Review: KFC - Zesty Tex Mex Chicken & Rice Bowl

KFC's Zesty Tex Mex Chicken & Rice Bowl features Popcorn Nuggets, pico de gallo, a three-cheese blend, chopped green onions, and spicy ranch sauce on a bed of white rice.

It cost me $5 for a Fill Up combo that included the bowl, a chocolate chip cookie, and a medium drink

The nuggets managed to hold onto a good deal of crunch despite the moisture from the sauce and pico de gallo. Some of the pieces didn't have much meat to them though and, in general, there wasn't enough chicken for all the rice.

Fortunately, the sauce and the rice itself made up for the lack. The sauce was creamy and tangy with a bit of smokiness plus a surprising amount of heat, while the rice tasted like it had been cooked in chicken broth.

Texture-wise, the rice was overly firm and a little hard rather than fluffy and malleable. It reminded me a bit of Rice-A-Roni.

The pico de gallo offered a fresh lime tang and quite a bit of diced jalapenos to go with the tomatoes. The green onion added a nice, watery crispness and a light onion-y bite. The cheese was the typical overly mild (and inoffensive) fast food stuff and just contributed a slight bit of soft, creaminess.

Overall, while KFC's Zesty Tex Mex Chicken & Rice Bowl had its fair share of miscues, it still offers a good deal of enjoyable variety in both taste and texture without being too busy. Just beware: it's pretty spicy.