Saucy new chicken spot opens in Lakewood Ranch

A spinoff of KFC called Saucy opened this week in Lakewood Ranch.

Located at 5484 Lena Road, the quick-bite restaurant is operating in a store that once housed another chicken-leaning brand, PDQ.

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.

Both the Lakewood Ranch and one that also opened in Pasco County this week, will have about 30 employees. Spanning 3,800 square feet, the Manatee location has 42 seats inside and 24 outside.

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. All have opened in 2026.

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