Saucy by KFC, the tenders-and-sauces fast-casual spin-off from Yum Brands' KFC, has quietly started slipping into Tampa, taking over some existing KFC and former PDQ spots. The rollout is bringing sauce flights, drive-thru and kiosk ordering, and neon-pink interiors to neighborhoods stretching from West Tampa toward Dale Mabry.
The shift first surfaced on March 1 when FOX 13 Tampa Bay reported that several Kentucky Fried Chicken locations were being converted to Saucy by KFC, with crews swapping out signage and repainting storefronts. As the station's video shows, fresh Saucy branding has already gone up at multiple spots around the Bay Area, making the change hard to miss if you drive those routes regularly.
Where Saucy Has Opened In Tampa
Local reporting and business listings indicate Saucy's Tampa debut came in late January with a soft opening in West Tampa, and the company is working through a phased schedule for more launches around the region. What Now Tampa reports that the Waters Avenue location opened on January 26 and that additional sites are planned in Westchase, near USF, Carrollwood, and Trinity.
Public inspection records compiled at Hillsborough County inspection data show recent pass inspections for restaurants listed as Saucy in Hillsborough County, signaling that more locations are lining up behind the scenes ahead of full openings.
Why Yum Is Converting PDQ Sites
The Tampa openings are part of a larger Florida move that kicked off after Yum! Brands bought the leases of 13 PDQ restaurants and indicated it would convert some of those addresses to concepts under its corporate umbrella, including Saucy. Nation's Restaurant News reported on the lease purchases and Yum's plan to grow Saucy across Central, North, and West Florida, while local permitting documents have tracked PDQ-to-Saucy conversions as they work through municipal review. Reporting from Jax Daily Record has also documented permits and early build-outs tied to the conversion program.
Menu And The Experience
Saucy puts its focus on hand-breaded tenders paired with a lineup of sauces and a menu that leans into customization, from sandwich riffs and buildable bowls to a dessert item called "Puffies." The restaurants layer that menu onto a colorful, youth-oriented design, with kiosks and digital ordering built in to streamline service and create a noticeably different feel from a traditional KFC dining room. Industry coverage from Restaurant Dive notes that the brand has been testing new menu items and limited-time offerings as it grows.
What This Means Locally
The Saucy expansion arrives alongside a broader reshuffle at PDQ. Earlier industry reporting outlined a significant pullback at PDQ and the sale of select leases that helped clear the way for Yum's conversion strategy. Coverage in TheStreet and municipal coverage have highlighted the closures and lease sales, and note that PDQ employees affected by the transitions will be offered the chance to apply for roles at Yum-operated locations. For many neighborhoods, that means a familiar drive-thru footprint is getting a new name and a brighter coat of paint rather than disappearing outright.
The Saucy rollout in Tampa is set to continue in phases over the coming weeks, with grand openings and local programming planned at select stores as each build-out wraps up. For official opening dates, event details, and upcoming menu drops, the brand is posting launch information on its website: Saucy by KFC.
