There are a lot of reasons I choose to write about a place.  Being “Cheap” is a given… but other than that the first, and most obvious is the food.  A lot of the places I write about do something interesting- something that isn’t available everywhere.  Whether it’s the Indian Burritos at Kati Roll, the rice balls at Oms/b, the various ramen places, or the meat pies at Tuck Shop- these postings are most popular because they are destination lunches- worth walking that extra 5 or 10 minutes if you don’t work right near the place.

I write about carts because there are so many of them, and it’s hard to know which ones are good and bad.  Plus, a lot of people are scared of them… and would rather read about my suffering after eating at a bad cart- then experience it for themselves.  I don’t usually write about the deli/salad bar places, because there is one on every block of Midtown- and they bore me.  I will, however write about one if they are doing something different or interesting… like the Korean Food at Cafe Duke, or the Soups @ Dishes. 

I very very rarely write about fast food- so the next question is obvious… Why the hell would you write about KFC???  Well the answer depends on who’s asking.  If you haven’t heard yet, New York City is considering banning artificial trans fats from all restaurants in the city.  In light of this possible ban, KFC has taken preemptive action, phasing trans fats out of the fried chicken at all their Manhattan restaurants (it’s still in the biscuits) as of the first of this month.  They plan on rolling out the change in all of their restaurants Nationwide by April of next year.

Clearly this is topical.  People need to know if this new KFC, fried in trans-fat’less soybean oil is as good as it used to be!  Right???  I’m doing a service to the community.  How does the new chicken compare to the old chicken.  (The real reason I’m writing about KFC, pictures and a less than helpful +/- after the jump)

So, when my wife asked me, “Why are you eating at KFC?” that was my answer.  But the real reason is much more simple.  Fat guy likes fried chicken.  That’s right.  I admit it.  I am using my blog as an excuse to eat something I probably would not normally eat for lunch.  Sue me.  I love fried chicken!  And I don’t care what anyone says, KFC is freaking good.  I am actually of the opinion that it is hard to screw up fried chicken… as long as it’s well seasoned with salt and pepper, and fried crispy it’s gonna be good.  How could it not be???  Sure, there are a ton of places you could name where there is better fried chicken (Harlem, New Orleans, Popeye’s), but it doesn’t change the fact that fried chicken at KFC is gooooood.

So, with my “reason” for eating fried chicken in hand, I headed to one of the few KFC’s in Midtown to check out the “new” chicken.  To make my “taste testing” appear more scientific, I have taken a picture of each item individually:

Extra Crispy Breast

Original Recipe Thigh

Artificial Trans Fat Biscuit

I didn’t have any of the old chicken to compare it with, and I haven’t eaten at KFC in a few years… so i can’t really speak to the differences between the two (this post is getting more and more useless as it continues).  All I can really say is the chicken was awesome!!!!  Hot, a good dose of salt, pepper and other spices, super crispy on the outside, and moist on the inside.  I was surprised at how crispy the original recipe thigh was.  I never understood what kind of crazy person would turn down the opportunity to make anything “extra crispy”… but after tasting the original recipe, and armed with the knowledge that it is actually significantly less fattening then the EC, I think I might be an original recipe convert.

There are only 3 KFC locations that would be considered “Midtown”, and I went to the one on 50th btw. 6+7th.  Despite being a combo KFC/Pizza Hut/Dunkin Donuts/Haagen Daaz location, the food was surprisingly hot and fresh tasting.  If this crappy KFC was good, I’m assuming they all must be good (something that I’m sure will be disproved by multiple comments below).  It seemed a little expensive, which may either be the location (everything in Midtown NYC is more expensive) or the fact that I’m getting old and things are starting to seem more expensive.  (Please use a Grandpa Simpson voice when reading the next line) ”When I was a kid, a 2 pc. extra crispy meal was $2.65, dagnabbit!!!”

So in the end, my taste test is useless and has revealed nothing… except that I am not afraid to use this blog (and you people- my readers) as an excuse to eat fried chicken.  Thanks!  And if this post causes you to go out and eat fried chicken for lunch today, feel free to use my “Ban on Trans Fats” excuse with that special person in your life who doesn’t want you to die at 40 from a coronary.  

THE +

• Um… it’s chicken that’s been battered and fried.  How could that not be good????
• Now fried with slightly less deadly soybean oil!!!!!

THE -

• The biscuits still have artificial trans fats in them… (so the only excuse for eating them is deliciousness)
• It’s greasy  (I wonder why….)
• It’s fattening (I wonder why….)

Kentucky Fried Chicken, Multiple Locations

1. 761 7th Ave. (on 50th) 212-563-7440
2. 47 E. 42nd. St. (btw. Mad+Park) 212-681-8501
3. 1286 Broadway(on 33rd) 212-630-0315