KFC opens a Texas restaurant to test ideas for reclaiming its fried chicken crown
KFC is testing a new pilot restaurant concept called Open House in McKinney, Texas, to boost trade by offering fast-casual services at fast-food prices. The experimental location introduces fast-casual features such as table service and premium drinks, alongside the chain's first-ever breakfast menu. This operational test forms part of a broader brand strategy to reclaim market ground through innovative restaurant experiences. The Louisville-based chain owned by Yum! Brands is utilizing the McKinney site to evaluate customer responses to these service and menu upgrades.
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- ✓ KFC is opening a new type of pilot restaurant called Open House in McKinney, Texas.
- ✓ The objective of the Open House concept is to offer fast-casual services, including table service and premium drinks, at fast-food prices.
- ✓ The McKinney location features KFC's first-ever breakfast menu.
What changed
KFC opened a pilot restaurant called Open House in McKinney, Texas, featuring fast-casual elements like table service and the brand's first-ever breakfast menu.
Live updates
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KFC Tests Open House Pilot Restaurant in McKinney
KFC is testing a new pilot restaurant concept called Open House in McKinney, Texas, to boost trade by offering fast-casual services at fast-food prices. The experimental location introduces fast-casual features such as table service and premium drinks, alongside the chain's first-ever breakfast menu. This operational test forms part of a broader brand strategy to reclaim market ground through innovative restaurant experiences. The Louisville-based chain owned by Yum! Brands is utilizing the McKinney site to evaluate customer responses to these service and menu upgrades.
Why it matters
The fast food industry has experienced significant operational shake-ups in 2026, marked by widespread price adjustments and recipe reformulations. Chains are actively testing new layouts and menus to capture shifting consumer demand. The McKinney test site represents an effort by KFC to adapt traditional quick-service operations into fast-casual formats.
What is confirmed
- KFC is opening a new type of pilot restaurant called Open House in McKinney, Texas.
- The objective of the Open House concept is to offer fast-casual services, including table service and premium drinks, at fast-food prices.
- The McKinney location features KFC's first-ever breakfast menu.
What to watch next
- Expansion of the Open House pilot concept to additional U.S. markets
- Customer response and sales data from the McKinney, Texas test location
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (5)
- finance.yahoo.com — 9 Biggest Changes To The Fast Food Industry In 2026 (So Far)
- trademagazin.hu — KFC’s pilot concept - Trademagazin
- cravedfw.com — The Heat Check: 15 DFW Spots Everyone's Talking About, From ...
- finance.yahoo.com — KFC Brings Brand Evolution to Life with the World-First Launch of its Immersive Restaurant Concept, KFC Muse, in Dubai
- www.wfmz.com — ‘Come hungry’: Fast-growing Mexican restaurant opens 1st Pa. location in Bethlehem
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KFC tests new concepts at McKinney Texas location
KFC is attempting to regain its market position by operating an experimental restaurant in McKinney, Texas. This test site introduces table service, boba drinks, and breakfast menu items. These operational changes coincide with a nationwide shift in beverage suppliers from Pepsi to The Coca-Cola Company, which begins in January and aims for a full U.S. rollout by spring 2027. The Louisville-based chain, owned by Yum! Brands, is also focusing on value offerings and the return of popular menu items to attract customers.
Why it matters
The brand has undergone significant ownership shifts since Colonel Sanders sold the business for $2 million in 1964. It was sold again seven years later for $285 million. Current efforts reflect a broader strategy to modernize the dining experience.
What is confirmed
- KFC is transitioning its U.S. beverage supplier from Pepsi to The Coca-Cola Company.
- The company operates an experimental restaurant in McKinney, Texas, featuring boba drinks, table service, and breakfast.
- Yum! Brands is the parent company of KFC.
Still unconfirmed
- KFC is finding ways to provide value and bringing back loved menu items in 2026.
What to watch next
- Completion of the Coca-Cola rollout by spring 2027
- Expansion of the McKinney test concepts to other U.S. locations
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (2)
- www.thetakeout.com — KFC Is Still Doing These 5 Things Right In 2026, Despite All ...
- finance.yahoo.com — How Colonel Sanders Sold KFC for $2 Million at Age 73, Then ...
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KFC Shifts U.S. Beverage Supplier from Pepsi to Coca-Cola
Kentucky Fried Chicken is switching its domestic beverage supplier from Pepsi to The Coca-Cola Company, starting with a January transition and a full rollout planned across the U.S. system by spring 2027. This change follows recent efforts by the global fast-food chain to revamp its market position, which includes opening an experimental test restaurant in McKinney, Texas, featuring breakfast items, table service, and boba drinks. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, the chain operates globally under parent company Yum! Brands.
