Chicken fast food chain 'better than KFC' to open store in UK

Crispy, juicy chicken strips paired with classic Southern sides are about to make a big splash in the UK as Raising Cane's prepares to make its European debut. You may not know of it yet, but this American fast-food chain has rapidly grown in popularity in the United States, so much so that many believe it even outshines KFC. Raising Cane's has surged to become the third-largest chicken chain in the US by sales, trailing only behind giants Chick-fil-A and Popeyes with its brand's sales climbing to an impressive £3.8 billion last year.

Now, Raising Cane's has confirmed plans to open a flagship restaurant in London, marking it the very first on the European continent. The new location will bring Raising Cane's famous chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, coleslaw, and their signature Cane's sauce to British fans hungry for something fresh in the fried chicken scene.

The new Raising Cane's flagship will open in late 2026 at the former Angus Steakhouse site in London's bustling Piccadilly Circus, located at 21-22 Coventry Street. Several more London locations are also planned to open in the months following the first launch, including spots in Oxford Circus, Paddington, and South Bank.

The KFC rival has also gained widespread attention thanks to endorsements from several high-profile celebrities, including Snoop Dogg, NFL star Travis Kelce, singer Post Malone, Cardi B, and actress Cynthia Erivo.

Todd Graves, CEO at Raising Cane's, said: "I'm thrilled to finally be opening in the UK late next year. We receive more requests to come to the UK than anywhere else in the world, so I started looking at real estate with the team a few years ago and began identifying top locations to open Raising Cane's across London and the UK.

"It has always been a dream of mine to bring Cane's to the UK and I'm excited to officially kick off this growth with the opening of our UK flagship. London is one of my favourite places and I've always enjoyed visiting with my family."

Raising Cane's co-chief executive and chief operating officer, AJ Kumaran, also said: "Bringing Raising Cane's to the UK has been a dream of ours for many years and we're excited to officially open the doors to our UK flagship late next year.

"We love the vibrant and eclectic atmosphere of Piccadilly Circus and are looking forward to marking this milestone with a flagship in the heart of London.

"With more than 950 restaurants across the US and Middle East, Europe presents an excellent expansion opportunity as we embark on this next phase of growth, and we're excited to begin that growth with the UK."

Founded in 1996 in Louisiana, Raising Cane's has expanded from about 500 locations in 2020 to over 900 today, opening 118 new stores in 2024 alone and aiming for nearly 1,000 by the end of 2025.

Founder Todd Graves' net worth has soared amid this success. Forbes estimates he's now worth around £12.8 billion, thanks to the chain's performance and high per-store revenue.

One food TikTokker called Nathan said in a video: "Raising Cane's for sure is better [than KFC]." He added: "Their sauce is just top tier. The crunch and juiciness of the chicken alone lets me know that the chicken is cooked perfectly."

One French TikTokker called Sandra also wrote about Raising Cane's: "So much better than KFC, please come in France".