Fast food favourites in Ballito

Eating healthy is all the craze nowadays, but sometimes a greasy burger is all you really want – whether it be for convenience or because it is your cheat day.

Journalist Allan Troskie gives his take on the more popular fast food joints in Ballito and how do they compare to one another.

KFC

Where: 9 Ballito Dr, Ballito, Dolphin Coast

Contact: 031 001 7700

The crowd favourite – KFC has long been one of the most popular fast food joints the world over.

Ballito’s KFC is no exception, with lines of hungry customers queuing everyday to enjoy some of the Kernel’s famous chicken.

When this article was still in the pipeline, the local KFC was mediocre to goodish at best. However, they have completely revamped the premises and now it is not only much more modern looking – but the service and speed have really picked up too and the chicken itself still has that ‘secret recipe’ scrumptiousness.

Food: 8/10

Friendliness: 7,5/10

Speed: 7/10

Steers

Where: Shell Service Station, Douglas Crowe Drive, Ballito, 4420 

Contact: 032 946 2857

Times: Open from 8am–8pm.

Delivery: Not provided.

Ah Steers – before I moved to Ballito I used to visit Steers in my hometown three to four times a week.

I loved the King Steers burger and could eat five of those little Rave burgers in one sitting.

My experience at the Steers, while not bad, has not always lived up to these expectations. The burgers still have that classic smoked Steers taste, but it seems to depend if you are lucky enough to get one of their more dedicated chefs whether the burger holds together or not.

I have also found the service at Steers a little disappointing at times – a smile goes a long way ladies.

Still, if yummy, smokey burgers are what you are after – Steers is the only real choice.

Food: 6/10

Friendliness: 5/10

Speed: 5/10

Nando’s

Where: Lifestyle Centre, Douglas Crowe Drive, shop 55

Contact: 032 946 2876

Times: Open from 10am-9pm.

Delivery: R35

I have always had a bit of a “moffie mond” when it comes to spicy foods, so if you are expecting me to comment on their hot chicken I am afraid I am going to disappoint.

I have gobbled down my fair share of Nandos’ mild or lemon and herb chicken though.

What makes Nados awesome is that it is not just another fried chicken or plastic burger factory.

The chicken actually looks like chicken and the Portuguese flavours are a great change if, like me, you spend way too much time eating your way from one fast food outlet to the next.

Food: 7/10

Friendliness: 8/10

Speed: 6,5/10

McDonald’s

Where: Ballito Dr & Moffat Dr, Dolphin Coast, 4418

Times: Open 24 hours a day.

Delivery: Not available.

After going off of Steers a little, I ended up developing a serious problem with McDonald’s – at least, that’s what both my wallet and my waistline say.

McDonald’s is not everybody’s cup of tea.

But, when you get right down to it, there is no fast food that is more typically ‘fast food-ie’ than McDonald’s.

Their burgers always hold together instead of falling apart (important when eating in the car) and their chips are the crispiest you will find anywhere.

Food: 6/10

Friendliness: 7/10

Speed: 8/10

Debonairs

Where: Shell Garage, Corner of Douglas Crowe and Ballito Drive

Contact: 032 946 0099

I am not the biggest pizza eater in the world – burgers are my jam y’all – but no list of fast food options would be complete without at least one pizza joint getting a mention.

Debonairs has long been one of SA’s favourites and the addition of the double and triple stack pizzas have certainly not hurt – they are almost like a burger made purely out of pizza.

Debonaires’ toppings are generally great and the pizzas are full of flavour. However, I have never been a fan of the soft dough churned out by so many fast food pizza places.

Granted, not everyone has space for a proper wood-fire pizza oven, but I feel like my pizza base should not have the consistency of bread – it should be at least a little crispy.

Food: 5,5/10

Friendliness: 5,5/10

Speed: 6/10 (bearing in mind that pizzas naturally take longer than burgers/chicken)

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