The new year is opening with a hot and invigorating addition to the menu of KFC Singapore. It is the first time in its history that the fast-food giant introduces its own version of Sichuan mala chicken which will have brought the spicy and numbing aromas of this renowned Chinese menu to its restaurants around the island. This is a special Chinese New Year menu of KFC that is only temporary and meant to give the festival celebrations a spicy touch.
The new product will be available as a La Zi Ji Crunch and bite-sized La Zi Ji Bites that will deliver a delicious experience which will be hot aromatic and that same mala numbing feeling. It is a big event to food lovers in Singapore as it combines the comfort of the well-known crispy chicken of KFC with the local taste of the Sichuan cuisine.
KFC Singapore Launching Sichuan Mala Chicken: A Fiery New Tradition
The move taken by KFC Singapore to launching Sichuan mala chicken is a strategic idea, which will resonate with the existing food trends and festivities. The meal will last between January 14th and 25th of 2026 and this will give its customers ample time to sample this special dish.
This is not a mere introduction of a new flavor this is a celebration. KFC is promoting a new ritual, the so-called Huat Ritual, that would allow everyone to stop and enjoy the fresh and auspicious energy of new beginnings with this spicy and numbing meal. The sharp spiciness and the desensitizing peppercorns of Sichuan foods are thought to trigger good luck, and it is thus a wonderful fit to the Chinese New Year season.
You may also read :- Numb Restaurant reviews: Sichuan Flavors in Singapore
Understanding the Mala Sensation: More Than Just Spicy
The special taste profile is what makes this launch so special. Mala (麻辣) is a Chinese word, which literally means numbing and spicy. It is the Sichuan culinary treasure. The spiciness is brought about by the dry red chillies and the chilli oil that offer a burning feeling. The deadening of the effect is because of Sichuan peppercorns. These are not like black pepper, they have a kind of substance that makes your tongue tingling, almost vibrating.
A combination of these aspects makes the experience complex. It’s not just about pain. It is of a mouth-tingle explosion of flavour that gains gradually. To start with you have the savory crispy chicken. Then the chilli heat arrives. And lastly, the peppercorns numb all over your mouth.
Such a ma la mix is a habit and makes you want to take another one. The version of KFC has tried to get this genuine, mouth-lashing taste in a well-known, crunchy chicken style.
The Complete KFC Chinese New Year Menu
It is the Sichuan mala chicken however KFC has created a complete festival menu based on it. The following is a full list of the things you get to enjoy in this time-constrained time frame.
| Menu Item | Description | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| La Zi Ji Crunch | A full chicken piece on the bone, coated in a bold Sichuan mala sauce. | Features dried chillies, chilli oil, and numbing peppercorns for a slow-building tingle. |
| La Zi Ji Bites | Bite-sized crispy chicken pieces tossed in the same tantalising sauce. | Perfect for snacking and sharing; described as “shatteringly crispy”. |
| Mala Lotus Root Chips | A first-ever side dish featuring the crisp texture of lotus root. | A crunchy and addictive pairing for the spicy chicken. |
| Mango Pomelo Sago Pie | A dessert pie combining zesty pomelo and sweet mango sago. | A sweet finish that complements the spicy mains; pomelo symbolizes prosperity. |
| Special Feast Bundles | Larger sets designed for sharing with family and friends. | Includes options like the La Zi Ji Crunch Bucket and the La Zi Ji Crunch Feast for groups. |
Why This Launch Taps Into Big Food Trends
Food analysts have observed that in 2026, the food patrons are more adventurous and knowledgeable and want bold flavors that have an actual place of origin. They desire content and something that they can feel. The Sichuan mala chicken of KFC achieves this very thing by linking the clientele to the genuine and the intense flavors of a definite area food.
Moreover, combining the light, citrus-like sounds to the deep spices is one of the key causes of menu innovation in Asia. The chili and peppercorn are the main ingredients of the La Zi Ji but the introduction of the Mango Pomelo Sago Pie in the menu will provide that sweet and zesty taste that consumers would crave.
According to Angeline Ho of Kerry Group diners are moving towards flavours that are exciting, but healthy, there and beyond, and yet familiar. The new brand by KFC is exactly like this.
Analysts feel this is an intelligent move. Culinary analyst Dr. Liam Tan says that the issue of fast food is no longer limited to convenience only. It is all about international taste tourism. The customers, and more so in a multicultural city such as Singapore, are refined.
Their favorite is sampling famous foods of the world even in a fast food version. This specialty spicy chicken is a acknowledgment of that inquisitiveness, limited period.
A Closer Look at the Star Dish: La Zi Ji Crunch & Bites
Now we shall go deeper into the principal happening. The La Zi Ji Crunch, a variant of KFC, is based on a traditional Sichuan restaurant dish. La Zi Ji is conventionally prepared using marinated chicken that has been fried in a mountain of dried chillies and Sichuan peppercorns.
Their version of the product is based on the Original Recipe chicken which was developed by KFC. The article is then thrown or covered with a special sauce that replicates that iconic taste.
The La Zi Ji Bites will provide the comparable taste in smaller, snackable size. These are ideal in those occasions where you desire the hot adventure of KFC taste but would not be willing to invest in a whole dish. What it also implies is that the bite-size format allows more crispy surface area covered in that mala sauce and the maximum amount of flavor in each bite possible.
