With 38 KFC restaurants across Wales the 'finger-licking good' chicken provider has become one of the staple fast food chains frequently sought after in the country. Be it a family meal, a midweek takeaway, or simply a morning after cure for a night of partying the American chain has become a household name.
But while it is well-established not a single branch across whole of Wales ranks higher than a three on TripAdvisor. You can read the full ranking of KFCs in Wales by their scores here.
The branch in Barry Island, situated at Heol Ceinog, has a sorry 1.5 score out of 87 total reviews earning it the rank of the worst KFC in Wales. With a huge customer base to satisfy it's always going to be likely you will encounter a pleasant KFC takeaway alongside a negative one that convinces you to steer clear for the future. I recall my first KFC was a similar experience when as an eight-year-old, I visited Milton Keynes with Swansea City AFC and stopped off at a restaurant for a quick bite. What followed scared me into not returning to the chain for years to come as I was repeatedly sick on the bus journey home.
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Today I see KFC for what it is – a good opportunity to get some much-needed grease into my body after suffering from one too many 'fizzy lemonades' the night before. And I thought this KFC would be no different.
Of the 87 reviews left on the TripAdvisor page for the branch 61 of them were left with the lowest possible rating of "terrible" with 13 in "poor". They criticised the restaurant for mixed reasons including cold chips, questionable-quality chicken, and missing items.
We visited to see if this KFC really lived up to its title or if it was just like any other restaurant. Driving into Barry on a blisteringly warm day I was eager to simply get out of the car and into the shade. KFC is located in Heol Ceiniog sharing a site alongside other big-name brands like Starbucks, