Review of the KFC Streetwise Burger

This post is an honest review of the new KFC Streetwise Burger, (maybe too honest)—breaking down the taste, size, price, and whether it’s worth your money and effort to grab these puppies.

I’ve said it before—I love burgers. At this point, it’s almost a fetish. Will I keep making the same miserable joke every time I write a post with “burger” in the title? Absolutely.

I know fast food isn’t healthy, but having tried most of the gourmet burgers in the city, my standards for burgers might be a little excessive. Is that a narcissistic thing to say? Yes.

I’ve had everything from ridiculous, monstrous burgers to gimmicky ones, and I’ve come to my own conclusion—fast food burgers just aren’t it.

I’ve tried most of KFC’s burgers, and honestly, they were pretty average. Average in the sense that I wouldn’t go out of my way to get them, but if one magically spawned on my table, I’d eat it.

Fun Fact: In North America, they would call this a chicken sandwich…but the rest of the world calls anything between buns a burger, thus a chicken burger

The funniest thing I ever ordered from KFC was that Nyama Nyama burger—I have no idea if it still exists, but it was literally a burger with chicken as the bun 😂... and I’m ashamed to admit that I actually loved it.

I’m not exactly a KFC hype man, but I’ve got to give them credit where it’s due—pricing. Everything else in this economy is “climbing”, but KFC’s prices? Suspiciously familiar.

Perfect setup to say this burger is affordable—just KSh 300, making it the most budget-friendly thing on their menu.

But here’s the catch—it’s not on their permanent menu. My theory? This is a classic bait. Very cheap, probably making them zero profit, but strategically placed to lure in unsuspecting villagers who’ve never had KFC.

They take one bite, suddenly they’re hooked, and next thing you know, they’re regulars. Very sneaky… very, very sneaky.

Also, KFC has the most dynamic menu of any fast food chain in Kenya. There’s always some limited-edition item—some hits, some abominations—but at least it keeps things interesting.

I also spotted the Streetwise Pasua, which I’m guessing is their corporate take on Mayai Pasua and Smokie Pasua. It’s also KSh 300, and yes, I’ll be trying it next—because clearly, someone has to write a blog about it.

Table of Contents

A Little Yapping First…

I had no idea what I was doing in Machakos, but somehow, I ended up there—no lunch, it’s late, and my stomach was making funny noises.

So, like any rational person, I let hunger make my decisions and went for that burger that’s been aggressively marketed to me on every billboard.

Yes, I fell for the advertising. No, I will not be taking questions. To make myself feel better, I told myself it’s “for the blog,” which means it doesn’t count.

Ordered one spicy and one regular for the review, but the cashier took a good look at me and decided I’m built for the heat. So now, I have two spicy burgers and zero say in the matter.

Unwrapped these bad boys in an office—clearly not mine, hence the fine dining experience of using an A4 copier paper as a plate and antibacterial wipes from my bag as a makeshift handwashing station. Don’t judge.

Obviously, I didn’t buy a soda from KFC because I enjoy having money. Instead, I picked up a Mirinda Green Apple from the supermarket for cheap to wash it all down—because if I’m going to spend, it might as well be on my favorite local soda.

Also Read: Mirinda Green Apple Soda is So Good

KFC Streetwise Burger Taste Test

Is it just me or does it indeed look like a krabby patty? I mean it looks excessively cartoonish

Let’s break this thing down. Structurally, it’s got two buns (shocking, I know), a chicken patty, one lonely slice of cheddar, sauce, and some lettuce.

That’s it. But wait—wasn’t there supposed to be kachumbari? I swear the ad said kachumbari

Now, onto the sauce—easily the best thing here. It’s smooth, tangy, and actually makes swallowing possible, so you don’t choke on the burger.

It tastes like mustard and mayo had a glow-up. The buns? Standard Festive ones—the same ones you can grab from the supermarket, okayish and not exciting

The patty? Nice savory kick, but wow, the salt. I mean really salty. Like, “Am I being preserved for the afterlife?” salty. At least the lettuce adds some much-needed crunch and freshness because the bun and patty have the same slightly chewy texture.

Size-wise, it’s not bad for the price. Still bigger than a Burger King hamburger or cheeseburger in the same price range. It fits right in the palm of my hand—and trust me, my hands are above average in size.

Also Read: Is Burger King in Kenya That Bad?

For a little perspective, I demolished this thing in five big bites as a very hungry giant man. Do with that information what you will.

kfc napkins serviettes — Seriously, Sanders?

Also, my napkin had “XOXO” printed on it. KFC, I get it, you’re trying to be relatable to my generation, but this is a bit much. Now all I can picture is Colonel Sanders blowing me kisses, and honestly, I’m sincerely uncomfortable. Needless to say, I did not use any of your overly affectionate serviettes.

Could it Be Better?

The salt levels are downright disrespectful. I have no idea why KFC thinks their burgers should taste like a solid ocean. My kidneys are hurting just by thinking of any KFC burger.

Can’t blame the people in the kitchen because patties are premade somewhere in a factory and come frozen, and they all taste salty regardless of the KFC branch.

This issue is sorely with the burgers. Everything else—the chicken, the fries—is just fine saltwise.

I get it, fast foods generally thrive on grease, MSG, and just the right amount of salt to keep us coming back like trained lab rats, but this? This is overkill.

My other issue is the chicken, barely tastes like actual chicken, I found myself tasting more of the filler in the patty than the chicken itself, also the patty itself is thin and the ratio to the bun is off…every bite has more bread than chicken

That said, for the price, I can’t be too mad. It’s one of the best value items on the menu, and I’m all about getting more for my money. Just make it permanent—and maybe, just maybe—use salt like a seasoning, not a weapon.