Controversy when 'giant' KFC puts Vietnamese bread on the menu

KFC Australia has just launched a new menu item that combines a street food favourite – Vietnamese banh mi – with one of their signature flavours – and food lovers are already arguing.

Launched across the system from last Tuesday, November 4, the fast food giant's Banh Mi Zinger is now available on menus across Australia for the first time.

Inspired by Vietnamese banh mi, KFC's version offers a spicy flavor, as described by the Daily Mail. KFC has kept the word "banh mi" on the menu.

A traditional banh mi consists of pâté, mayonnaise, cold cuts, pickled carrots and radishes, cucumbers, coriander, fresh chilies and spices. But KFC's version puts a twist on the iconic street food, which has been dubbed "the perfect combination".

Vietnamese sandwiches on KFC Australia's menu cause controversy

This fast food chain's banh mi consists of a spicy fillet Zinger (usually crispy fried chicken) sandwich, a flavorful coleslaw, fresh chili, and two special sauces - the new Banh Mi mayonnaise and KFC's "Supercharged" sauce.

The new item is available at KFC stores starting from AU$9.95 (about 170,000 VND). However, fans should be quick as the promotion only lasts until December 1.

“At KFC, we love putting our own twist on modern dishes, and the Zinger Sandwich is our reimagining of a much-loved icon,” said KFC Australia Group Marketing Director, Sally Spriggs.

In fact, rumors of the banh mi appearing as a “secret” item on the KFC menu have been circulating since earlier this year. But there’s a catch – it’s only available at 10 select NSW locations and can only be ordered via the app.

In February, eagle-eyed diners spotted the item quietly added to KFC's online menu, and a lucky few were able to purchase it during the trial period.

Varied bread loaf costs 170,000 VND

This dish quickly became popular, many confirmed that it was "very tasty", the price was the same as a burger, but "it was nice to have a different taste"; "The bread crust was soft but still crispy. This dish was really great".

Of course, not everyone was convinced by the change. Some Vietnamese Australians commented that it lacked the key ingredients of a banh mi. "If it doesn't have pâté, it's not a banh mi," one argued. One even went so far as to say, "For those wondering... it's KFC! Calling it a banh mi is a crime."

In response, many others said that if you think of the new dish as an inspired dish, rather than an exact copy of the original, it's actually quite delicious. And they were more open: "Who cares, I'm Vietnamese and I still want to try it!"

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tranh-cai-khi-ong-lon-kfc-dua-banh-mi-viet-nam-vao-thuc-don-185251108082639661.htm