KFC China — Review by Blondie in China
Changchun, China — Chinese breakfast
The reviewer spent a week exploring KFC's localized Chinese breakfast menu in Changchun, trying dishes like re gan mian, xiao long bao, shao bing, congee, da bing, and fan tuan. While impressed with KFC's research and regional authenticity in most items, the blind taste test revealed weaknesses in their congee and especially their youtiao compared to local and McDonald's alternatives. Overall, the reviewer praised KFC's effort to cater to diverse Chinese breakfast habits across different regions.
What was great: Re gan mian noodles with authentic Wuhan flavors, crispy and layered shao bing bread, fluffy xiao long bao with juicy filling, flavorful da bing with crispy youtiao bits and peppery beef, fan tuan rice roll with nice texture and sweet pork floss, diverse regional breakfast menu that caters to Chinese breakfast culture
What could improve: KFC youtiao had an odd taste from the oil and scored poorly in blind taste test (rated 1/10), KFC congee was watery compared to local alternatives, processed meat sausage in shao bing not preferred
The Dishes
The KFC breakfast menu proved surprisingly diverse, spanning multiple Chinese regional breakfast traditions. The re gan mian featured the essential sesame sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, and pickled vegetables characteristic of Wuhan breakfast culture, topped with chicken that somehow worked despite being non-traditional. The reviewer found it impressive enough to order again despite initial hesitation about eating Wuhan food at KFC.
The xiao long bao, a Hangzhou-style steamed bun dumpling, featured a softer bao skin rather than thin dumpling wrapper, filled with juicy, savory meat sauce that soaked through the delicate skin. The shao bing offered impressive flaking layers with a crispy exterior and soft interior, filled with smoked chicken that provided a smoky note, though the processed meat wasn't entirely to the reviewer's taste. The da bing wrapped black pepper marinated beef with egg and crispy youtiao bits, creating excellent textural contrast that the reviewer noted they would definitely order again.
The fan tuan glutinous rice roll delivered the satisfying sticky rice texture with youtiao fragments and pork floss providing both crunch and sweetness. However, the blind taste test revealed significant weaknesses: the KFC youtiao tasted abnormal due to apparent oil issues, scoring just 1 out of 10 compared to the local shop's 8.5 and McDonald's 8. The KFC congee was noticeably watery compared to the thick, grain-forward local version that scored a 9 out of 10.
The Experience
The review unfolded across five days of ordered delivery and in-person restaurant visits. The reviewer visited an actual local breakfast shop selling Hangzhou-style xiao long bao to provide context and comparison, catching the vendor making fresh batches with visibly juicy filling. They also visited a local shao bing stand in Changchun city center to compare varieties, demonstrating the regional variations of these breakfast items across China. The blind taste test was conducted with the reviewer's husband acting as taste conductor and scorekeeper, adding an interactive element to the evaluation.
Value and Pricing
Specific pricing mentioned included 13 RMB for a serve of xiao long bao and cloud toast at 13 RMB as well, indicating affordable fast food pricing typical of KFC China locations. The reviewer noted hitting delivery minimums with these items, suggesting reasonable individual pricing. No other specific prices were mentioned, but the overall assessment positioned KFC breakfast as competitively priced against local alternatives.
Notable Moments
You're betraying Wuhan how can you even say that this is coming from a KFC but the classic flavours are there you've got that sesame undertone you've got that saltiness
If China has taught me anything it's to expect the unexpected
KFC went into the boardroom and was like how can we actually sell to China properly like how can we deliver what people in China actually wanna eat
I'm not just talking north south east west I'm not even talking province to province but from city to city and village to village and county to county you'll find different breakfast habits
The Verdict
The reviewer ultimately praised KFC's research and commitment to serving authentic regional Chinese breakfast items rather than applying a one-size-fits-all global menu. The diverse offerings spanning Wuhan, Hangzhou, Tianjin, and southern Chinese breakfast traditions demonstrated genuine cultural understanding. However, execution weaknesses in the youtiao and congee revealed that even with good intentions, fast food chains cannot match specialized local breakfast shops. This restaurant is best for those seeking convenient, affordable Chinese breakfast that captures regional authenticity, particularly for busy mornings when visiting a local stall isn't feasible, though breakfast enthusiasts will notice quality differences compared to dedicated local establishments.