Why it matters
KFC ranks as the world's second-largest restaurant chain by sales behind McDonald's, managing over 31,980 locations across 150 countries as of September 2025. The brand was originally founded by Colonel Harland Sanders during the Great Depression and is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, which also owns Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. The ongoing menu and operational tests in Texas, alongside beverage supplier updates, reflect efforts to capture wider segments of the day.
What is confirmed
- KFC U.S. announced a new beverage partnership with The Coca-Cola Company.
- The chain will transition its beverage partnership beginning in January with a full rollout across the domestic system by spring 2027.
- KFC Corporation is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, and is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands.
- The chain had over 31,980 locations globally in 150 countries as of September 2025.
What to watch next
- The official start of the beverage transition in January 2027
- The full rollout of Coca-Cola products across the domestic system by spring 2027
- Further updates from the McKinney, Texas experimental restaurant
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (7)
- en.wikipedia.org — KFC - Wikipedia
- www.mercurynews.com — Retail – The Mercury News
- finance.yahoo.com — TWO SECRET RECIPES, ONE ICONIC PARTNERSHIP: KFC® U.S. ANNOUNCES NEW BEVERAGE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
- www.nrn.com — KFC U.S. switches from Pepsi to Coke
- www.whittierdailynews.com — Restaurant reviews and news: Whittier Daily News
- www.bostonherald.com — Food and Beverage | Boston Herald
- locations.kfc.com — KFC® at 57 W. Combs Road in Queen Creek, AZ | KFC®
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KFC tests fried chicken revival at Texas Open House
KFC opened an experimental restaurant called Open House in McKinney, Texas, on September 26 to test new ideas for reversing its declining US market position. The location features breakfast items, boba drinks, cozy seating, and table service. This test site, led by US President Catherine Tan-Gillespie, aims to attract diners seeking morning, afternoon, and late-night options.
Why it matters
KFC is trying to reclaim its fried chicken crown in the US market. The company is testing a new restaurant prototype, Open House, to incorporate fresh ideas and potentially update its over 3,400 US locations. This development comes as KFC faces declining market position in the United States.
What is confirmed
- KFC opened a new prototype restaurant called Open House in McKinney, Texas.
- The Open House location features breakfast items, boba drinks, cozy seating, and table service.
- The test site is led by KFC US President Catherine Tan-Gillespie.
- The experimental restaurant aims to attract diners seeking morning, afternoon, and late-night options.
What to watch next
- KFC's US market performance after the Open House test
- Potential updates to over 3,400 US locations
- Customer response to new menu items and services at Open House
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (6)
- www.thetimes-tribune.com — Restaurants Food and Drink – Scranton Times-Tribune
- www.topagrar.com — KFC eröffnet Open House: Test-Restaurant der nächsten ...
- soyummy.com — KFC Opens a Restaurant Unlike Any It Has Before, and Its Menu ...
- www.dailynews.com — Food – Daily News
- www.gmtoday.com — Restaurants | gmtoday.com
- www.presstelegram.com — Restaurants Food and DrinkRestaurants Food and Drink
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KFC Tests New Restaurant Concepts in Texas to Revive U.S. Business
Fried chicken chain KFC is testing a new restaurant prototype in Texas called Open House to reverse its declining United States market position. The experimental location features breakfast items, boba drinks, cozy seating, and table service. This test site serves as a testing ground for turnaround strategies led by United States President Catherine Tan-Gillespie, incorporating the Go Bucket alongside operational changes designed to attract diners seeking morning, afternoon, and late-night options.
Why it matters
KFC faces intense competition in the domestic market from rivals such as Raising Cane's, prompting a search for fresh operational strategies. The brand is evaluating novel menu items and service models to recapture consumer interest across multiple dayparts.
What is confirmed
- The chain is testing breakfast, boba, table service, and cozy seating to turn around its United States business.
- The new restaurant serves as a testing ground for United States President Catherine Tan-Gillespie's turnaround plan and the Go Bucket.
What to watch next
- Decisions by corporate leadership to expand the Open House prototype to additional markets.
- Customer reception and sales data from the McKinney, Texas test location.
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (2)
- www.dailymail.com — Would you pay more to dine out at a KFC? Fried chicken giant ...
- www.restaurantbusinessonline.com — The KFC Open House prototype just may be the spark the brand ...
