The hottest new chain in Tampa (at least according to our numbers) is doubling down on the city. Saucy! by KFC made its debut in Tampa earlier this year, and the opening of its newest location this Saturday in Carrollwood (12650 N. Dale Mabry Hwy) marks an even more significant milestone.
This location of the chicken fingers with sauces concept will serve as Saucy!’s flagship location, and as such it will have some exclusive and brand-heavy creations. As for the experience itself, the new fast-casual restaurant has a few dozen items listed on the menu, but the entire concept revolves around two things: crispy, hand-battered fried chicken tenders, and the dozen-plus sauces they’d like you to dip those tendies in. You can order the tenders on their own with dipping sauces and fries, or you can level up with the “chick’itos” (tacos), “grand’itos” (burritos), sandwiches, rice bowls or salads, all loaded up with tenders and sauce.
The idea is to “bring a modern, experiential approach to fast food,” according to the company. KFC isn’t necessarily the most creative fast food chain around, but it’s worth remembering that KFC and Saucy!’s parent company is Yum! Brands, which also owns Taco Bell. Say what you like about fast food chains, but I’ll always put respect on the name of the company that gave us the Doritos Locos Taco and the Crunchwrap Supreme.
Saucy! began its launch in Central Florida and Tampa is one of the first markets to get the full rollout. As the biggest and flagship location, the new Carrollwood restaurant will have a handful of items exclusively available there, including:
Saucy! x DRIPS by Pepsi® collaboration—featuring four bold, mood-inspired drinks available exclusively at Saucy! locations, plus a fifth beverage available only at the Carrollwood location: Tropical Energy Escape (a vibrant, coconut-forward energy blend)
A first bite of the all-new Big Sammie, made in partnership with King’s Hawaiian®—featuring crispy tendies, crunchy greens, hashbrown straws, and your choice of signature sauce on a soft, slightly sweet bun
In fact, the new location is hosting a “Saucy! Soiree” from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm on opening day, this Saturday, April 25. If you see this in time, you can make it to guided tastings with a “Sauce Sommelier” and even pick up swag bags.
If you’re just in it for the chicken and sauce, we respect that, too. In addition to straight up tenders, offerings include saucy kimchi chicken tacos, ranchero chicken burritos, or even a saucy chicken Caesar salad. Sides include crinkle cut fries, brussels sprouts, mac and cheese, and King’s Hawaiian toast.
These are the biggest of what will eventually be six Saucy! locations in the Tampa Bay Area, with Temple Terrace, Carrollwood, Trinity, and Bradenton all getting restaurants by this summer.
Sauce options include:
Chimichurri Ranch
Creole Honey Mustard
Jalapeno Pesto Ranch
Saucy Ranch
Saucy’s Sauce
Smokey Bacon Ranch
Sweet N Spicy BBQ
Sweet Teriyaki
Korean Sweet Heat
Salsa Ranchero
Thai Sweet N Spicy
Caesar