Saucy by KFC restaurants open soon in Manatee, Pasco

Saucy by KFC is opening two locations in the Tampa Bay area next week. The restaurants, focused on chicken tenders complemented by an array of sauces, will be located at 5484 Lena Road in Lakewood Ranch and 3154 Disciple Lane in Trinity. Both the Manatee and Pasco county locations used to house PDQ, another eatery focused on chicken. 

The Lakewood Ranch Saucy will open on May 4, while the Trinity restaurant will open on May 5.

Saucy! made its national debut in Orlando in December 2024, according to Nation’s Restaurant News, a trade publication that reported the brand acquired 13 Florida leases from PDQ in 2025 on the Gulf Coast, North Florida and in the central part of the state.

Since then, the brand has been growing in the Tampa Bay area. There are already four Saucy restaurants in Tampa: 5112 East Fowler Ave., 12650 N. Dale Mabry Highway, 5706 West Waters Ave. and 8730 West Linebaugh Ave.

As its name implies, sauces are central to the restaurant, which uses what it calls “crispy tendies as the canvas.” About a dozen sauces are available, from classic BBQ to sweet teriyaki to jalapeno pesto ranch. In addition to chicken tenders, the menu features sauced brussel bites, macaroni and cheese, a chicken tender rice bowl, chicken sandwich, chicken tenders in a tortilla, fries, Hawaiian toast and sugar-dusted pastries called “puffies” with raspberry, chocolate or caramel sauce.

The grand openings at both the Manatee and Pasco locations will start at 11 a.m. with giveaways and complimentary bites. Guests will get a taste of two major brand launches: Saucy Drips by Pepsi, which are "mood-inspired" fountain beverages; and the new “Big Sammie,” a dish in partnership with Kings Hawaiian, that includes two chicken tenders in a Kings Hawaiian bun with greens, hashbrown straws and a Saucy sauce.

Saucy is owned by parent company Yum Brands, whose portfolio also includes Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill.