KFC was one of the first fried chicken restaurants I ever went to, so it sort of shaped the way I look at fried chicken everywhere. You would think, then, that KFC would be my favorite fast-food fried chicken restaurant. I thought so, too, but apparently, my palate has evolved since childhood, and KFC simply doesn’t hold up.
I ordered the two-piece Taste of KFC deal, which comes with one thigh and one drumstick, plus mashed potatoes and gravy and a biscuit. The extra crispy breading is, indeed, extra crispy, and while I know there are 11 top-secret herbs and spices in it, the only one I could taste was salt — and a lot of it. The chicken itself was perfectly tender and juicy, though.
The biscuit was killer, especially with butter and honey, but the mashed potatoes and gravy were just okay. The potatoes were a little too smooth for my liking, which makes sense — after all, KFC uses instant potato flakes, not real, whole potatoes, to make the mash. Sides like coleslaw, corn, macaroni and cheese, and fries are also available. If I’d had the choice, I would have gone with the coleslaw, which I know is excellent, but the Taste of KFC deal locked me into mashed potatoes.
As for the value, for $5.00, the Taste of KFC deal — the least expensive meal of all the restaurants I tried — is certainly hard to beat. It’s worth noting, however, that the regular two-piece chicken meal includes one side — your choice — and a drink, but it costs $8.49.