KFC operates 27,000+ locations globally with a focus on Original and Extra Crispy chicken recipes using the 11-herb-and-spice blend, while Popeyes runs 3,500+ locations with a Louisiana-style approach emphasizing hand-breaded, bone-in chicken. KFC has significantly broader international presence, whereas Popeyes dominates in the fast-casual premium chicken segment with higher average transaction values.
KFC vs Popeyes — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Global fried chicken chain with diverse menu options, lower prices, and 7-day operations across 180+ countries.
Fast-casual fried chicken chain specializing in hand-breaded, bone-in Louisiana-style chicken with premium positioning.
Global Restaurant Count. Chicken Preparation Style. Average Transaction Value. International Markets Presence. Menu Item Count (Core). Annual Revenue (2024). Customer Satisfaction Score (2024)
Choose KFC if you prioritize global availability, consistent pricing ($8-12 average), and diverse menu options including chicken tenders, buckets, and sides across 145+ countries. Choose Popeyes if you prefer premium, hand-crafted Louisiana-style bone-in fried chicken, value quality over quantity ($12-16 average), and don't mind limited international availability—Popeyes customers show 3% higher satisfaction ratings (79 vs 76 ACSI).
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 24,000+ | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 3,500+
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): $3.3 billion (Rank: 18th) | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Not publicly disclosed
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): ¥11.48B (~$78M USD) | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Private company
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): Publicly traded (TSE: 3420) | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Private ownership
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): Fried chicken + comfort sides | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Chicken sandwiches
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 1952 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 1972
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): Not disclosed individually | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: $269M (2016 baseline)
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): Stable; Market cap +14.79% YoY | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Rapid expansion; viral marketing success
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 27,000+ | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 3,500+
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 5% | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 28%
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): $6.49 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: $5.99
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 94/100 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 78/100
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 55+ items | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 35+ items
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 72% | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 8.2/10
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): $6.99 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: N/A
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 1,680mg | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: N/A
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 52 items | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: N/A
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 3,191 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: N/A
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 60% | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: N/A
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 5.8 minutes | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: N/A
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): Pre-seasoned, refrigerated or frozen | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: N/A
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 145+ countries | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 3 countries (U.S., Caribbean, U.K.)
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): $5.99 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: $4.49
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 470 cal (Original Recipe sandwich) | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 680 cal (Spicy sandwich)
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 1,320 mg | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 1,980 mg
Chicken Sandwich Sales Growth (2019-2024)
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): +12% CAGR | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: +38% CAGR
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 8.2M followers | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 3.1M followers
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 72 years (Founded 1952) | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 54 years (Founded 1972)
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 145+ | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 30+
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): $10 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: $14
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 76 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 79
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): $17.5B | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: $3.8B
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 48 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 38
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 5 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 10
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 45M+ | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 12M+
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): $26B | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: N/A
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): $1.5M | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: N/A
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 27,000+ | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: N/A
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 7 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 7 days
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 78 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 78/100
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): $7.99 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: N/A
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): 180+ | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: N/A
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): $15.25 | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: N/A
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: $3.3 billion (brand value proxy)
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: $3.3 billion
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: #18 (2026)
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 32%
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 1972
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Bone-in chicken with Cajun sides
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 30+ countries
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Public (Restaurant Brands International)
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 2,900+
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 5.8
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 94.7%
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: $2.1B
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 365 days
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 1,120mg
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: $3.5B
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 3,600+
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: $1.8M
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 23%
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Cajun-spiced specialty chicken sandwiches
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): N/A | Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 30% controlled
KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) — Wikipedia
How to choose between KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Compare KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) vs Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
KFC vs Popeyes — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for KFC vs Popeyes. Contains 66 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
KFC vs Popeyes — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for KFC vs Popeyes.
Popeyes ranks higher on customer satisfaction (79 vs 76 ACSI) due to hand-breaded, bone-in Louisiana-style chicken, while KFC's pressure-cooked chicken with the proprietary 11-herb-and-spice blend offers consistency at scale. Quality preference depends on whether you value artisanal hand-preparation (Popeyes) or consistent seasoning profile (KFC).
KFC is significantly more affordable with average transactions of $10 USD compared to Popeyes' $14 USD—roughly 28% cheaper. KFC's budget positioning includes value menus starting at $3-5, while Popeyes focuses on premium pricing aligned with fast-casual standards.
Can I find these chains internationally?
KFC dominates international markets with 27,000+ locations across 145+ countries including strong presence in China, UK, India, and Brazil. Popeyes has limited international reach with only 3,500 locations in 30+ countries, primarily in North America, Europe, and select Asian markets.
What's the difference in cooking methods?
KFC uses pressure-cooking (faster, 5-minute service) with a proprietary 11-herb-and-spice blend that penetrates the meat. Popeyes hand-breads bone-in chicken and deep-fries it (10-minute service), resulting in a crispier exterior and what many consider more authentic Louisiana-style flavor.
KFC offers 48+ core menu items including tenders, buckets, salads, sides, and desserts for varied preferences. Popeyes maintains a streamlined 38-item menu focused on their signature bone-in chicken, sandwiches, and Louisiana-inspired sides, prioritizing depth over breadth.
How to Choose Between KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Global Restaurant Count: KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) has 27,000+, while Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has 3,500+.
Chicken Preparation Style: KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) has Pressure-cooked with 11-herb-and-spice blend, while Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has Hand-breaded, bone-in Louisiana-style fried.
Average Transaction Value: KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) has $8-12 USD, while Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has $12-16 USD.
Consider: International Markets Presence
International Markets Presence: KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) has 145+ countries, while Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has 30+ countries.
Menu Item Count (Core): KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) has 45-50 items, while Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has 35-40 items.
Annual Revenue (2024): KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) has $17.5 billion USD, while Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has $3.8 billion USD.
Consider: Customer Satisfaction Score (2024)
Customer Satisfaction Score (2024): KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) has 76/100 (ACSI), while Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has 79/100 (ACSI).