Galito’s is a South African fast food chain specializing in grilled peri-peri chicken, while the restaurant currently offers more than that, grilled chicken is their signature menu item that the restaurant identifies with, this post is a review of their chicken offering.
About Galito’s
Galito’s is the only grilled chicken establishment in Kenya that I identify with, in other places like South Africa there is Nando’s, infact the founder of Galito’s was formerly working for Nando’s. Galito’s currently operates in 17 countries including
- Bangladesh
- Canada
- DRC
- Fiji
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Serbia
- South Africa
- Swaziland
- UAE
- USA
- Zambia
- Pakistan
- India
- Malaysia
The restaurant has a strong presence in Africa, and expanding to Asia, the Middle East, and North America as well. Galitos just doesn’t have a presence in Europe, South America, and Australia as of now.
This review is for Galito’s Kenya, specifically the TRM branch but since it is a chain restaurant, you expect the same across its 210 global branches.
Galito’s Menu
Presentation
Packaging Rating: ★★★★★(5), Excellent
Presentation from Galito’s is probably the best I have ever had from any chicken fast food, it is so elegant with small nice thoughtful touches and doesn’t look low effort at all, comparing it to KFC and Chicken Inn, KFC is the most notorious for messy orders.
So even if you were going to order a delivery you know your order will be finally there in good shape. The box is not only aesthetically pleasing but also ventilated to allow steam to escape preventing your food from sogging up over time.
The seal is another touch, it is more intact than it looks, for a delivery order be sure this won’t rip open and spew over the bag even on the roughest bumpy rides.
it doesn’t end on the outside with the box touches, the inside is actually wax coated, so unlike those fast food boxes that absorb oil, these won’t absorb any marinade or grease, so they will have structural integrity even after an hour.
Again, the box is divided and you have a portion for your chips, preventing intermixing, all these thoughtful aspects in the box design are really impressive; you know you are getting older when you are obsessing over the most basic things, like a chicken box.
Overall I would say Galito’s order packaging is miles ahead of other establishments and they should really catch up
Galito’s Chicken Review
Chicken Rating: ★★★★☆(4), Good
You get a mix of all the good parts: a drumstick, a wing, and either a back or a breast.
Now, you might expect marinated chicken to be a bit soggy, right? But surprise, surprise! This chicken is actually crunchy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.
It’s cooked just right, not too dry or overdone. And when you’re devouring it, you’ll notice the bones come out pretty clean, which is a good sign it’s cooked perfectly. Plus, it’s so easy to tear off the meat when you’re diving into it!
Alright, so let’s talk about the skin – that’s where all the flavor action is happening! It’s this satisfying combo of crunchy, juicy, and spicy all rolled into one.
I decided to go for extra hot, and the attendant seemed a bit surprised and even double-checked if I was sure about it. Naturally, I was expecting some serious heat after the attendant’s reaction (like no one orders that), but being someone with a high spice tolerance, it turned out to be way milder than I anticipated. Definitely not the fiery demon I was bracing for.
As for the saucy marinade, it’s alright – not too oily or sticky, just on the spot. It’s got a simple flavor profile that tastes pretty good.
You can’t miss it – these pieces are huge compared to your typical fried chicken offerings. I mean, just look at that wing! It’s so massive it practically dwarfs my already big hand.
And if you really want to see how big it is, just compare its length to the chicken box behind it.
Now, here’s the kicker: while the drumstick tastes pretty darn good, the wing didn’t quite live up to the hype. It’s got more fat and excess layers on it, which was a bit of a letdown. Definitely the most underwhelming piece of the bunch
Alright, let’s chat about this back piece. So, it’s got a chicken breast in there, and you know how chicken breast can be a bit on the bland side, right? Well, this one’s no exception.
The real flavor is happening on that crispy skin – that’s where all the action is.
Now, here’s the deal with this piece: it’s got more meat than skin, which means you’re not getting as much of that flavorful crunch. So yeah, it’s probably the least exciting of the bunch.
Oh, and if you spot a bit of pink inside, no need to panic – that’s not blood. The chicken’s cooked just right!
Chips / Fries
Chips Rating: ★★★☆☆(3), Average
Man, I don’t know if I’ve just got crazy high standards for fries or if Kenyan fast-food joints are just serving up some average ones. I always feel like the ones from my local chipo joint are way better, I can’t be the only one!
Seriously, every time I try fries from somewhere new, they never seem to hit anything higher than just okay in my book. Even the ones everyone raves about, like KFC’s, always leave me feeling a bit meh.
The same goes for Galito’s today. The only fries that have really blown me away are ironically from a bakery joint, Bakers Inn, run by the same folks who own Galitos and Chicken Inn. Those fries are next-level, so I’m left wondering why they can’t replicate that greatness in their other spots.
Also Read: Baker’s Inn: The Perfect Fries and Rotisserie Chicken!
But let’s talk about Galito’s fries. They’re thick-cut and crispy on the outside, which starts off promising. But here’s the kicker: they lose that crunch way too fast and end up going all floppy.
And the insides? Total mush. It’s like getting hit in the face with the contrast between the crispy outside and the mushy inside. Kinda ruins the whole experience and makes the insides taste like stuffing.
Now, these fries aren’t as bad as the ones you’ll find at Big Square or Between Two Buns KE, thank goodness. And they do give you a bigger ketchup pack, but it’s more watery and less flavorful than the good ol’ Heinz packets you’ll score at KFC or Burger King.
Coleslaw
Coleslaw Rating: ★★★★★(5), Excellent
I’ve always been a bit of a coleslaw skeptic, you know? I mean, why pay extra for something you can whip up at home and probably make better and cheaper? Especially after some pretty awful experiences in the past
So, when I dug into Galito’s coleslaw, I wasn’t expecting much. But holy smokes, was I pleasantly surprised!
This stuff might’ve just changed my whole outlook on coleslaw. It’s like they’ve nailed the perfect balance between shredded cabbage and carrots.
And that mayo? Super generous and coats everything like a dream. Unlike the watery mess from Chicken Inn, this mayo is thick and creamy and actually tastes good!
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but as someone who usually steers clear of coleslaw, I think I enjoyed it even more than the chicken itself.
Yeah, you know it’s good when I’m scraping the container clean
Related Links
The 20 Popular Fast Food Chains in Kenya Ranked.
Chicken Inn vs KFC: Which Chicken Restaurant is Better?
