
Now menu item comes hot on the heels of McDonald’s Japan’s caramel shakes.
Rivalry can be a funny thing, as sometimes it can drive fierce competitors to adopt very similar tactics in an attempt to prove who’s better. Take, for example, McDonald’s and KFC, the two most famous fast food chains.
Just about a week ago, McDonald’s Japan added caramel shakes to its menu. And what is KFC set to start selling at the start of October? Its own caramel dessert drinks.
That said, this isn’t a case of the Colonel’s crew outright copying the house that Ronald built. KFC’s new item isn’t a milk shake, but part of its Krushers line of frozen beverages, like last spring’s green tea drinks were. KFC also one-ups McDonald’s in the fanciness department by topping the Krushers Caramel Crunch with a macadamia nut and caramel sauce, plus crumbled vanilla cookie bits, for some extra variety and texture.
The standard Krushers Caramel Crunch is priced at 350 yen (US$3.40), and select KFC locations will also be offering a premium version, which adds whipped cream to the topping list, for 480 yen. Both versions will be available for a limited, unspecified time and go on sale October 1, meaning you can try them back-to-back with McDonald’s caramel shake, which will be on sale until mid-October.
Source: Entabe
Top image: KFC Japan (edited by RocketNews24)
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he’s keeping his fingers crossed for more maple-flavored sweets too this fall in Japan.

Taste-testing McDonald’s Japan-exclusive caramel shakes【Taste test】
McDonald’s Japan to sell caramel shakes in partnership with centuries-old confectionary brand
McDonald’s Japan brings out new sweet potato caramel chocolate pies for autumn
KFC Japan’s pumpkin biscuits ready to become tasty Halloween treats
One of Japan’s most popular confectioners creates the KFC apricot cheese tart Krushers dessert
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Studio Ghibli announces first new short anime film in 8 years, exclusive to Ghibli Park
Toyota built a life-sized Miraidon Pokémon and are letting people test drive it this weekend
Anime voice actress Megumi Hayashibara’s Lina Inverse will hold virtual VTuber concert
Temple with 600-year-old tree near busy Tokyo station is like a tranquil pocket dimension
Why this centuries’ old Shinto shrine is suddenly also a hot spot for anime fan art【Photos】
W.T.F. Japan: Top 5 strangest kanji ever 【Weird Top Five】
New marvelously mysterious mochi ice creams celebrate 40 years of Häagen-Dazs Japan
Japan’s 10 most beautiful hydrangea spots to visit【Photos】
Japanese candy craftsman creates new line of lollipops with traditional summer themes
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Injuries on stairs in Tokyo highlight an overlooked design flaw
Move aside, convenience store egg sando – there’s a better version of the iconic sandwich in Japan
Japan’s popular bead bonsai kit is as beautiful as it is gruelling to make
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Final version of Sanrio: Beginning of Kawaii exhibition opens in Tokyo[Photos]
Japan has new rules for bicycle riders, and these 14 things could get you a fine or a court date
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
McDonald’s Japan’s new apple caramel black tea and Kyoho frappes are creatively cool autumn treats
Kentucky matcha?!? KFC Japan now has frozen green tea dessert beverages
KFC Japan president buys and wears Colonel Sanders’ signature suit, Reddit chicken enthusiasts not amused
KFC now has hamburgers in Japan, no chicken or frying involved
McDonald’s Japan won’t sell you a Caramel Macaron dessert burger, so we made our own
McDonald’s Japan combines beloved beverages of adults and kids with new coffee milkshakes
McDonald’s Japan’s straws are designed to mimic the experience of drinking breast milk
McDonald’s Japan adds purple shakes to their menu, but they’re not grape-flavored
Kentucky Fried Café – New KFC in Japan to offer upscale coffee, tea, and sweets
New McFlurry from McDonald’s Japan offers swirls of caramel to make you dizzy with sweetness
McDonald’s Japan goes high-class with new line of crème brûlée dessert beverages
Aloe and muscat grape: the new cool green flavor at KFC Japan this summer!
Spicy Mexican Flavor added to KFC Japan’s fried chicken lineup
KFC Japan develops new fried chicken designed to taste great with beer, other alcoholic drinks
McDonald’s Japan offering Calpis shakes this summer with new-and-improved recipe
McDonald’s Japan teams up with Godiva for the first time to create delicious new dessert drink