Had KFC a few weeks ago for the first time in forever. The MBAs have optimized the flavor right out of it. Biscuits tasted like flour. Only flavor the chicken had was the seasoning in the batter.
I'm Australian but living in the UK -- it's common for Australians coming here to be shocked at how disgusting KFC is here. It really does seem like they're trying to make things dry and flavourless and use the wrong sauce for everything, the gulf in quality is really surprising for such a big company.
I would guess, altho I've since turned vegan and never tried it, that their flagship original recipe chicken is identical or similar.
But the wraps, burgers etc are very dry in the UK. The bun is dry and styrofoamy, the sauces are weird and seem out of place, overly sweet and too tangy, very artificial, and just the wrong choice. The vegetables seem less fresh and more flavourless.
The chips are unsalted and underseadoned and bland.
I tried it enough times to be sure it wasn't just a Covid induced lack of taste.
I've since stopped eating at large American chains and stopped eating animal products altogether, so it won't be a worry for me in the future.
KFC in Korea is quite good, more like how I remember KFC as a kid. That said, other fried chicken in Korea is so much better that it seems pointless to eat KFC.
Why? Pizza Hut was a fun experience as a Western group visiting Hong Kong some years ago; it isn't nearly what you'd think for "Pizza Hut"!
The point being: perhaps the local branding runs differently. McDonalds was mostly the same, though having real sugar and fish oil instead of corn oil was also a fascinating experience.