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KFC Tests Open House Prototype in McKinney, Texas
KFC has opened an experimental Open House restaurant in McKinney, Texas, to test new operational concepts and menu items aimed at reviving its domestic market position. The test location features a U.S. first for the chain by introducing breakfast items, specialty boba drinks, expanded chicken tender varieties, and custom dipping sauces alongside table service and late-night hours. Operating from 6am to midnight, the prototype also incorporates double drive-thru technology to target morning and afternoon snacking occasions as the brand contends with rising competition from rivals like Raising Cane's.
Why it matters
The global fast-food chain launched the McKinney prototype to modernize its U.S. brand presence and counter market pressures from competitors. Franchisees are closely monitoring the test site to evaluate how sit-down dining and all-day service models could impact broader restaurant remodeling strategies.
What is confirmed
- KFC launched a new Open House test restaurant in McKinney, Texas.
- The McKinney location features breakfast items, specialty boba drinks, expanded chicken tenders, and custom dipping sauces.
- The prototype tests sit-down dining, table service, and late-night hours.
- The restaurant operates from 6am to midnight and includes double drive-thru technology.
- KFC U.S. President Catherine Tan-Gillespie called the prototype the Kentucky Fried comeback made real in one restaurant.
What to watch next
- Franchisee feedback and decisions regarding remodel costs for the Open House prototype
- Performance data on breakfast, late-night hours, and new menu categories at the Texas location
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (6)
- foodcolumn.com — KFC Opens New Texas Test Restaurant to Reinvent Its U.S ...
- 1851franchise.com — KFC Open House Prototype: What It Means for Franchisees
- www.telegraphherald.com — KFC opens a Texas restaurant to test ideas for reclaiming its ...
- capitaldigest.com — KFC Tests Table Service & Breakfast at Texas Restaurant
- article.wn.com — KFC opens a Texas restaurant to test ideas for reclaiming its ...
- www.diningandcooking.com — KFC Open House Prototype: What It Means for Franchisees
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KFC Tests Radical New Open House Prototype in Texas
KFC has launched an experimental restaurant in McKinney, Texas, called Open House, to test new designs and operational strategies. KFC U.S. President Catherine Tan-Gillespie called the prototype the Kentucky Fried comeback made real in one restaurant. The Texas branch serves as a testing ground for fresh concepts as the company works to reclaim its market position against competitors like Raising Cane's. The location introduces a U.S. first for the chain by offering breakfast, late-night hours, table service, expanded tenders, and new beverage and side options.
Why it matters
KFC operates as a subsidiary of Yum! Brands and stands as the world's second-largest restaurant chain by sales behind McDonald's, maintaining over 31,980 global locations across 150 countries as of September 2025. Colonel Harland Sanders founded the chain, opening the first franchise in South Salt Lake, Utah, in 1952, and popularized chicken in a fast-food industry previously dominated by hamburgers. The brand is now testing the Open House concept in Texas to address rising pressure from domestic rivals.
What is confirmed
- KFC launched an experimental restaurant named Open House in McKinney, Texas.
- Catherine Tan-Gillespie stated that the McKinney location represents the Kentucky Fried comeback made real in one restaurant.
- KFC is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands and operates over 31,980 locations globally in 150 countries as of September 2025.
What to watch next
- Performance metrics and customer reception data from the McKinney Open House prototype
- Decisions by Yum! Brands to roll out Open House menu items or design elements to other U.S. locations
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (3)
- flipboard.com — KFC unveils radically different restaurant in major comeback push
- en.wikipedia.org — KFC - Wikipedia
- global.kfc.com — KFC - Home | KFC
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KFC Tests Open House Concept in Texas to Reclaim Market
KFC has launched an experimental restaurant named Open House in McKinney, Texas, to counter rising pressure from rivals such as Raising Cane's and reclaim its position in the domestic market. Opened on a Thursday, the prototype location serves as a testing ground for fresh operational strategies and menu concepts. The branch introduces a U.S. first for the chain by serving breakfast, alongside late-night operating hours, table service, expanded tenders and sauces, new drinks like boba-filled refreshers and crunchy-topped milkshakes, and side dishes including fried green beans and spicy pickles.
Why it matters
The global fast-food brand is facing mounting competition within the American fried chicken sector, prompting a domestic strategic overhaul. The McKinney test lab evaluates whether novel menu additions and operational formats can reverse recent competitive pressures and capture market share. Observers are closely monitoring the prototype's performance to see if these elements will roll out more broadly.
