Florida is about to get a whole lot saucier! KFC’s exciting new spinoff restaurant, aptly named “Saucy,” is making Florida its testing ground with multiple locations already in the works across the Sunshine State.
What Makes Saucy Different?
Unlike traditional KFC, Saucy is all about the boneless experience. This isn’t your typical fast-food joint – think vibrant neon pink and orange interiors that scream social media-ready, combined with a menu that puts sauce front and center.
The concept focuses exclusively on chicken tenders paired with an impressive array of 11 different sauces. It’s a bold departure from KFC’s bone-in heritage, targeting a younger, more adventurous dining crowd that wants their chicken Instagram-ready and mess-free.
Florida: The Perfect Testing Ground
Orlando was selected for Saucy’s first location due to its diverse demographic, making the City Beautiful the perfect laboratory for this new dining concept. The inaugural location opened its doors in December 2024, and the response has been strong enough to fuel rapid expansion plans.
The Florida Takeover Begins
Here’s where it gets interesting for Florida food lovers: Saucy isn’t just testing the waters – they’re making waves. Yum! Brands is converting 13 former PDQ locations across Florida into various concepts, with several becoming Saucy restaurants.
The expansion includes:
- Central Florida: 4 locations
- North Florida: 3 locations
- West Coast Florida: 6 locations
One confirmed location is a 3,312-square-foot restaurant at 4816 Gate Parkway in Jacksonville, which will seat 66 customers with both indoor and patio dining.
Why This Matters for Florida Foodies
This expansion represents more than just new restaurant openings – it’s a sign that Florida continues to be the go-to state for food innovation. From theme park dining experiments to chain restaurant pilots, the Sunshine State’s diverse population and tourism industry make it ideal for testing new concepts.
Saucy’s focus on boneless chicken and creative sauces also taps into current dining trends: shareable social media moments, customizable experiences, and mess-free eating that works whether you’re a theme park tourist or a local grabbing lunch.
Sippers take the stage with a mix of classic and flavorful beverages, including:
- Passion Fruit + Orange + Guava Refresher
- Hot Honey Watermelon Refresher
- Peach-Mango Lemonade
- Peach-Mango Lemonade Freeze
- Blue Raspberry Freeze
- Tropical Black Tea
- Classic Iced Tea
The Sauce Factor
What really sets Saucy apart is its commitment to variety. With 11 different sauces available, diners can customize their experience far beyond what traditional chicken restaurants offer. This approach mirrors the success of other sauce-forward concepts and acknowledges that today’s diners want options and personalization.
In Orlando, Saucy debuted with 11 signature sauces – the number being a playful nod to the 11 herbs & spices in KFC’s Original Recipe:
- Chimichurri Ranch
- Peri Peri Ranch
- Jalapeno Pesto Ranch
- Smokey Bacon Ranch
- Thai Sweet ‘N Spicy
- Sweet ‘N Saucy BBQ
- Saucy’s Sauce
- Spicy Mango Chutney
- Saucy Ranch
- Creole Honey Mustard
- Sweet Teriyaki
Looking Ahead
As Saucy prepares to roll out across Florida through 2025, it will be fascinating to watch how this concept performs in different Florida markets. Will the vibrant, social media-friendly atmosphere work as well in smaller Florida cities as it does in Orlando’s tourist-heavy environment?
For Florida food enthusiasts, this expansion means more dining options and the excitement of being among the first to experience a concept that could eventually go national. After all, many successful restaurant chains have used Florida as their testing ground before expanding across the country.
Keep an eye out for these Saucy locations – they represent not just new places to grab chicken tenders, but Florida’s continuing role as America’s food innovation playground.
Have you spotted a new Saucy location in your Florida neighborhood? Share your sauce combinations and dining experiences – Florida is leading the way in this bold new dining concept!