The first Saucy location is in Orlando, and I'd definitely go back for its delicious food.
The restaurant's crispy chicken tenders and tasty sauces felt like an excellent value.
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has a new spin-off in town that's all about chicken tenders and dips — and it's called Saucy.
The restaurant's first location opened in Orlando in late December, about 90 minutes away from my home.
Although I couldn't tell you the last time I went to KFC, I was excited to try Saucy, as it's a concept the chain hopes to expand around the country.
Here's what it was like and why I'll absolutely be back.
Unsurprisingly, Saucy is all about sauce. The Saucy sauces come in containers with colorful labels.
Terri Peters
The stars of the menu at Saucy are the chicken tenders and the 11 dipping sauces. The number of sauces is a nod to the 11 herbs and spices in KFC's original fried-chicken recipe.
Otherwise, the menu is fairly short and simple, with a slew of non-alcoholic beverages, a few chicken sandwiches, two desserts, and sides like toasted Hawaiian rolls and coleslaw.
We decided to eat inside the restaurant.Saucy's dining spot adds a whole new level to the KFC experience.
Terri Peters
Although Saucy has a drive-thru, we chose to dine in. I'm glad we did: Saucy feels like a 100% modern twist on its Kentucky-fried roots.
I loved its funky decor, which was bright with shades of pink and hints of red that seemed to pay homage to KFC.
With its futuristic light pendants and cool sculptures resembling dripping sauce, Saucy had a vibe all its own and felt very different from the KFC dining rooms of my youth.
The ordering process was automated and simple.Saucy had several ordering kiosks.
Terri Peters
Ordering at Saucy was easy and contactless.
We used one of several touchscreens to order, paid at the kiosk, and then waited for our name to be called so we could collect our food.
We got a lot of food for under $40.We got more food than the two of us could eat for under $40.
Terri Peters
My husband and I were able to try everything we wanted to at Saucy for under $40.
We ordered a six-tender box combo ($16) that came with two sauces, fries, coleslaw, and a toasted Hawaiian roll; a Key-lime-cake dessert ($4); an extra coleslaw ($2); two tropical black teas ($4); a spicy-queso-crunch sandwich ($5); and nine additional sauces (49 cents each).
The tenders were delicious.Saucy's most popular item is probably its chicken-tender basket.
Terri Peters
We got our tenders with crinkle-cut fries and a toasted Hawaiian roll, though we could've also chosen coleslaw as a side.
Saucy's tenders are apparently made using the same recipe as KFC's. Still, I thought the tenders I got at Saucy seemed plumper, moister, and crispier than any I remember getting on past KFC runs.
We were impressed by many of Saucy's menu items, including all 11 dipping sauces.We enjoyed every sauce we tried at Saucy.
Terri Peters
Our meal at Saucy was nothing short of incredible — truly the kind of fast food that tasted like it could've been from a sit-down restaurant.
Nothing we had was overly greasy, and the tasty sauces made our dining experience even more enjoyable. I liked that there seemed to be one for everyone, from several ranch-based dips and classics like barbecue sauce to even Asian-inspired delights.
Although we had some clear favorite sauces, there wasn't a single one we didn't enjoy.
The sandwich we ordered was great but not necessary.Our chicken sandwich from Saucy was tasty.
Terri Peters
My husband also got the spicy-queso-crunch chicken sandwich ($5).
We liked the crunchy, battered chicken tender topped with queso sauce and spicy peppers on a buttery Hawaiian roll. Still, we'd probably skip it next time. The tenders and many dipping sauces were the clear stars of our meal.
The dessert in a can was easy to share.We got Saucy's Key-lime cake.
Terri Peters
Saucy had both a chocolate and Key-lime cake available for dessert, and both were served in a plastic can.
We chose the latter, which cost $4. It was the perfect size, especially considering how full we were from our meal.
I liked the citrusy icing and cake layers and felt this was a wonderful sweet ending to our meal. Plus, the spoonable cake was easy to share.
My top five sauces came home with my leftovers.I took three different Saucy ranches home with me.
Terri Peters
When we'd dipped and nibbled until we had no room left in our stomachs, it was time to pack up our leftovers to take home.
Our to-go container had room for just five sauces, so we kept our favorites: jalapeño-pesto ranch and per-peri ranch, two spicy and flavorful dips we really loved; smoky bacon ranch, our favorite of the ranch-based dips; and sweet teriyaki and Thai sweet and spicy, which were packed with tons of flavor and sweet twists.
I can't wait to go back to Saucy for more chicken-dipping fun.I really enjoyed my meal at Saucy.
Terri Peters
As a lover of chicken tenders, I was smitten with Saucy. The food was really good, and dipping delicious fried chicken tenders in all of those sauces was tons of fun.
Our meal also felt surprisingly affordable, especially since we got far more food than the two of us could finish — and next time, we'd order less.
Based on my finger-lickin'-good experience, I'd definitely go back to Saucy, even if its only location is a 90-minute drive from me.
If you're visiting Orlando, I suggest treating yourself to a little culinary sauce journey at Saucy. Hopefully, though, more locations will open soon.
