Anyone remember when KFC was actually good...?

Just curious how many of you remember when KFC was actually finger-lickin' good (apparently pre-1987).
Took my mother out to dinner, wanted something different, thought what the hell, give ol' KFC a try. What a dissappointment, bland flavorless chicken, skin is crunchy but barely has any taste. Started getting nostalgic, remembering when I was younger wanting to damn near gnaw my fingers off the grease from KFC was so addictive. We used to joke about wanting to by a bucket of fried chicken skin.
Sad to think there is a generation of Americans that have no idea that KFC was like chicken-crack back in the day. Makes you wonder what else has been lost because of lawyers, bad-blood and the passage of time.

Apparently there's some restaurants somewhere out East run by relatives of THE Colonel that still have a version of the original sin chicken. Anyone lucky enough to live near one? Or better yet, do you have a recipe? POST IT.

Nearest I could find is this seasoning that was once endorsed by THE Colonel as being good enough:

Chicken Seasoning 99-X – Marion Kay Spices

 

I remember when we would go to my grandparents on weekends and have a big KFC dinner. I always loved it. Now I don’t touch the shit.

 

KFC sucks.

Publix Supermarkets have good fried chicken, that's what I usually buy if I want some.

 

Yeah KFC definitely isn't what it used to be. It's sad when stores like superone/rosauers, Safeway and Albertsons has better chicken.

 

My wife still eats KFC chicken livers.
I pass on that trip.


plus I can’t get this out of my brain.

 

Chicken gizzards are yummy. Just think of them as Fried Chicken Flavored Gummy Bears.

 

kfc sux! CHURCH'S RULEZ!!!

Golden Chic
Hartz
Chicken Express

 

I don’t Ming that kind of stuff from a reliable source.
KFC is not a reliable source.

I like the shotgun restaurants with the side by side deal.

KFC x Taco Bell
KFC x Popeyes
KFC x Long John Silver


This just screams quality.

 

Usually that is a regional thing because the actual owning company is franchised in multiple brands. When I was a kid working at Pizza Hut in Wyoming (and much of the West) there was a company that owned/franchised all the KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bells in several states. They pair them up side by side so they can have greater appeal to difference tastes/brands, but keep all the profits going into one coffer. It's pretty ingenious. I mean, who is your competition when you own your competition?

 

We had one that had all three that we referred to as the Taco Chicka-Hut

 

wait... KFC x Popeyes is a thing?!

 

I think they’re owned by the same parent company.
The company that owns Popeyes staring buying KFCs Back around 2012.
Not sure if that’s still the same though.

 

not owned by the same company!

KFC changed the recipe years ago to make it have less saturated fats, now KFC SUCKS.

 

Yes it’s changed over the years

At the same time - so have we. When talking about 40 years ago - it’s likely your “taste” have changed and you have become more picky now than you were then.

There was a time I could stomach Bud Light or cheap liquor too - things change as our taste evolve.

And take a look at the chickens from say 1985 compared to today - things are steroided monsters now.

 

The Colonel's chicken sandwich is pretty God damn good !

 

KFC was "worse " for you back then but interestingly, if u ever notice, there was hardly any fat ppl in movies, news or tv. Now every other person is a porker. Makes you wonder if the whole healthier fast food thing is too little too late.

 

Around here we call’em KenTacoHut

 

KFC, taste like chicken... Will pass on better local broasted chicken...

 

I remember when they had these

 

I like the sides. The chicken is “fine”, though their new sandwich isn’t half-bad.

 

This
All fast food changed when they got rid of the good stuff trans fats
Never been a big fast food eater but always loved Mc fries, KFC, and the crisps from Long Johns
Can’t even remember the last time I actually had a ff meal other then KFC maybe a couple times a year

 

The KFC near me in the 80s had a all you could eat lunch deal. It was good. Then it closed. I think I have tried KFC twice since then and was disappointed both times.

 

Oh, hell no! Don't you guys have a locally owned that makes good fried chicken? I would put this up against anything.

https://www.wandajs.com/

 

KFC is being taken over by Chik-Fil-A

Finally we are getting one in my town way up here in Ohio!

Reminds me of when I lived in Georgia.

Way better than KFC and hopefully it will close down the KFC that’s across the street from the under construction Chik-Fil-A

 

+1 on golden chick… this guy knows what’s up

Popeyes has really gone down the toilet. The ones local to me literally will tell you when you order it’s going to be 30 minutes for your order… I manage a very busy restaurant and 30 minutes for chicken is a joke

 

As others have stated, its the change in cooking method to be more "healthy" or eco-friendly.

McDonalds fries used to be so hot it would almost hurt to eat, incredibly salty, and the beef tallow they fried in made them taste fantastic. Now they're soggy, gross, and supposedly "better" for us. They haven't figured out a better way to adapt and create a superior product again. Corporate continues to think innovation is new salads (which they discontinued), premium burgers, and other nonsense to attract customers.

There's a reason Chic-FilA is killing it right now. Superior product vs direct competitors, at a similar price, with friendly employees.

McDs/KFC/et al will survive long term because they're too big to fail. They'll keep going by sheer mass alone, but they won't grow as in years past, and will slowly close less profitable locations over time. All because they refuse to innovate into creating a superior product once again.

 

Lets be real here, part of the KFC and it's counterpart Long John Silver's built in experience is "just how shit can we make this experience and people still eat here". I've come to that realization. Every one of them, everywhere I've been, more than likely every where I ever go, will have cold food, disrespectful employees, questionable bathrooms, dirty parking lots, sticky tables, food that appears before you even complete your order. It has to be the first page in their handbook.

Let me tell you the woe of my local small town KFC/Pepsi Co Counterpart.

It started off in roughly the mid 80s we had a standalone KFC on a main highway in our town. It was forking delicious. I can remember how good it was, I was like 8 at the time, it was that good I still remember. Then... They added a Taco Bell into the building, you know, the Taco place that hasn't figured out side orders so they just give you more entrees as a side; no I would not like 2 tacos as a side to my burrito. Everything went downhill from there. Consistently through the 90s basically nobody went there and the Toxic Bell side finally closed leaving just cold chicken behind. This location was twice raided for selling marijuana. I mean, I wish I knew it was that easy, would have saved me some time. Anyway, location finally closed.

About a year later a new location sprouted up on a piece of property on the other major highway in our town. This time a combo KFC/LJS. New building, new ownership, entirely new staff. Literally opening fracking day, the store manager and two employees were arrested for possession and ingestion of marijuana. Turns out they were burning up a bowl on break in plain view while police were eating at another establishment. Wow.

The wife and I gave it one last go. I like KFC, she likes LJS (barf)... Our last visit (ever might I add, any location) the employee greeted us with "what do you want", umm, ok. Lady was standing in line while the kid she was holding was screaming, finally a cook from in back came and retrieved her baby from this other lady and proceeded to make food while holding a screaming baby on one hip. Amazing. Once again, cold food. Location was filthy. I just don't get it. This brand new location closed within 5 years, the LJS side lasted 2 of those years.

I won't give them any money, ever again.

 

I used to work for KFC. Fellow cook's *LEGAL* name was Mongo. I'm dead serious.

So no, I do not remember when KFC was good. LOL