Adopting Juicy Chicken Thigh Meat: New Standard "Original Chicken Burgers" Revamped for the First Time in 43 Years Go On Sale Nationwide at KFC Stores

Japan KFC Holdings Co., Ltd. (President: Atsushi Najima, Headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; hereinafter "Japan KFC") will begin selling its new standard line "Original Chicken Burgers," featuring revamped recipes and preparation methods, at KFC stores nationwide starting Wednesday, October 14.

Points of Commitment for "Original Chicken Burgers"

Major overhaul for the first time in 43 years! The birth of "Original Chicken Burgers," thoroughly pursuing the ideal "burger."

It has been 43 years since the birth of the "Chicken Fillet Burger," the origin of KFC BURGERS. As a chicken specialty restaurant, KFC has offered chicken burgers for decades. On the other hand, the image that "KFC equals Original Chicken" has remained strong, and the company believed there was still room for more customers to choose its burgers. In recent years, opportunities to eat burgers have steadily expanded, and Japan KFC recognizes significant potential in burgers as products chosen for various everyday occasions, such as lunches or dining alone. Therefore, aiming for a "special chicken burger that makes people want to visit KFC just to eat a burger," Japan KFC reviewed the burger recipes and preparation methods it had continued for 43 years from scratch. In March of this year, a regional pre-sale was conducted in select areas (Kanagawa, Hiroshima, and Kagoshima). Since customer evaluations exceeded initial expectations and provided sufficient confidence in the product, Japan KFC decided on a nationwide launch. Please enjoy KFC's new standard, "Original Chicken Burgers," created by reconsidering the chicken itself to pursue burger deliciousness for the first time in its 43-year history.

Overhauling all methods, from meat to flour! Reconstructing the chicken recipe to find the optimal solution for KFC BURGERS.

In pursuing the optimal solution for KFC BURGERS, Japan KFC began by reviewing the chicken itself. The first key point is the "revamp of ingredients." The company changed from the chicken breast used previously to juicy chicken thigh meat, which allows for a richer sense of flavor. The second key point is the "reconstruction of preparation methods." The optimal flour coating method, cooking technique, and various sauces matching burgers were built from scratch. The juiciness of the chicken thigh meat, combined with KFC's style of hand-preparing each piece inside the store, creates an exceptional flavor.

A lineup that will become a new standard debuts! "Boneless Original Chicken" is also available individually to enjoy the new chicken.

To allow a broader range of customers to enjoy the newly born "Original Chicken Burgers," Japan KFC has prepared a rich variety of options. As standards, customers can enjoy four flavors: the "Original Chicken Burger," which allows a simple taste of the juicy and voluminous new chicken, alongside the "Original Chicken Burger (Red Hot Sauce)," "Original Chicken Burger (Cheese)," and "Original Chicken Burger (Teriyaki)." Additionally, the chicken used in the "Original Chicken Burgers" will also be sold individually as "Boneless Original Chicken." By pairing it with burgers or enjoying it as is, customers can more directly savor KFC's unique chicken flavor, the overflowing juiciness of thigh meat, and the taste of 11 herbs and spices.

"Original Chicken Burgers Premier" debuts, allowing customers to enjoy a special feel!

Furthermore, for those who wish to enjoy burgers more sumptuously, the "Original Chicken Burgers Premier" series newly debuts from "Original Chicken Burgers" to offer an even more luxurious taste. Using a specially developed original sauce made exclusively for this product, combined with thick-cut bacon and a whole omelet, it is an item where customers can enjoy both volume and a special feel. Over the chicken's flavor, the savory aroma of bacon and the mildness of the omelet overlap, resulting in a satisfying taste. The lineup consists of two varieties: "Premier Burger" and "Premier Cheese Burger." Japan KFC delivers special burgers that can be enjoyed for regular meals as well as when one wants to savor a slightly luxurious mood.

Comments from Product Developers

Japan KFC broke away from conventional standard burgers and pursued the optimal solution for KFC BURGERS. Rather than merely adding or arranging flavors, the company reconstructed the recipes themselves. With previous burgers, Japan KFC felt it had not realized a "chicken that people specifically want to eat in a burger" in terms of sizing, texture, and juiciness.

The largest overhaul was changing the cut of meat from chicken breast to a single piece of chicken thigh. Accordingly, Japan KFC also reconstructed the flour coating methods, cooking techniques, and various sauces. The juiciness unique to chicken thigh meat is brought out to the maximum when combined with KFC's style of hand-preparing each piece inside the store.

