Ladies and gentlemen, the fast-food cold war between KFC and McDonald’s has been heating up! Weeks ago, KFC released their new “Burger Banjir”, a Zinger burger glazed with their signature Salai Barbercue Sauce. In response, it seems that McDonald’s unleashed their “Rockin’ BBQ” chicken and beef burgers, topped with their very own BBQ sauce. Coincidence? We think not.
Now, KFC has fired back at McDonald’s, taking aim at their popular “Spicy Ayam Goreng”. Introducing the new “Extra Hot and Spicy Chicken” from KFC. Heck, the colour of the skin itself mirrors the fiery orange hue of McDonald’s spicy chicken batter.
Come on Colonel…you really thought we wouldn’t notice? KFC is also offering a rather familiar side dish with their “Kentang Goncang” fries that comes with a bag of some Hot and Spicy Powder. Sounds an awful lot like McDonald’s “McShaker Fries” doesn’t it? Anyways, we tried both these dishes and we’re going to do a breakdown of whether you should too.
Price and Portion
In typical “Snack Plate” fashion, we ordered the 2-piece combo that came with a side of coleslaw, mashed potato alongside a cup of Nestle’s Lemonade drink for the price of RM15.99. Altogether, it’s not too far off from what you’d get from a regular “Snack Plate” combo. As for the “Kentang Goncang” fries, it cost around RM 6 for a packet. We felt that the price of what is essentially a small burger for a pack of fries was a little overpriced in that regard.
We wanted to get the range of all of KFC’s new items in a single bundle. That way, we could enjoy the full package of KFC’s “Extra Hot and Spicy” dishes in one go instead of having to make individual purchases. Perhaps, they meant the “Kentang Goncang” to be seen as an impulse purchase on the side. Frankly, we’re doubtful anyone will drop RM 6 for a regular pack of fries with some spicy powder.
In terms of the price for the actual 2-piece combo, the price is fairly accessible seeing that it’s essentially the same you’d pay for a snack plate. The “Kentang Goncang” pack, we’d caution you to give a try once if you’re really curious to see how they taste.
Taste and Flavour
Enough money talk, it’s time to get to the meat of the issue. How does it taste? Honestly, we were quite disappointed. Essentially, it’s a less intense version of the “Spicy Ayam Goreng” from McDonald’s. KFC already has a spicy variation of their fried chicken. So when we heard that this was going to be extra spicy, we were expecting a next level kick to the flavour. Unfortunately, the seasoning was underwhelming. No dry rub or sauce to add any heat, just mediocre, bland batter to coat the skin. To be fair, the chicken in KFC has always been juicier and more substantial in terms of meat. Other than that, it doesn’t hold a candle to the intense heat of McDonald’s “Spicy Ayam Goreng”.
That being said, we did thoroughly enjoy the “Kentang Goncang” on the menu. We expected it to be a lazy “Spicy McShaker” fries clone. Surprisingly, it’s got a lot more kick to it than we expected. There’s a lovely lingering heat that burns at the back of the palette long after your first bite. It’s an addictive heat, like munching on your favourite potato chip. Perhaps, if you shook your piecesof chicken in the powder, you could actually taste some spice in the chicken.
Verdict
Overall, it’s hard to recommend KFC’s “Extra Hot and Spicy Chicken” beyond a curious purchase. Especially, when you take into account the fact that there are other franchises and restaurants that offer better deals. If not, spicier chicken. You’re better off sticking to the Original and Spicy flavours already available. The “Kentang Goncang” is a bit more contentious. It’s a tasty little snack but compared to a large pack of “Cheesy Wedges”, it doesn’t stand a chance in the portion department. Now, if KFC decides to make a chicken-and-fries combo in the future. We can see some potential. For now, we’d have to categorise this whole spicy fad as a miss. When it comes to fried chicken, Malaysians have a high bar.
So what do you guys think of KFC’s new “Extra Hot and Spicy Chicken”? Will you give it a try? Are there other chicken-joints you’d like us to visit? Be sure to leave us a comment and share if you want to see us do more food reviews!
