Around the world, Kentucky Fried Chicken is famous for its buckets of chicken. But I recently went to the Harland Sanders Café, which is a less well-known part of the chain.
This is the KFC restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, where Colonel Harland Sanders first made his brand of chicken famous. It also offers a menu that seems similar to the rest of the chain.
Though both HSC and KFC chains use the same recipe, I decided to try meals at both locations to see if I could spot any differences.
Kentucky Fried Chicken, also known as KFC, is a global fast food phenomenon. The spicy, delicious Original Recipe fried chicken has become one of the most iconic and widely enjoyed fast food items around the world. With over 25,000 locations in 125 countries, KFC has come a long way from its humble beginnings in a small town in Kentucky. But where exactly is the original Kentucky Fried Chicken located?
The very first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant known as Sanders Cafe was opened by Colonel Harland Sanders in Corbin, Kentucky in 1930. Located along U.S. Route 25, Sanders’ restaurant started as a service station that expanded to include a motel and cafe. It was here in 1940 that Sanders perfected his top secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices and his method for pressure frying chicken that resulted in the famous Original Recipe we know and love today.
The Sanders Cafe building is gone, but the land where it used to be has been turned into a museum and a new KFC restaurant that honors the brand’s history and heritage. This historic site is where Kentucky Fried Chicken got its start. It is now called the Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum and can be found at 688 U S. Highway 25 West, Corbin KY 40701.
The Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum
The Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum first opened its doors in 1990, on what would have been Colonel Sanders’ 100th birthday. Managed by KFC franchisees JRN Inc., the museum underwent a major 2 year renovation beginning in 2020 to update and expand the space. The renovated museum reopened in 2022 with new exhibits and memorabilia as well as an expanded dining room that can seat 132 guests.
Stepping into the Sanders Cafe is like taking a step back in time. The original 1940s dining room where Colonel Sanders served his fried chicken has been carefully restored, complete with the Colonel’s innovative open kitchen design. Exhibits allow visitors to view artifacts and memorabilia from the early days of KFC, including vintage merchandise, advertising materials, and packaging.
Some of the highlights of the Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum include
- A replica of Colonel Sanders’ original kitchen where he perfected his blend of 11 secret herbs and spices
- Sanders’ office, including the 1940s era furnishings and decor
- A model motel room like those found in Sanders’ adjacent motor lodge
- Memorabilia from Sanders’ life, including his famous white suit
- An interactive display mapping the global expansion of KFC from its first franchise in 1952 to present day
- A bronze bust of Colonel Sanders sculpted by his daughter
- Vintage gas station pumps outside resembling the station Sanders first operated in 1930
In addition to the fascinating museum exhibits, the Harland Sanders Cafe also serves up Kentucky Fried Chicken so visitors can enjoy the Colonel’s famous fare in the very place it originated. The restaurant design mixes elements of the classic KFC look with historical touches to create a one-of-a-kind dining experience in Corbin, Kentucky.
Corbin, Kentucky – Birthplace of KFC
There is a strong link between the small town of Corbin and the story of Colonel Sanders and Kentucky Fried Chicken. It was where Sanders’ first cafeteria was located and where Harland Sanders lived when he came up with the idea for KFC.
Some other Colonel Sanders related attractions found in Corbin include:
- Colonel Sanders Statue – Located just a mile from the Harland Sanders Cafe is a bronze statue of the Colonel erected in his honor
- Sanders Homeplace – The house where Colonel Sanders lived from 1939 to 1956 still stands and is now owned by KFC franchise JRN Inc.
- Sanders Grave – Colonel Sanders passed away in 1980 and is buried in the town’s Old Mulkey Meetinghouse Cemetery
KFC started in Corbin, Kentucky, and now has locations all over the world. This small town is proud to be the home of the world’s most famous fried chicken. The first Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum is a must-see for anyone who wants to know where it all began. The Colonel’s hand-crafted Original Recipe chicken made right where it was made is one of the most memorable things about KFC.
So next time you’re craving the Colonel’s secret blend of 11 herbs and spices, consider a pilgrimage to the Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum in Corbin, Kentucky – the ultimate destination for fried chicken lovers and KFC fans.
I also compared some of the sides
In addition to the chicken, I also ordered mashed potatoes as a side at both locations and thought that the two were pretty indistinguishable.
However, I believe theres a stark difference in the biscuit. The recipes are the same at both places, but I thought the biscuits at Harland Sanders Café were fluffier and the ones at KFC were crunchier.
I thought the HSC chicken was crispier and juicier
I compared my meal from Harland Sanders Café to my order at a regular KFC in Greenville.
Though the recipes are the same, I thought I noticed a difference when I tasted the two versions of chicken.
Original Kentucky fried chicken location Corbin Kentucky
FAQ
Does the first KFC still exist?
“IT ALL STARTED IN CORBIN”, Colonel Sanders’ original restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken®. You can see it as it looked in the 1940s because it has been carefully fixed up and put on the National Register of Historic Places.
Where is the original Kentucky Fried Chicken store?
In 1930, Sanders took over a Shell filling station on U. S. Route 25 just outside North Corbin, Kentucky, a small town on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains. It was here that he first served to travelers the recipes that he had learned as a child: fried chicken and other dishes such as steaks and country ham.
Why is Kentucky Fried Chicken moving from Kentucky to Texas?
Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs said the Texas move was meant to help the company with “sustainable growth” and “culture. In the end, he said, “bringing more of our people together regularly will make the most of our unmatched culture and talent as a competitive advantage.”
Where did Colonel Sanders live in Kentucky?
In 1956, he sold his North Corbin, KY restaurant, and in 1959 Sanders and Claudia relocate to Shelbyville, IN where they purchased the stately manor called ….