Full-scale development began in the second half of 2024, taking a year and a half to complete. Japan KFC was able to finish it in a form that is satisfying across taste, texture, and operations. The company invites customers to experience KFC's answer to "What is chicken that suits a burger?" directly at its stores!

Original Chicken Burger
A standard burger where customers can taste new chicken wrapped in crisp-textured coating, featuring the juicy flavor unique to a single piece of chicken thigh.

Original Chicken Burger: 490 yen

Original Chicken Burger Set: 890 yen (Lunch Price: 790 yen)
(Original Chicken Burger, Small Fries, Medium Drink)

Original Chicken Burger Yokubari (Greedy) Set: 1,190 yen (Lunch Price: 1,090 yen)
(Original Chicken Burger, Original Chicken, Small Fries, Medium Drink)

Original Chicken Burger (Red Hot Sauce)
An item focused on burger eatability and compatibility with chicken, delivering a stimulation reminiscent of "Red Hot Chicken." It features a mild spiciness from a newly developed mayo-based red hot sauce.

Original Chicken Burger (Red Hot Sauce): 540 yen

Original Chicken Burger Set (Red Hot Sauce): 940 yen (Lunch Price: 840 yen)
(Original Chicken Burger (Red Hot Sauce), Small Fries, Medium Drink)

Original Chicken Burger Yokubari Set (Red Hot Sauce): 1,240 yen (Lunch Price: 1,140 yen)
(Original Chicken Burger (Red Hot Sauce), Original Chicken, Small Fries, Medium Drink)

Original Chicken Burger (Cheese)
A burger for cheese lovers, sandwiching sliced cheddar cheese. The rich cheddar cheese highlights the chicken's spice notes and savory aroma.

Original Chicken Burger (Cheese): 540 yen

Original Chicken Burger Set (Cheese): 940 yen (Lunch Price: 840 yen)
(Original Chicken Burger (Cheese), Small Fries, Medium Drink)

Original Chicken Burger Yokubari Set (Cheese): 1,240 yen (Lunch Price: 1,140 yen)
(Original Chicken Burger (Cheese), Original Chicken, Small Fries, Medium Drink)

Original Chicken Burger (Teriyaki)
An item using a mild soy-sauce-based sweet teriyaki sauce with reduced spiciness, enjoyable for a wide range of customers from children to adults.

Original Chicken Burger (Teriyaki): 540 yen

Original Chicken Burger Set (Teriyaki): 940 yen (Lunch Price: 840 yen)
(Original Chicken Burger (Teriyaki), Small Fries, Medium Drink)

Original Chicken Burger Yokubari Set (Teriyaki): 1,240 yen (Lunch Price: 1,140 yen)
(Original Chicken Burger (Teriyaki), Original Chicken, Small Fries, Medium Drink)

Premier Burger
A burger combining the "Original Chicken Burger" with thick-cut bacon and a whole omelet. Dedicated garlic pepper mayo sauce serves as an accent, enhancing the flavor.

Premier Burger: 750 yen

Premier Burger Set: 1,150 yen (Lunch Price: 1,050 yen)
(Premier Burger, Small Fries, Medium Drink)

Premier Burger Yokubari Set: 1,450 yen (Lunch Price: 1,350 yen)
(Premier Burger, Original Chicken, Small Fries, Medium Drink)

Premier Cheese Burger
A luxurious item adding cheddar cheese to the "Premier Burger" to further elevate the premium feel. It is finished with an even richer and more satisfying flavor.

Premier Cheese Burger: 790 yen

Premier Cheese Burger Set: 1,190 yen (Lunch Price: 1,090 yen)
(Premier Cheese Burger, Small Fries, Medium Drink)

Premier Cheese Burger Yokubari Set: 1,490 yen (Lunch Price: 1,390 yen)
(Premier Cheese Burger, Original Chicken, Small Fries, Medium Drink)

Boneless Original Chicken
Utilizing the juiciness unique to a single piece of chicken thigh, Japan KFC reviewed the balance of coating and seasoning to allow customers to savor a crisp texture. It is chicken with heightened volume and satisfaction compared to conventional offerings.

Boneless Original Chicken: 350 yen

Sales Locations	KFC stores nationwide (Some stores may not carry these items. Certain items and services are excluded from KFC Delivery. Additionally, sales prices differ for delivery partner services.)

Information is current as of Wednesday, October 14, 2026