KFC is known for fried chicken, buckets, and that unmistakable Original Recipe flavor. But in McKinney, Texas, the chain is testing something that could change what people think of when they hear “KFC drink.” The new Open House restaurant is being used as a real-world testing ground for new beverages, including boba refreshers, specialty shakes, lemonades, and iced coffee.
McKinney Is Getting a Very Different KFC
This isn’t simply a remodeled KFC, it is a place where the company is experimenting with what customers might want next.
KFC opened its Open House concept in McKinney on September 26, creating a restaurant where new food, drinks, and service ideas can be tested before the company decides what deserves a wider rollout. The 3,400-square-foot location is at 8751 El Dorado Parkway and operates from early morning until midnight, allowing KFC to test everything from breakfast to late-night visits. KFC itself described the McKinney concept as part of its broader move toward more modern restaurants and a new beverage experience.
The location is particularly interesting because KFC isn’t abandoning its familiar identity. Fried chicken is still at the center, but customers can now encounter a much broader selection around it, including drinks that feel more at home in a specialty beverage shop…