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Review by Nickelle Tilley
- I'm an American living in Japan and I visited a Kentucky Fried Chicken location in Japan.
- The KFC in Japan had some unique menu items and some classics — I especially loved the Choco Pie.
- The Twisters (chicken wraps) also impressed me and I enjoyed a limited-edition fried chicken, too.
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As an American living in Japan, I love trying Japanese locations of American-owned fast-food chains.
My family moved from North Carolina to Okinawa, Japan, in 2022. Sometimes visiting US chains that have made their way to this side of the world reminds us of home — plus, locations here usually have different offerings.
Sometimes they're better quality, too. One of my favorites is McDonald's (read about my experience here), which I think is better in Japan than in the US.
Recently, I visited a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Japan. It's super popular here, and Japan is one of the largest markets in the world for KFC, just under the United States and China.
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Here's what it was like trying KFC in Japan as an American.
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KFC locations here have classic menu items and limited-edition ones, plus things you'll only find in Japan.
There are over 1,200 KFC locations throughout Japan, and they look pretty similar to ones I've been to in the US.
Like McDonald's and Starbucks in Japan, KFC offers limited-time new menu items just about every month. These foods and drinks often follow themes for major local events and celebrations, like cherry-blossom season or the autumn harvest moon.
I wish chains in the US would do special releases like these more often.
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We started with the boneless garlic soy-sauce chicken and the crispy strips.
The limited-edition boneless garlic soy-sauce chicken had bits of garlic and sesame seeds on its crispy exterior.
It was packed with spices, the breading was crunchy, and the chicken was juicy. My family loved it.
We got our boneless chicken with a side of crispy chicken strips. The chicken was juicy, and the breading was light, crisp, and flaky.
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We also got a biscuit as one of our sides.
KFC in Japan offers several side-dish options. In addition to crispy strips, we could choose biscuits, nuggets, fries, coleslaw, or a Choco Pie.
Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes, which are two super popular sides in the US, were not available to order.
The biscuit I got was doughnut-shaped and a little bit sweeter compared to the one in the US. It was tasty and served with a packet of honey-maple syrup.
We also tried the coleslaw.
The coleslaw was pretty good, too. It was more finely chopped than what I've typically had in the US, but that didn't take away from the pleasant flavor.
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The last side we tried was the Choco Pie.
I wasn't sure if the Choco Pie was limited edition or not, but I really enjoyed it. It was fun to have such a sweet treat as a side option.
The cocoa crust was crispy and flaky, and the filling was gooey and packed with chocolate flavor.
I'd definitely order this every time I visit KFC.
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Of course, we tried the famous fried chicken.
After placing our order, we waited about 30 minutes for our basket of fried chicken.
I'm unsure if that's typical or if the chain ran out of what they had prepared in advance, but I liked that it came out hot and fresh.
Even though I'm more of a boneless chicken kind of gal, I enjoyed the fried chicken off the bone. The breading was a little lighter and less crunchy than I remember it being in the US, but the meat itself was so juicy and tender.
I get why a popular tradition in Japan is to preorder a large bucket of fried chicken to enjoy on Christmas Day.
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Lastly, I tried some Twisters.
The KFC menu had a few Twisters, which are actually just chicken wraps. They consist of a crispy chicken strip, cheese, lettuce, and sauce inside a tortilla.
Twisters used to be available in the US but haven't been on menus under this name in a decade. Now, they're just wraps.
During my visit, three sauces were available: pepper mayo, teriyaki, and basil lemon.
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The pepper-mayo Twister was my favorite.
I ordered two of the sauce options: pepper mayo, a tomato-based salsa, and basil lemon, a garlicky herb sauce with a touch of citrus.
The basil lemon was also delicious with its unique flavor. The herbs and basil had a strong taste but, paired with the lemon, it was just right.
My favorite of the two, though, was the pepper mayo, which had the perfect balance of spiciness and sweetness.
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Overall, KFC in Japan was definitely a hit.
After my tasty meal, I can see why KFC is such a big deal in Japan.
Like other American-owned fast-food joints, we found the food at its Japan locations to taste a little fresher and less processed than the food in the US.
I look forward to ordering a bucket of fried chicken for Christmas. Until then, I can see myself picking up a Choco Pie and chicken Twister next time I crave KFC.
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