The KFC fried chicken has returned to the country and we have set out to taste it

Eight years after closing the last branch here and after three unsuccessful rounds, KFC is trying its luck here again, with the first branch in Nazareth, and this time the non-kosher version, so this time they managed to restore the good and familiar taste here? We went to check

The KFC fried chicken has returned to the country and we have set out to taste it

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Stripes and Bates at the new KFC branch in Nazareth (Photo: Reut Sahar)

kfc (Photo: Reut Crescent, Reut Crescent)

Three times over the past two decades, KFC has tried to succeed in Israel and failed. Today she is trying for the fourth time. The chain entered Israel in 1975 with its first branch in Herzliya, followed by other branches, but five years later, activity in Israel ceased because of financial difficulties and KFC disappeared from the area.

In 1988, she reappeared here with a branch in Tel Aviv that was also closed shortly. In 1993 another attempt was made by an energy generation company when the first branch of this round opened in the gold mall in Rishon Lezion and six more locations until the network was sold to businessman Udi Shamai and re-launched in 2003 with eight more branches. In 2009, the entire network became kosher and later became in difficulties and closed all its branches, the last being the branch in Ayalon Mall which closed in 2012.

It should be noted that the difficulties of the network to succeed in Israel have coincided with a tremendous global success, with dozens of branches opening every year worldwide.

The famous bakkat with sharp wings and chicken on the bone (Photo: Yael Laor)

kfc (Photo: Yael Laor, Yael Laor)

KFC, the acronym for Kentucky Fried Chicken, is one of the world's largest fast food chains, with more than 23,000 branches in 140 countries around the world. KFC's fried chicken is a brand and the bucket (bucket) it comes from is a culinary icon that is known throughout the world and has received countless imitations, which is how the brand has been around for more than 70 years.

The network was established by Colonel Herland Sanders in 1939, who is still in the chain's logo with his glasses, apron and tie identified to this day. Sanders had a secret recipe for chicken that includes about 11 ingredients that are still one of the biggest secrets in the food industry today, which he used to make fried chicken, which he initially sold in a small gas station store in Kentucky and later in several stores in the area. Twenty-five years later, Sanders sold the franchise on the brand for $ 2 million, which was repeated several times when the brand was sold another three more times and went hands-on.

Today, the fourth round of the chain in Israel opens with the first branch in the city of Nazareth. Not Tel Aviv, not Rishon LeZion, Nazareth. And if you're wondering about choosing it as the network's first location in the current comeback round, then know that it's calculated. While KFC has failed time and time again in Israel, the West Bank has over 10 branches that operate successfully. In general, KFC is very successful in Arab countries and the Arab sector in Israel has quite a few imitations of fried chicken. Nazareth, a vibrant and bustling city, was selected by the chain for its first branch after two years of careful examination of the market and of honesty. Further branches are expected to be opened throughout the country. What will be different this time? In the recent downfall of the chain in Israel, there were claims that the training of the network damaged the product itself and its taste. Although there is no evidence that this was the case, this time KFC is introducing a product in Israel that is completely identical to that offered at branches all over the world. What can you eat at the Israeli branch?

The menu is quite large, and a little difficult to get to know at first. It is divided into categories of burgers, tortillas, chicken meals, baked meals (the famous bucket) and children’s meals. Among the chicken products are chicken on the bone, bites, strips (strips) and sharp wings. There are also various salads and toppings (coleslaw salad and fries).

Singer Burger (Photo: Reut Sahar)

KFC, Kentucky Fried Chicken (Photo: Reut Crescent, Reut Crescent)

So how's the taste?

KFC’s chicken did not disappoint. The result was a great match for the memories of distant lands. There are some really good dishes - the spicy wings (from NIS 8 for two units to NIS 75 for 25 units) are great, and there were some of our favorite dishes - crispy and spicy. Also the strips (NIS 15 for 2 units and NIS 49 for 9 units) - a dish of chicken strips, stood out very well with soft and juicy chicken in a crispy and slightly sweet shell, and was our favorite.

From the classic bake, we sampled fried chicken chunks on the bone (NIS 12 per unit and NIS 73 per 9 units), which were not crisp enough but soft and broke apart as they were supposed to. We also tasted a Bates portion (NIS 14-55), small bite-sized chunks with a particularly crisp margin.

The burger section is particularly notable for the singer burger (NIS 17-39), which is a huge burger from two soft chicken pieces accompanied by a sauce that connects everything to a corrupt, and quite successful, American bite. We also tasted the Master Box (NIS 33), chicken and fire brown (a kind of potato pie) in tortilla, a dish that was a bit dry, less enjoyable, and most successful in its current taste.

The only thing that really annoyed us was the notable absence of KFC's excellent sauces all over the world, the sweet chilli sauce, mustard and honey sauce, sour sauce, smoked barbecue sauce, ceramic ranch sauce, and of course the chain liqueur sauce - the finger lickin ' good souce, all are excellent sauces that make the chicken experience varied and wonderful. Here in Nazareth, generous sauces were served by Helmens and Heinz (ketchup, mayonnaise, garlic sauce, hot chilli and barbecue), which is a little less fun to dip the chicken in.

With the exception of the sauces, it seems that this time KFC has managed to restore the original flavor that characterizes the network. Omar Zeidner, CEO of KFC in Israel, talks about opening dozens of branches around the country in 3-4 years, but it is currently unclear where and when another branch will open. If you are on your way to the north and you feel a little America, put Wise to Paul Street Sixth in Nazareth, you will already recognize the man in glasses waiting for you here.

KFC, Paul VI 116 Nazareth, Sunday - Saturday: 11am - 11pm. Not kosher