When Familiar Meets Foreign
Imagine you walk into a KFC abroad, expecting your usual fried chicken, chips, and maybe a slushy. Instead, you find something so unfamiliar it makes you stare in disbelief. That’s exactly what happened when a Zulu man visiting China filmed his meal and sent Mzansi into a full social media meltdown.
The Viral Moment
TikTok user @collincebelihle25 posted a video on 5 October 2025 showing what his KFC takeaway looked like in China. The visual was nothing like the local KFC we know: small, odd bits of “meat,” bone-like pieces, dry parts. The contrast was stark. Within a day, the post had over 14,000 likes and nearly 2,000 comments.
Mzansi’s Reactions: Haibo, Laughs, and Pride
As the video made its rounds, South Africans flocked to the comments section. Many cracked jokes, some expressed disbelief, and others compared it to our generous chicken portions at home. A recurring theme: “No, that’s not our KFC.”
One user quipped, “Biltong yenkukhu” (chicken biltong), imagining what the weird bites resembled. Another asked, in Zulu, “KFC in China—what did you order?” The thread became a mix of humour, banter, and a subtle celebration of how different, but how much preferred, our KFC tastes at home still are.
Why This Resonated
This isn’t just about fast food. It touches on something deeper: how global brands are adapted locally. Even iconic chains can look and taste completely different depending on where you are. For South Africans, the familiarity and flavour of “our KFC” is part of identity, something to stand by and tease others about.
It also illustrates the power of social media to spotlight small cultural surprises. A simple meal abroad can become a conversation about difference, home, and what we take for granted.
@collincebelihle25 China mani! China! 😩😩🇨🇳 #china #southafricatiktok🇿🇦 #shanghai #zulutiktok #explore ♬ original sound – Cebelihle Collin🇰🇷
A Fresh Angle: Food, Identity, and Global Brands
We tend to see big restaurant chains as uniform. But this video reminds us: even global giants aren’t the same everywhere. That variation is a lens into local culture, supply chains, food norms and taste expectations.
For South Africans, the video was more than just funny; it stirred a quiet sense of pride in how familiar and comforting our own KFC feels. The difference in presentation reminded many of how taste and tradition are uniquely local wherever you go.
Source: Briefly News
Featured Image: INSEAD Knowledge
