Kuvieng Fried Chicken (KFC) is a style of foreign food outlet, that began serving chicken in Laos six years ago and has been able to maintain popularity among local residents.

The shop owner, Mr Thanomsamphan Duangsavan said he did not intend to name his food – KFC, a famous name in foreign countries, but because of his shop was located at Kuvieng road, so he got the word – K. Another thing is that local residents liked to call his food –KFC as they persuaded each other to eat it at his shop.
 
He accepted that the name of the shop, and food that is different makes it more attractive than other shops and is  likely to inspire clients to come to taste the food at his shop.

Mr Thanomsamphan used to work at a restaurant from 1990 to 1996 in the Texas state of USA where he got the idea and recipe to cook his fried chicken for customers in Vientiane.

He sold fried chicken the first time at the That Luang festival in 2000 where he could sell 100 kg a day before opening the shop in Kuvieng road. At Kuvieng shop, he started selling fried chicken at 50 kg a day with the cost of 3,000 kip per leg.

The business has been growing, causing him to increase the sale every year. Currently, the cost of fried chicken is between 5,000 and 6,000 kip per leg.

Prior to opening the shop, Mr Thanomsamphan  studied the market potential by observing that more foreigners were coming to Laos and many people who made a visit to Thailand liked to eat KFC and this caused him to open a shop to supply them at home.

KFC business is expanding throughout Vientiane, being available at hotels and restaurants. The technique of frying is to put around 30 to 40 chicken legs into the same pots and leave them around 15 to 18 minutes before taking them out. This is to make the fried chicken appetizing for clients in Laos.  

“Many people want to come and study with me so as to open their shops in the provinces, but I cannot do that as yet  as I am  too busy with my current business,” he said, adding that he cooks the food  himself to make its taste consistent.

Fried chicken is suitable to eat with soft drink, not types of alcohol. The service is simple meaning that customers will have to go and get water by themselves at the available place. The idea is to use as few people as possible to serve to make the cost of the food cheap. “If I use many people to serve, I might have to increase the cost of my fried chicken,” Mr Thanomsamphan said.

The Majority of his clients are students, covering 70 percent, followed by government officials and embassy staff.

Ms Chanthachone from Phonsa-at village said she like fried chicken because it was easy to bring and eat in other places including offices and public areas.

The shop owner dos not want to sell other foods as he wants to make it unique. “I am very proud that my business is consistently operated. Spreading of bird flue does not impact my business,” he said.  

Source: targetlao magazine