KFC, a place I used to go

every Chinese millennial has their own story with KFC

Those who were born around the 90s can remember exactly when the first KFC entered their life. It was such a threshold moment that our lives can be divided into “before KFC” and “after KFC”.

For me, it was the year of 2001 — when the first KFC outlet in my city opened. Every child and every adult was curious. Going to eat at KFC was something students would brag about in the classroom the next day. Having a birthday party at KFC, meanwhile, was something that was worthy broadcasting at the school radio. The store was always busy and well-lit. It was also renowned for its strong AC in hot summer days. Electricity bill never seemed to be an issue.

I was fascinated to learn four things 1) No one cared if you just sat there the whole day. It was way before the emergence of any milk tea stores or Starbucks. If you did’t want to meet your friend at home, you went to the KFC. 2) Oh, “Western food” looked like that. 3) Restaurants could be clean. Back in the days, apart from the hotel restaurants, all other restaurants in my city seemed to be messy corner stores. 4) KFC was always there for you. It was the only place that was opened on the Chinese New Year Eve. On those scary southern typhoon nights, it was the brightest place in the city.

When I talk about KFC here, I also refer the McDonald's. Although McDonald's appeared much later in my hometown — and many people I know have strong views on how they prefer one over the other. A cousin of mine, liked McDonald's so much, that he would drive an hour to just bring some pies from one of its stores in a highway rest stop.

All my similar-age friends have different degrees of familiarity with KFC during their upbringings. A Shanghai friend said KFC was already around when she was born. It was much later for a friend from Henan. She tried KFC for the first time when she went to college. KFC opened its first Chinese store in Beijing in 1987. Three years later, the first McDonald's was introduced in Shenzhen.

Twenty years later, I barely go to any KFC or McDonald’s anymore. There is one McDonald’s on my way to work but I never went inside. It looks dark and the floors seem to be sticky. And I am not going to settle down for that one piece of lettuce in the burger.

A few weeks ago, I finally stepped in as I needed some fries after a swim. First floor was just for ordering, I learnt. I went upstairs and there was barely anyone. One person was taking a nap. However, there were trays on every table. I took a picture. It was one day before the Chinese “ghost festival”, and it did start to look like that.