Popular fried chicken chain has quietly closed more than 300 restaurants across the U.S.

One of America’s best-known fried chicken chains has quietly eliminated hundreds of restaurants across the country over the past year. The closures represent a notable reduction in KFC’s U.S. footprint, even as the company continues opening restaurants internationally.

More than 300 locations have closed

At least 312 KFC restaurants permanently closed between July 15, 2025, and July 6, 2026, according to an analysis by Local Falcon. The closures represent about 7.6% of KFC’s U.S. locations during the period examined. 

Local Falcon analyzed KFC’s public store locator at the beginning and end of the period and then independently verified locations that disappeared from the locator using Google Maps. 

The closures have affected locations across the country, with some states losing a significant portion of their KFC restaurants.

California saw the most closures

California experienced the largest number of KFC closures, with 44 restaurants shutting down during the period analyzed. The state had 376 KFC locations listed on the chain’s website as of August 18. 

Illinois was also among the states hit particularly hard, losing 13 locations. Wisconsin lost seven restaurants, while Virginia saw two closures. 

Not every state experienced closures. The analysis found that Utah, Rhode Island and New Hampshire had no KFC locations disappear during the period. 

KFC is still growing internationally

Despite the U.S. closures, KFC’s overall business is not simply shrinking. Yum! Brands, KFC’s parent company, reported in its second-quarter results that KFC opened 660 gross new restaurants across 55 countries and achieved 7% unit growth. 

That makes the U.S. closures part of a broader shift in where KFC is growing rather than an indication that the brand is disappearing altogether.

For American customers, however, the loss of more than 300 locations means fewer places to get the chain’s signature fried chicken, biscuits and other menu items — and the closures are particularly noticeable in states such as California, where dozens of restaurants have disappeared.

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