What is confirmed
- KFC opened a new restaurant named Open House in McKinney, Texas, on Thursday to serve as a test lab.
- The McKinney location introduces breakfast, marking a U.S. first for the chain.
- The test restaurant stays open late and offers table service, new drinks, tenders, fried green beans, and spicy pickles.
What to watch next
- Expansion of Open House menu concepts to other KFC locations nationwide
- Performance metrics and customer reception data from the McKinney test site
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (4)
- finance.yahoo.com — KFC’s New ‘Open House’ Location Is Now Serving Breakfast ...
- www.diningandcooking.com — Texas KFC opens to test ideas for reclaiming chicken crown
- www.daytondailynews.com — KFC opens a Texas restaurant to test ideas for reclaiming its ...
- finance.yahoo.com — Fried chicken chain that closed 300 spots has ‘comeback plan’
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KFC Opens Texas Test Lab to Reclaim Market Lead
KFC has opened a new restaurant in McKinney, Texas, operating as a test lab to counter mounting pressure from competitors such as Raising Cane's. Named the Open House test restaurant, the location introduces breakfast, table service, new drinks, and tenders. The global fast-food chain launched the facility on a Thursday to pilot fresh operational strategies and menu concepts intended to secure its position in the domestic market. Observers are tracking how these prototype elements address competitive challenges within the American fast-food sector.
Why it matters
The Kentucky-born brand faces intense competition in the United States, prompting a concerted effort to modernize its approach. This prototype launch serves as a central component of a broader comeback plan designed to reverse recent market share losses against rivals. Testing these concepts in McKinney allows the chain to evaluate consumer reception before rolling out changes more broadly.
What is confirmed
- KFC opened a new restaurant in McKinney, Texas, on Thursday to serve as a test lab.
- The Kentucky-born brand has faced market competition from rivals such as Raising Cane's.
- The new Open House test restaurant features breakfast, table service, new drinks, and tenders.
What to watch next
- Expansion of successful test concepts from the McKinney location to other U.S. markets
- Customer and sales performance data from the Open House prototype
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (6)
- www.wxxv25.com — KFC opens a Texas restaurant to test ideas for reclaiming its fried chicken crown
- www.nbcdfw.com — KFC opens McKinney restaurant to test ideas for reclaiming ...
- abcnews.com — KFC opens a Texas restaurant to test ideas for reclaiming its ...
- www.winnipegfreepress.com — KFC opens a Texas restaurant to test ideas for reclaiming its ...
- www.toledoblade.com — KFC opens Texas restaurant to test ideas for reclaiming fried ...
- finance.yahoo.com — Fried chicken chain that closed 300 spots has ‘comeback plan’
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KFC launches Texas prototype restaurant to test U.S. comeback
KFC has opened a new prototype restaurant in Texas as part of a strategy to reclaim its dominant position in the American fried chicken market. The brand has faced stiff competition from rivals such as Raising Cane's, prompting the global fast-food chain to pilot fresh concepts and operational ideas. The newly unveiled test location serves as a centerpiece for the company's United States comeback plan, allowing observers to examine how future store layouts and menu strategies might differ from traditional operations.
Why it matters
The fast-food chain is confronting intense pressure from competitors in the domestic fried chicken sector. By launching this experimental concept site, the company aims to evaluate modifications designed to win back market share and reverse recent competitive setbacks.
What is confirmed
- KFC opened a restaurant in Texas to test ideas for reclaiming its fried chicken crown.
- The new restaurant concept is named 'Open House'.
- The pilot location is situated in McKinney.
- The prototype serves as a centerpiece of KFC's U.S. comeback plan.
- KFC has faced competition from fried chicken rivals like Raising Cane's.
What to watch next
- Expansion of the 'Open House' concept to additional U.S. markets
- Adoption of tested restaurant ideas across standard KFC locations
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (7)
- AP News — KFC opens a Texas restaurant to test ideas for reclaiming its fried chicken crown
- Axios — KFC pilots new concept in McKinney
- QSR Magazine — Inside KFC’s ‘Open House,’ the Restaurant Built to Win America Back
- nrn.com — KFC unveils 'Open House' prototype as a centerpiece of its U.S. comeback plan
- Delish — I Got A First Look At The KFC Of The Future—Here's Everything That's Different
- www.niagara-gazette.com — KFC testing new ideas to reclaim its fried chicken crown
- www.winnipegfreepress.com — Mid-Project Regret Syndrome
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