McKinney has a new restaurant concept that puts a very different spin on the traditional KFC experience. KFC Open House officially opened September 26, 2026, at 8751 El Dorado Parkway near Custer Road, introducing a new KFC format that combines fast-food convenience with a more traditional sit-down restaurant experience.
Quick Summary
- KFC Open House opened September 26, 2026, at 8751 El Dorado Parkway in McKinney, Texas, near Custer Road.
- It is the first KFC Open House location in the United States and is being used to test new food, drinks, service, and restaurant design concepts.
- The McKinney location features tableside service, touchscreen kiosks, breakfast, boba drinks, new sauces, indoor and outdoor seating, and a two-lane drive-thru.
- The 3,400-square-foot restaurant has seating for 52 people and is open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight.
A New KFC Concept Has Arrived in McKinney
KFC Open House is not simply another traditional KFC restaurant. According to CultureMap Dallas, KFC is using the McKinney location as a testing ground for new ideas that could potentially be introduced at other KFC restaurants across the country.
The restaurant is located at 8751 El Dorado Parkway near Custer Road in McKinney, making it a notable addition to the local restaurant scene. It is also the first KFC Open House location in the United States.
For McKinney residents, that means this location is essentially a real-world experiment for what a future KFC restaurant could look like.
What Is Different About KFC Open House?
One of the biggest differences is the service model.
Instead of simply ordering at a counter and carrying your food to a table, dine-in customers are greeted by a lobby host who helps guide them through the ordering process. Customers can order using one of five touchscreen kiosks or through a cashier if they are paying with cash.
After ordering, customers receive a table card with a number, and employees deliver the food directly to the table. Employees also clear the tables afterward.
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The concept gives KFC more of a sit-down restaurant feel while still maintaining some of the convenience associated with fast food.
The 3,400-square-foot McKinney restaurant has seating for 52 people, including indoor and outdoor tables. The interior also includes a large booth in a sunroom surrounded by a customizable screen and a curved bench with tables and small stools.
New KFC Menu Items Include Breakfast and Boba
The menu is another major part of the experiment.
KFC Open House introduced several new sauce options, including Classic Ranch, Jalapeño Ranch, Sweet Heat Ranch, Buffalo, Garlic Parmesan, Sweet Chili, and Kentucky BBQ. Customers can order the sauces as dips or have them drizzled over chicken tenders, fried chicken, wings, or fries.
There are also combination drizzles, including Jalapeño Ranch with Garlic Parmesan, Sweet Heat Ranch with Sweet Chili, and Kentucky BBQ with Classic Ranch.
The restaurant also introduced new sides such as Southwest Corn, Fried Green Beans, Spicy Pickles, and Rainbow Slaw.
Perhaps one of the biggest changes is breakfast. KFC Open House marks the first time KFC has introduced breakfast offerings, according to the CultureMap Dallas report. The morning menu includes breakfast sandwiches made with tenders, hashbrown sticks, mini cronuts, brewed coffee, and iced lattes.
Drinks have also received a significant expansion, with Mango Boba Refreshers, strawberry lemonade, flavored iced lattes, and Double Chocolate Krunch Shakes.
At the same time, KFC is keeping familiar menu items such as Original Recipe Tenders, chicken sandwiches, chicken on the bone, wings, fries, and Mashed Potatoes & Gravy.
The McKinney Location Also Has a Different Drive-Thru Setup
KFC Open House is not only changing the dine-in experience.
The McKinney location has two separate drive-thru lanes. One is designed for customers ordering at the restaurant, while the other is intended for customers who pre-order through the KFC app.
There is also a separate payment window and food delivery window, a setup designed to help move drive-thru orders through the restaurant more efficiently.
The restaurant is open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight, giving it both an early-morning and late-night component.
Why This KFC Location Matters to McKinney
From my perspective, the interesting part is not simply that McKinney got another KFC.
The bigger story is that KFC chose McKinney for the first Open House concept in the United States. The location is essentially being used to test how customers respond to different food, drinks, ordering methods, service and restaurant design.
That makes this more than a typical restaurant opening. What happens at the McKinney location could help influence what future KFC restaurants look like in other markets.
For a fast-food brand with a long-established identity, experimenting with tableside service, breakfast, boba drinks, expanded sauces and a more modern restaurant design is a significant change in the customer experience.
And for McKinney, having a nationally significant restaurant concept being tested locally is an interesting addition to the city’s growing restaurant landscape.
My Take on the New KFC Open House
I think the most interesting part of this story is the fact that KFC is using McKinney as its testing ground.
Restaurants are competing for people’s attention in a market where customers have more choices than ever. KFC’s approach here appears to be about giving customers more reasons to dine in rather than simply picking up food through the drive-thru.
Whether customers ultimately prefer the traditional KFC experience or this newer format will depend on how they respond to the food, service and overall experience. But from a local perspective, it is certainly something worth watching because McKinney is getting the first look at a concept that could eventually influence KFC restaurants elsewhere.
According to CultureMap Dallas, KFC Open House is the first restaurant of its kind in the U.S. and is being used to test new food, drinks, service and design ideas.
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For another McKinney development story, you can also read my article, “McKinney National Airport Commercial Terminal Gets New Construction Update,” for more information about ongoing development in the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new KFC Open House in McKinney?
KFC Open House is located at 8751 El Dorado Parkway near Custer Road in McKinney, Texas.
What is different about KFC Open House?
The McKinney KFC Open House features tableside service, touchscreen kiosks, breakfast, boba drinks, expanded sauce options, indoor and outdoor seating, and a two-lane drive-thru.
Is the McKinney KFC Open House the first one in the U.S.?
Yes. According to CultureMap Dallas, the McKinney restaurant is the first KFC Open House location in the United States.
What are the hours for KFC Open House in McKinney?
According to the CultureMap Dallas report, the restaurant is open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight.