If you’re visiting South Africa and looking for some American-style fried chicken, KFC is an option for you — but for some local flair, consider a top-notch chain that, frankly, is one of the international chains we wish we could try. Its name is Chicken Licken, and with some 250 restaurants around the country, it shouldn’t be hard to find one.
While Chicken Licken has a distinct American connection, it’s also an example of fast food that’s adapted to local tastes. That U.S. connection comes from its founding: George Sombonos, son of Greek immigrants to South Africa, had been working in his father’s restaurant in the ’70s. His father sent him on a research trip to the U.S., where he downed copious amounts of burgers and fried chicken, before encountering some fried chicken so delicious in Waco, Texas, he asked the owner for the recipe. The owner agreed to hand it over for $1,000 of Sombonos’ travelers checks, and Sombonos quietly substituted this new spice mix into the fried chicken at his dad’s restaurants — and while the senior Sombonos was unimpressed with the sneaky move, the customers loved it.
But one other factor that helped, too: The restaurant, called Dairy Den, also broke the country’s apartheid laws to serve Black South Africans, reportedly including Nelson Mandela’s second wife Winnie, earning a loyal following among the Black community. That loyalty continued when the younger Sombonos opened Chicken Licken in the ’80s, serving the same recipe at locations in South Africa’s segregated townships, helping pave the way for success.
Read more: 10 Fast Food Chicken Sandwiches, Ranked
What’s on the menu at Chicken Licken?
A plate of fried chicken seen from above. – DancingFire/Shutterstock
Unsurprisingly, if you visit a Chicken Licken, you’re in for chicken — there’s the classic fried chicken by the piece, available with the chain’s regular seasoning or “Soulfire”, a garlicky vinegar-based sauce with other secret ingredients. (The Chicken Licken original recipe seems to be secret, with no definitive recipe available online, although attempts to replicate it feature hits of pepper, paprika, and garlic.) Hot wings are another big draw, with the chain selling millions per month.
The menu also features various chicken sandwiches and sliders, as well as popcorn-chicken style small boneless pieces of chicken called “Soulbites.” For sides, there’s classic coleslaw but also a nod to South Africa’s Indian community with the option to order achaar, a twist on classic Indian pickles with spicy pickled mangos.
This unique menu cemented Chicken Licken as one of South Africa’s top chains, and one of few locals in a pool dominated by American companies like McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC. In fact, Chicken Licken had run-ins with KFC in its early days, with KFC claiming the name “Chicken Licken” was copyright infringement due to its similarities with KFC’s “Finger Lickin’ Good” slogan. Chicken Licken won in court, arguably getting free publicity from the case. Though it’s been a success, Chicken Licken has barely expanded outside South Africa — aside from a few locations in neighboring Botswana, attempts to move into countries like Zimbabwe haven’t worked out. So, if you want to try this uniquely spicy take on U.S. fried chicken, you’ll need to book a flight to South Africa.
Read the original article on Chowhound.
