Review: KFC Zinger Burger

A good burger is a balancing act. The main meat filling must be distinct with every bite, yet enhanced by the salads and other additions. The bun must complement the tenderness of the filling with a satisfying crunch. No element can be neglected in favour of the other.

The KFC Zinger burger is, according to TV ads, full of spice and zest. Biting in should take your breath away. I decided to take the chickeny plunge.

Let's begin with the distribution of meats and salads. The Zinger has s lot of chicken for one burger and very little else. Bare traces of lettuce, some sauce. Nothing else identifiable. The bun is also quite thin, so what you get in the end is not so much a burger but a chicken breast with some accompaniments.

Verdict: FAIL

The chicken is tender on the inside, satisfyingly crispy on the outside. There's enough of it to satisfy. I prefer the overall juiciness of a McDonalds Chicken Deluxe, but the Zinger is still a strong contender.

Verdict: PASS

The bun isn't crispy at all. It looks thin and insubstantial but is actually quite bready, which is a plus for me. Macca's buns (much like their burgers) dissolve inside your mouth like the dreams of lonely orphans. The Zinger bun takes some chewing. Tasty, but would benefit from toasting.

Verdict: PASS

The fillings... well. They're not there.

Verdict: FAIL

The zing? Also not there. The spice level of this burger is minimal, something akin to smelling a curry stand from a distance. I've drunk breast milk with more kick.

Verdict: FAIL

Overall, the Zinger functions as a chicken snack. It's not a burger. It's barely a sandwich. It'll fill you more than a McDonalds beef burger, but not nearly so much as any McDonalds or Oporto chicken burger. The only saving grace of the Zinger is that it's in your hands, fast.

Overall rating: AVOID