What's on the Menu: KFC Australia

This edition of What's on the Menu takes a look at fried chicken in the land down under: KFC Australia.  So without further ado, a look at some items of interest and cultural nuances at KFC Australia, a storied chain which arrived in 1968 and has grown to over 600 restaurants since.

First, a brief gloss-over of some interesting notables.  Where we have Original Recipe, Extra Crispy, and Grilled, KFC Australia has Original Recipe, Hot & Spicy, and Cayan Grill (a different formulation of Grilled chicken).  KFC serves fries in Australia, they are a typical accompaniment to fried chicken there (and in the UK).  They also have Fillets; I get the feeling that our new Boneless Filet has been available in other countries for a while.  Also, like here in the U.S., they have Hot Wings, but they call them "Wicked Wings."

As far as KFC's Australian menu goes, here's some of the more interesting items.

Cayan Grill.  Cayan might be derived from an earlier form of the word "cayanne."  Regardless, Cayan Grill chicken is marinated overnight in "southern" spices (does "southern" in Australia, mean the same as "southern" here in the States?) and then grilled on a hot plate.

Tower Burger.  A limited-time item, the Tower Burger is a chicken breast filet sandwich with tangy tomato sauce (is that Australian for ketchup?), lettuce, mayo, cheese, and get this, a hash brown!  I think I need to go to Australia stat!

Zinger Works Burger.  Zingers are KFC Australia's spicy chicken burgers.  It's a bit like a Hawaiian Pizza; it has a bacon rasher (a rasher is a slice of bacon, here it seems to be a fairly big, round slice) and a slice of pineapple, and then your typical lettuce, mayo, and cheese.  Also available in Original Recipe.

Original Recipe Fillet BBQ Bacon & Cheese Burger.  An Original Recipe breast fillet with the typical lettuce and mayo, as well as bacon, cheese, and a dark BBQ sauce.  It's a western chicken burger!

Popcorn Chicken.  Okay, we have Popcorn Chicken too.  But, is it me or does their Popcorn Chicken look bigger and rounder?  Granted, it's a promo shot but it looks bigger than our promo shot!  They look closer to nuggets but...

Kentucky Nuggets.  Besides Popcorn Chicken, they have one-upped us by having nuggets!  Original Recipe breast meat nuggets!  How do we not have these?!  I say we storm Australia and return with our bounty of the Colonel's Kentucky Nuggets!

KFC Roller.  LIke a snack wrap but with Popcorn Chicken but with nacho cheese and salsa instead of lettuce, sauce, and cheese (which they have in Twisters).  Also available in BBQ.

That's it for What's on the Menu: KFC Australia.  See you next time!