KFC Spinoff Opens Tampa Flagship With Exclusive Menu Items and Sauce Selection

Saucy! by KFC launched its flagship spot at 12650 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Carrollwood on Saturday, April 25. This chicken-tender outpost represents the second Tampa-area restaurant for the brand, which arrived in town earlier this year.

Hand-battered fried chicken tenders take center stage, paired with more than a dozen sauces. Tenders come with dipping sauces and fries. Or guests can choose tacos, burritos, sandwiches, rice bowls, or salads — all built around tenders and sauce.

Two items exist only at this Carrollwood flagship. A partnership with DRIPS by Pepsi delivers four mood-inspired drinks at every location, plus a fifth beverage called Tropical Energy Escape sold exclusively in Carrollwood. The site also offers the Big Sammie, constructed with King's Hawaiian buns and loaded with crispy tenders, greens, hashbrown straws, and a sauce of your choosing.

The company aims to "bring a modern, experiential approach to fast food," according to That's So Tampa. Yum! Brands runs the chain. They own both KFC and Taco Bell.

A "Saucy! Soiree" ran from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on opening day. Guided tastings with a "Sauce Sommelier" drew crowds. Swag bags went home with guests.

The menu sprawls wide. Kimchi chicken tacos sit next to ranchero chicken burritos and chicken Caesar salad. Sides feature crinkle-cut fries, brussels sprouts, mac and cheese, and King's Hawaiian toast.

Twelve sauce choices await. Chimichurri Ranch, Creole Honey Mustard, Jalapeno Pesto Ranch, Saucy Ranch, Saucy's Sauce, Smokey Bacon Ranch, Sweet N Spicy BBQ, Sweet Teriyaki, Korean Sweet Heat, Salsa Ranchero, Thai Sweet N Spicy, and Caesar fill out the lineup.

Six Saucy! locations will dot Tampa Bay Area by summer's end. Restaurants in Temple Terrace, Trinity, and Bradenton are scheduled to open in the coming months.

Central Florida served as the launch market. Tampa ranks among the first markets to receive the full rollout.