was this delightful monstrosity first launched? Yep. Singapore. But this one, at least, might show up in a store near you sometime soon. Shortly after its launch, KFC told The Express: "We're always looking to introduce delicious new products to our menu, and are really excited about the incredible response Chizza has received around the world. Keep your eyes peeled!"
Perhaps unsurprisingly, responses to the Chizza were mixed after it launched back in 2017. "The KFC Chizza looks revolting," exalted one Twitter user, "but I'm not gonna complain if someone treats me to one." Another user, on the other hand, took some exception to the recipe. "The KFC Chizza," they wrote, "is literally a piece of chicken meat & toppings DONT [sic] BE FOOLED."
And one user might have summed up the whole ordeal best, however, when they tweeted: "the chizza oh my god wHO PUT PINEAPPLE ON MY CHIZZA KFC WHY"
Golden-Wrapped Chicken at KFC Malaysia
Obviously, KFC is all about the fried chicken. That's why they call it KFC, isn't it? In Malaysia, however, one menu item that was introduced back in 2013 could easily have inspired a rebrand from "KFC" to "KPWC." It wouldn't sound as good, but then the word "Chizza" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue either, does it?
Paper-wrapped chicken is a popular Chinese dish that involves marinating chicken in sauce and spices, before wrapping it in paper or tin foil and either deep-frying or baking it. Curiously, KFC's version appears to be baked. According to Malaysian food blogger KYspeaks, this actually comes off rather well, with the chicken being "well-marinated and [carrying] a strong hint of black pepper and a trace of mushroom flavor." He added that the bed of corn on which the chicken is served "gives it a note of subtle sweetness as well."
So there you have it. Marinated chicken, mushrooms and sweetcorn; and none of it is deep-fried. KPWC.
The Double Down Dog at KFC Philippines
Remember the Double Down? It was the so-called "sandwich" that KFC released about a decade ago that consisted of bacon and cheese trapped between two fried chicken fillets. It was an instant hit on the internet and in the media, despite containing enough fat and sodium to kill a mid-sized elephant. At the time, Eater opined: "As far as our research shows, the Double Down is not based on any other sandwich previously sold at another restaurant."
But another sandwich is based on the Double Down. Say hello to the Double Down Dog. This hell-creation was released in the Philippines in 2015, and was made of a fried chicken breast patty wrapped around a hot dog, topped with either ketchup, mayo, or cheese. And despite looking kind of appetizing in the accompanying promo images — in an "oh, screw it, let's do this" kind of way — the actual product appeared... less than appealing. In an "oh God, the horror, the horror" kind of way.
Gravy Mashies at KFC Australia
"Gravy Mashies" might sound like an EP released by an obscure psych-rock outfit from the late '70s, but they're actually a weird, deep-fried potato snack released by KFC in Australia in 2017. Essentially, they're a more portable, bite-size version of the chain's mashed potato side, consisting of balls of mash deep-fried and injected with a splash of KFC gravy. They had actually been introduced to Australia in 2009 — probably because the words "Gravy" and "Mashies" were practically made to be said in an Australian accent — but only as a limited-time offer. Mashies exploded in popularity, however, and soon developed a cult following, leading to a flurry of requests and at least one "Bring Back KFC Mashies" Facebook group. In 2015, KFC tested the gravy-waters by releasing Mashies in Tasmania, and over 130,000 servings were sold in less than two weeks.
In 2017, however, KFC went big, and Mashies were rolled out in 600 locations across Australia. "Our fans have spoken, and we had to listen," KFC marketing director Angela Richards said at the time. "There were thousands of comments on our social post with people outside of Tassie begging for them and asking when they were going to get them. When you have fans that are this passionate, you have to give them what they want."
Nonetheless, they remained a limited time offer — and, sadly, Gravy Mashies haven't been seen since.
Chocolate Hazelnut Fries at KFC Singapore
For this item, we must return to the El Dorado of weird KFC food: Singapore. In a gallant effort to never become known as a city that can't be interesting, Singapore's KFC branches introduced Chocolate Hazelnut Fries in 2018.
There's really not a lot to explain, here. They're fries, and they're drizzled in chocolate-hazelnut sauce. These choco-nut-fries were available at just 10 stores in the city, and only for as long as stocks lasted. But anyone who couldn't get their hands on the Chocolate Hazelnut Fries could opt for the chain's Chocolate Hazelnut Egg Tarts, which were released at the same time. So what was the verdict on the ground?
"KFC chocolate hazelnut fries?!?" exclaimed one Twitter user. "Basically it's just fries and Nutella and I have to pay 4 dollars for that..."
Another tweeted: "KFC selling chocolate hazelnut fries and egg tarts? Sell some good fried chicken first."
Which... oh god. Ouch.
Fried chicken (with a twist) at KFC Japan
"Hold on," you say, "what's such a big deal about KFC serving fried chicken? That's the point of the place – that's why it's called KFC! We've been through this, for goodness' sake!"
Well, first of all: calm down. Second of all, the interesting thing here isn't the nature of the food on offer, so much as it is the quantity. And that's because, in 2016, Japan began offering all-you-can-eat fried chicken every Wednesday for two months to celebrate Colonel Sanders' birthday. And that wasn't the first time, either — they'd done the same thing twice in 2014. So more than likely, they'll do it again, too.
For just 1,380 yen (or around $13.40 at the time), customers were given three pieces of chicken, a biscuit, a small batch of French fries, and a medium soft drink, and for 45 minutes it would be open season on refilling any of those components.
Sora News 24 sent a reporter to cover the event in 2014, and found that they struggled to make it past 15 pieces of chicken. By their reckoning, that would cost 3,750 yen, and because the base meal (three pieces of chicken, a biscuit, fries and a drink) costs 1,340 yen anyway, meaning eating 15 pieces of chicken would save you 2,370 yen, or around $23 at the time. By extension, they say, that would mean that if you make less than $20 an hour at your job, "unlimited KFC is an economically better use of your time than working."
Can't argue with that logic.