Newcomer Hack: Speaking of first-time customers, you can begin with the Bites. The smaller part will allow you to feel the distinctive numbing spice and it will not be overwhelming. To mala veterans, the Crunch provides the complete immersion with the juiciness of the KFC bone-in chicken.
More Than a Meal: Collectible Fortune Cats and Promotions
KFC Singapore has ensured this launch is a complete festive affair featuring fun collectibles and promotion. They are also launching Huat Paws along with the food, which are a set of fortune cat blinds.
The traditional wishing cat that brings good fortune and prosperity will have a jigsaw base. This enables the fans to gather and bring them together to show. On January 14th, these blind boxes will be sold to all who make an eligible purchase of dine-in or a takeout at a price of 8.80.
Better still, you stand a chance to win big! Ten of the chosen customers who have a special Secret Gold fortune cat in their blind box, and post a picture on social media will have a chance to win S$888.
Other desserts of the festival include:
- Huat Socks: These socks can be ordered along with any breakfast or by delivery.
- Huat Paws Red Packets: Complimentary to every La Zi Ji Crunch Box or La Zi Ji Bites Box purchaser between January 21 and February 24.
- Festive New Year Decoration: Multiple outlets will be festooned during the season, which will make your meal a part of the celebration.
How to Get Your Sichuan Mala Chicken Fix?
KFC Chinese New Year menu is offered as a dine-in menu, take-away menu and delivery menu. It is available in all KFC Singapore locations except where the company has extension in Singapore Zoo and Sentosa.
The promotion will be extended to February 25, 2026, however, like all other limited offers, the items will be offered only until the stocks remain. Considering the success of the past special launches of KFC, where at times the restaurants ran out of space on the first day, it is always good to make a reservation to visit the restaurant.
- Best Times to visit: To escape the crowd, visit during off peak times. Weekdays (after 2-5 PM - late afternoon or after 8 PM - later in the evening) are usually not so busy. Weekends will be the busiest, particularly the lunch and dinner hour.
- Dining out as a Group: The La Zi Ji Crunch Feast is a sharing feast. It usually consists of a combination of the new mala products, standard sides such as fries and coleslaw, beverages and occasionally the new dessert pie. It is an excellent method to a family or a group of friends to enjoy the whole thing.
Pairing Your Meal: What to Drink with Spicy Chicken
Hot food as the Sichuan mala chicken demands the appropriate beverage to help soothe the tongue. Although KFC can sell regular sodas, below are some of the professional pairings to add value to your meal:
- Iced Lemon Tea: Lemon tea is made to be bitter and a little sweet, which is typical in cutting spicy hotness. The coolness is also pleasant.
- Milk Tea or Yakult: Dairy based beverages are also very helpful in counteracting the capsaicin, the substance that forms the basis of bagging chillies. It is creamy on the tongue.
- Plain Iced Water: Sometimes it is plain and simple. The chillies are washed using cold water to remove the oils.
- Avoid Carbonated Drinks: Other people can have fizzy drinks such as cola that increase the heat. Best experience would be to stick with cold drinks.
The Cultural Significance: Why Mala for Chinese New Year?
One may question why KFC should have selected such a spicy meal during a season of festivals. Red in the Chinese culture is a fortuitous color; it is an auspicious color, and it is mostly worn during the Chinese New Year. This symbolism links straight to the color of the chillies in the mala sauce their bright red color. Having a hot and happening food is considered to kick off the year with vigor and passion.
Also sharing a communal meal such a daring, delicious one unites people. It will be an adventure to explore something new and find your way through the spicy tingling, which will be a pleasant collective memory, which is ideal to use during family events, as well as during dinner with friends during the holiday season.
Conclusion
The KFC Singapore launching Sichuan mala chicken is an exhilarating and opportune new product to the Singapore food market. It manages to bring together the craving of the true local taste and the delight of a seasonal seasonal snack.
Either you are a lover of spicy food or you need to have a pleasant time with your family and go to this KFC start to receive the cute fortune cats this proposal is something new and special.
Go to your local KFC store before the season is over and have a taste of the hot, spicy crunch of their new La Zi Ji. This is a special edition menu though and you should not hold out too long to taste this unusual mix of the KFC crunch and the bold de-sensitising spice of Sichuan!
FAQs : KFC Singapore launching Sichuan mala chicken
What time does KFC sell its Sichuan mala chicken?
It comes as a fixed-period promotion between January 14 and February 25, 2026.
Is it very spicy?
Yes. The dish is created in imitation of the traditional experience of Sichuan La Zi Ji with a definite high level of chilli and the numbing effect produced by Sichuan peppercorns. It is targeted at the people who like spicy flavours. Be careful, in case you are not very tolerant of spices!
Can I get it delivered?
Yes. The entire Chinese New Year menu is delivered by such applications as Foodpanda, Deliveroo, and the KFC delivery service along with dine-in and takeaway.
Where will I be able to purchase the Fortune Cat blinds?
The Huat Paws blind boxes will be on sale at $8.80 each together with any dine-in or takeaway order at the counter or at the self-ordering kiosk on or after January 14th.
How is the difference between La Zi Ji Crunch and La Zi Ji Bites?
The La Zi Ji Crunch is the entire chicken on the bone (such as a drumstick or a thigh) and it is covered with the mala sauce. The Bites are tiny bite sized fried and fried chicken breast pastry fried then thrown into the sauce- the La Zi Ji Bites. The Bites are more convenient to share and snack.