Fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken is known for its iconic buckets of chicken around the globe, but I recently visited a lesser-known part of the franchise: the Harland Sanders Café.
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.
I chose to eat at both HSC and KFC to see if I could find any differences, even though they use the same recipe.
One of the most well-known fast food chains in the world is Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Colonel Harland Sanders made the tasty fried chicken recipe in his restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, in 1930. This historic site is where the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant was located. It is now a museum but still serves KFC.
So where exactly is the original KFC restaurant located? Let’s take a look at the fascinating history behind this famous fried chicken and how Colonel Sanders’ roadside restaurant in rural Kentucky spawned a global fast food empire
Colonel Sanders and His Secret Recipe
Colonel Harland David Sanders was born in Henryville, Indiana, in 1890. During his early years, he worked as a farmer, on the railroad, and as an insurance salesman, among other jobs. Sanders’ true passion was cooking though.
In 1930 during the Great Depression, Sanders opened a service station in the small town of Corbin, Kentucky. He didn’t just sell gas though, he also served food to hungry travelers passing through. Specifically, Sanders cooked up fried chicken dishes made using his signature blend of 11 herbs and spices.
Over time his delicious homemade cooking drew more and more customers. In 1940 Sanders moved his operation to a restaurant across the road which seated 142 people. Here, he perfected his top secret fried chicken recipe and cooking method.
The First KFC Franchise Opens
Colonel Sanders opened the first Kentucky Fried Chicken in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1952, when he was 62 years old. He had sold the rights to his fried chicken recipe. Following a taste of Colonel Sanders’ chicken, Pete Harman bought a local restaurant and became the first KFC franchisee.
Even though restaurant franchising was still a new idea, it helped the KFC brand grow quickly across the US. Soon after, growth spread to places like Canada, Mexico, and the UK. There are now more than 24,000 KFC restaurants in more than 140 countries around the world.
The Original KFC Building in Corbin, Kentucky
While Sanders sold the first KFC franchise in 1952, the original Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant itself is located in Corbin, Kentucky. This historic building is where Colonel Sanders first created and cooked his 11 herb and spices fried chicken back in 1930.
Over the years, the site has been renovated multiple times. But it still stands today as a museum and fully functioning KFC restaurant. Visitors can see a replica of Sanders’ original kitchen and dining room, which only had 6 seats! There are also exhibits showcasing vintage KFC memorabilia and artifacts documenting the chain’s evolution.
Visiting the Birthplace of KFC Today
Foodies and fried chicken fans visiting Corbin, Kentucky can stop by the original KFC building on Highway 25W. The museum contains interactive exhibits and you can purchase KFC merchandise at the gift shop.
Of course, you can also order Sanders’ original secret recipe chicken and sides! Customers can enjoy the classic fried chicken experience either in the vintage 1940s dining room or use the drive-thru. Many say the food tastes even better than your average KFC outlet.
The Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum is registered as a national historic landmark. Visiting this unique KFC restaurant is a delicious way to celebrate the Colonel’s legacy and the origins of a global fast food phenomenon.
Sanders Cafe Transforms Over Time
- 1937 – The site opens as a Shell gas station
- 1940 – Sanders expands into a 142 seat restaurant
- 1964 – Franchised and renamed Kentucky Fried Chicken
- 1973 – Sold to John R. Neal and wife
- 1990 – Reopened as Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum
- 2022 – Closed for major renovation and expansion
The Secret Behind KFC’s Global Brand
- Colonel Sanders pioneered the franchising restaurant concept
- First franchise opened in 1952 in Salt Lake City, Utah
- Rapid expansion across America throughout the 1960s
- International growth began in the 1960s and 1970s
- Today KFC has over 24,000 outlets in over 140 countries
- Brand is worth an estimated $20 billion
Sanders Developed His Famous Recipe Over Time
- As a boy, Sanders learned to cook from his mother
- 1930 – Sanders served fried chicken to travelers from his gas station
- 1940 – Opened a 142 seat restaurant and perfected his recipe
- 1952 – First KFC franchise launched using Sanders’ recipe
- 1964 – Sold KFC for $2 million but remained its brand ambassador
Key Milestones in Colonel Sanders’ Life
- 1890 – Harland Sanders born in Henryville, Indiana
- 1930 – Opens gas station in Corbin, Kentucky serving fried chicken
- 1952 – Sells first KFC franchise at age 62
- 1964 – Sells KFC corporation for $2 million
- 1976 – Leaves KFC company after expressing dissatisfaction
- 1980 – Colonel Sanders passes away at age 90
Why Visit the Original KFC Restaurant?
- Step back in time to where it all began in Sanders’ cafe
- See a replica of the original 6 seat dining room
- View exhibits showcasing KFC history and memorabilia
- Take a selfie next to the Colonel Sanders statue
- Purchase limited edition merchandise at the gift shop
- Taste the original secret recipe chicken and sides
- Experience a unique piece of American fast food history
What the Critics Say About the Original KFC
I recently visited the original Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky. Here’s my review of this historic fast food location and birthplace of the world famous secret recipe:
“The chicken here tasted noticeably better than your average KFC outlet. Everything was hot, fresh and crisp. The chicken breast especially was juicy and tender. The signature flavor coating seemed more peppery too.
The vintage dining room took me back in time. Exhibits like a model of Colonel Sanders’ original 6 seat kitchen brought the KFC origin story to life. I’d definitely recommend any fried chicken fan visit this quintessential American roadside cafe.”
So if you find yourself driving through Kentucky, be sure to leave time to stop by the first ever Kentucky Fried Chicken. It’s a delicious blast from the past!
I also compared some of the sides
I ordered chicken and mashed potatoes as a side dish at both places and didn’t think they were very different from each other.
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.
The Original KFC – Sander’s Cafe – Vlog
FAQ
Where is the very first KFC restaurant?
“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?
David Gibbs, CEO of Yum! Brands, said that the move to Texas would help the company with “culture” and “sustainable growth.” ” “Ultimately, bringing more of our people together on a consistent basis will maximize our unrivaled culture and talent as a competitive advantage,” he said in the statement.