KFC has turned its fried chicken into a loaded hot dog, and it costs less than $3. The new Krunch Dawg replaces the sausage in a traditional hot dog with a crispy chicken tender, then piles coleslaw, lettuce, cheese sauce, mayo and extra sauces on top. The chain calls it “loaded with a juicy chicken tender, coleslaw, lettuce, cheesy goodness, Mmmayo and sauces.”
The Krunch Dawg Is a Hot Dog With Chicken Inside
The Krunch Dawg is currently available from KFC restaurants in Trinidad and Tobago for TT$19.95, which works out to roughly $2.94 USD. KFC Trinidad and Tobago announced the item with the slogan “NOT NO HOT DOG… IT’S A KRUNCH DAWGGG!” They added, “We took a hot dog bun and KFC’d it.”
The item is not yet confirmed for North America or Europe, so it remains a regional exclusive for now.
How It Stacks Up Against Costco and Subway
At under $3, the Krunch Dawg sits within striking distance of Costco’s famous $1.50 hot dog and soda combo. That combo includes a drink; KFC’s version does not. A combo with a drink at KFC costs $3.68 USD.
The price is also considerably cheaper than some recent fast-food hot dog experiments. IKEA introduced a gigantic 16-inch hot dog, while Subway packed a sausage, melted cheese and toppings into sandwich bread to create its massive footlong SubDog.
What Else KFC Has Been Doing Lately
KFC has been busy across the board. The chain recently released an Oreo chicken burger with black cookie-inspired buns, and it has begun selling whole watermelons with chicken in China. Elsewhere, KFC has leaned into bold flavors with its Picklecore menu, which includes a pickle cheesecake and a Flamin’ Hot Cheetos lineup featuring a Dirty Soda.
“NOT NO HOT DOG… IT’S A KRUNCH DAWGGG!”
The Krunch Dawg joins that lineup as a pure novelty play. It is a fried chicken hot dog, and it is priced below $3.
The Verdict on the Krunch Dawg
The stunt undersells Costco’s combo. KFC’s version is cheaper than the $1.50 hot dog and soda combo, arriving at roughly $2.94 USD. The Krunch Dawg is a regional exclusive, and KFC has not confirmed if it will travel beyond Trinidad and Tobago.
It is a bold move for a brand that has spent recent years experimenting with everything from whole watermelons to pickle cheesecakes. Whether the Krunch Dawg travels is unclear, but the price is the story. Under $3 for a loaded hot dog with a fried chicken tender inside — that is the kind of math worth following.
Source material: “KFC reinvents hot dogs with new ‘Krunch Dawg’ and the price competes with Costco,” Dexerto.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.