The KFC Menu Items You Should Absolutely Avoid According to Superfans
People who eat fast food regularly tend to judge it on one thing above all else: reliability. When an item tastes the same every time, it earns a place in the rotation. When it disappoints even once, it often gets crossed off for good. KFC has plenty of longtime fans, but those same regulars are also very clear about which menu items they have stopped ordering.
Based on repeated customer complaints, fan discussions, and nutritional breakdowns, these ten items come up again and again as choices many loyal customers actively avoid, whether due to inconsistent quality, underwhelming flavor, or heavy nutritional trade-offs.
Chicken Tenders
Image via Reddit/celesticruin
Regular reviewers describe the tenders with a range of complaints, but a dominant one is size. Many say the pieces feel noticeably smaller than expected, with some sharing photos that show tenders closer to a snack than a meal. Texture comes up almost as often. Reviews frequently mention dry or unevenly cooked meat, which makes the tenders feel like a weak choice compared with other chicken options on the menu.
People often note that tenders are dry, stringy, or overly chewy, which makes the breading feel more prominent than the meat inside. While some locations prepare them better than others, these concerns appear widely enough that tenders remain a frequent point of frustration for those who expect more from a chicken-focused chain.
Chicken Sandwich
Most complaints about the chicken sandwich start with how it is put together. Customers often mention buns that arrive flattened or soggy, which seems to vary by location. Others point to inconsistent chicken cuts, particularly thicker pieces with tendons or uneven texture that can make certain bites unpleasant.
Many reviews also say that the breading sometimes loses crispness before the sandwich is wrapped. These patterns place this item on many no-go lists among diners who prefer sandwiches at competitors with stronger consistency.
Popcorn Chicken
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Mike Mozart from Funny YouTube, USA
Certain pieces of this popcorn chicken can be all breading, while others hold only a small fragment of chicken. No one likes this unpredictable composition. For some customers, the seasoning drowns out whatever chicken flavor is there.
Texture comes up often as well, with reports ranging from overly crunchy pieces to soft bites that fall apart. Because the product relies on many small components, any inconsistency is easy to notice, and that issue appears repeatedly across public reviews.
Chicken Pot Pie
The pot pie has a long history at KFC, but customers regularly debate its quality. The crust is one of the biggest dividing points: too thick around the edges and too soft on the bottom, which creates an uneven eating experience. Inside the pie, reviewers report fillings that can be watery or overly dense.
There are also occasional mentions of small bone fragments, which former employees say may result from the type of chicken pieces used. Beyond taste, nutrition plays a role in why people avoid it: one pie contains about 790 calories, 45 grams of fat, and a sodium level many prefer not to consume in a single dish.
Famous Bowl
Image via Reddit/TOOXPHONKEE
The Famous Bowl once held a strong place in KFC nostalgia, though current reviews paint a different picture. Many point out that newer versions lack the layered contrast that once defined it. Instead, ingredients blend into a uniform texture where potatoes, gravy, and cheese lose their individual identities.
According to some customers, the chicken appears to be more like soft breading than meat. Not to mention, there are roughly 2,450 milligrams of sodium in one serving! Many former bowl-lovers would rather just make their own homemade versions.
Mashed Potatoes
Image via iStockphoto/DianePeacock
A large number of people consider the mashed potatoes a disappointment due to flavor. Comments about blandness appear consistently, with some describing the potatoes as tasting more like a mix than something freshly prepared. People equally note that the consistency is paste-like instead of traditional mashed potatoes.
While gravy improves the taste for some, it’s not enough for those who want a creamy or fluffy style. Because concerns about quality have lasted for years, the mashed potatoes remain one of the most frequently skipped sides among long-time customers.
Mac and Cheese
The mac and cheese section of public feedback is really a “what I ordered vs what I got” problem. Diners looking for a creamy dish often react to noodles that arrive very soft and sauce that appears thin rather than rich. There are also mentions of inconsistent seasoning, which leads to descriptions ranging from bland to oddly sweet depending on the batch.
The comparison to boxed versions comes up often, usually with the conclusion that the boxed option tastes better. Customers seeking comfort food end up looking elsewhere.
Bowls (General)
KFC’s bowl-style items vary, but customers often group them together when discussing what to avoid. One reason is the way ingredients interact once combined. Potatoes, gravy, cheese, and chicken merge into a single texture, leaving little room for contrast.
Another point raised by former employees is that the chicken used in bowls may include pieces that were not sold earlier in the day, though this depends on the location. Complaints also abound about temperature imbalances, such as warm gravy paired with cooler chicken, creating an uneven experience that many find disappointing.
High-Calorie Box Meals
Items like the Zinger Stacker Box and the Zinger Crunch Twister Box, as well as similar combinations, draw criticism due to their high nutritional load. These meals often package several fried components together, resulting in calorie counts that approach or exceed what some adults consume in an entire day. For example:
Zinger Stacker Box: about 1330 calories and 3412 milligrams of sodium
Zinger Crunch Twister Box: about 1195 calories and 2362 milligrams of sodium
3 Piece Box: about 1170 calories and 1993 milligrams of sodium
People who monitor their sodium levels or tend to avoid large fried combinations flag these meals as options to skip, even if they enjoy individual components when ordered separately.
Desserts That Miss the Mark
KFC’s dessert lineup may look inviting, but the nutritional breakdown tells a different story. Items such as the Reese’s Peanut Butter Pie and the Oreo Cookies and Creme Pie rank among the heavier options on the menu, with the Reese’s slice reaching roughly 300 calories, along with notable amounts of fat and saturated fat.
The Oreo version is slightly lighter, though still high in carbs. Even the simpler choices, including the chocolate chip cookie, contribute more fat and saturated fat than many people expect from a small treat.
There isn’t a strong pattern of taste complaints in public reviews, but the available nutritional data shows these desserts work against anyone hoping to keep their meal on the lighter side.