Review Man
Posted on: 25-11-2025
KFC Airport
Airports are places of endless movement, a tide of arrivals and departures, and yet between all that rushing one sometimes stumbles into a corner where time slows and hunger insists on attention. At the domestic airport in Chennai, we found ourselves with time to spare and wandered into the food court, only to be met with a scene far from appetising. The floor looked weary, the tables bore the marks of hurried cleans that never quite finished the job, and the air was heavy with a dullness that pressed down. It was not KFC’s fault, but the setting was enough to dim the mood. Still the glowing billboards promised comfort and nostalgia, and so we allowed ourselves to be lured inside.
We chose the paneer zinger meal, a familiar friend with the faint excitement of discovery. It came with fries and ketchup, and at first glance there was nothing remarkable about it. Yet the moment the first bite was taken, surprise unfolded. The fries were crisp, hot and fresh, salted just enough, and the ketchup played its companion role well, lifting each piece with a tangy sweetness. The portion was fair and easy to share, enough to silence hunger without the guilt of excess.
Then came the true star, the paneer zinger burger. The bun was soft and yielding, a cushion for the patty that carried its own quiet brilliance. The outer crust crackled with crunch while inside the paneer was tender and laced with masala, just enough to enliven without overwhelming. The lettuce and vegetables added freshness, a hint of coolness to balance the spice, and the harmony of textures and flavours made it one of the best zingers we had tasted in recent memory. It felt freshly made, alive with warmth, almost as though here the chain rediscovered what it could be at its best.
The meal also included a fountain coke, and here the disappointment crept back in. There was no diet option, no attempt to give choice, only a glass of sugary fizz with ice melting quickly into thinness. Most of it was left untouched, sacrificed to the fact that it neither refreshed nor delighted. The value of the meal made us stick to the combo rather than buy items separately, but the drink remained an unwanted addition, a flaw in an otherwise balanced spread.
For an airport outlet, the price was fair, almost modest when weighed against the comfort it provided. What surprised us most was not the ambience nor the packaging but the fact that this KFC meal seemed better than most outlets outside. Whether this airport kitchen reached its true potential or the others outside had fallen behind was hard to say, but the difference was clear.
The only true shadow over the experience was the setting itself, the dull and untended court in which it was placed. Food deserves a stage that uplifts it, and here the surroundings did little but drag it down. One hopes the authorities realise that passengers will not linger happily where the air itself feels tired.
Yet within that uninspiring hall, the paneer zinger shone. It gave us a reason to be pleasantly surprised, a reminder that even within transience, a good meal can still make its mark.
7/10