KFC's Notorious 'Double Down' Sandwich Now in China and We Tried It

By Jesse Pottinger, August 6, 2019

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‘We Try It’ is a regular series where we try the latest off-beat food and beverage offerings.

Like McDonald’s beloved McRib and Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte (that some girl named Becky definitely posted on your Instagram feed), the notorious Double Down sandwich at KFC has never had a permanent place on the restaurant’s US menu. But when it does show up, the internet collectively loses its damn mind.

Hot on the heels of the fast food joint’s new meatless veggie burger (interesting follow up, KFC), Yum brand’s beloved fried chicken franchise has released its own take on the “all meat, no bun” monster of a sandwich in China, featuring bacon, spicy sauce and a juicy slice of pineapple all contained between two greasy slabs of deep-fried chicken that replace a traditional bun.

Packaged inside a shiny silver box with big, bold text, KFC clearly wants you to know that it means business: This sandwich is not for the faint of heart – literally.

we-try-it-double-down-2.jpgImage by Matt Bossons/That’s

The hot sauce was mild and zesty, and perfectly complemented the sweet pineapple for a pleasant yin-yang of flavor. The bacon, on the other hand, was a bit floppy and mediocre at best. 

Thankfully, the two all-meat ‘buns’ were crunchy and delicious – gotta love them 11 herbs and spices – and fortunately not sopping with grease as some fried foods tend to be.

we-try-it-double-down-3.jpg
Image by Matt Bossons/That’s

Sure, with a full day’s worth of sodium and a similarly troubling fat content, maybe KFC should add a disclaimer to the box (talk to your doctor to find out if the Double Down is safe for you), and yes, it would probably be responsible for KFC restaurants to have an on-site defibrillator. But despite the health implications, we feel that the Colonel has really outdone himself on this one.

Indeed, KFC’s new Double Down Sandwich is ‘finger lickin’ good’ (you will need to lick your fingers), and we recommend picking one up next time you pass by the chicken joint – but maybe stick to just one.

Who’s eating it: future gastric bypass recipients
Price: RMB23

For more ‘We Try It,’ click here.

[Cover image by Matt Bossons/That’s]

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