One of the world’s largest restaurant companies has brought its latest concept to the Sarasota area.
Louisville, Kentucky-based YUM! Brands recently opened a Saucy! by KFC restaurant in Lakewood Ranch at 5484 Lena Road, replacing a former PDQ restaurant.
The Manatee County location is one of six Tampa Bay area openings for Saucy! by KFC, a concept centered on freshly prepared chicken tenders paired with a variety of crafted sauces, according to the company.
YUM! Brands acquired 13 Florida PDQ Chicken restaurants last September. PDQ Sarasota, located at 5164 S. Tamiami Trail, was not part of that transaction and is not going to become a Saucy! by KFC.
What is Saucy! by KFC?
The national standalone concept first opened in Orlando, Florida in December 2024.
There are currently 11 restaurants in Florida, and six — including Lakewood Ranch — in the Tampa Bay region.
What’s on the menu?
Saucy! focuses on opportunities for patrons to customize each meal to their taste buds. Diners can pick a combo, choose a flight of sauces or mix sauces and sides to create the perfect meal. The basic menu offerings include:
A “Big Sammie” features two crispy, golden chicken tendies stacked between a soft, slightly sweet King’s Hawaiian bun with greens, hash brown straws and a Saucy! Sauce.
Other sandwiches and bowls are also available.
What sauces are available?
Saucy is all about, well, the sauces. Patrons can pick from an eleven-flavor lineup inspired by KFC’s iconic 11 herbs and spices, including:
What drinks are on the menu?
Drinks include traditional fountain flavors as well as a collaboration with DRIPS by Pepsi launching exclusively at Saucy!
Those flavors include:
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Major restaurant chain brings bold new concept to Sarasota area
Reporting by Earle Kimel and Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
