Drumstick or drumlet? KFC’s $4.35 chicken leaves customer ‘cheated and disappointed’

SINGAPORE: A long-time fan of KFC has expressed his disappointment after receiving what he described as a “drumstick the size of a wing drumlet” during a recent visit to the fast food chain’s West Mall outlet.

The customer, identified only as Will, told citizen journalism site Stomp that he visited the restaurant on the afternoon of March 31, expecting his usual indulgence—but was instead met with what he called a “startlingly small portion.”

“I went there for a meal, just to see that their drumstick is as big as Old Chang Kee’s chicken wing drumlet,” he said. “Their price for a piece of chicken keeps getting higher, while the chicken keeps getting smaller.”

Will said he asked staff for a replacement, but was told that there were no crispy drumsticks or thighs left, and only the original flavour was available.

“Obviously, I feel cheated and disappointed because I’m paying $4.35 for a piece of chicken that is so small,” he lamented, “They also always give breast and wings.”

He added that the portion sizes have steadily shrunk over the years. “KFC’s chicken was big, like, 10 years ago. Then, around five years ago, it became smaller and smaller while the price kept increasing,” he said. “And now? It’s comparable to a chicken wing drumlet.”

“It’s literally almost the same size as the chilli packet,” he added, “Even Old Chang Kee’s chicken is bigger than this, and it costs half the price.”

The experience has once again spotlighted growing consumer frustration over shrinkflation—a phenomenon where product sizes are quietly reduced while prices stay the same or even rise.

While companies often cite rising production or supply chain costs as justification, consumers like Will are increasingly calling out the disconnect between cost and value.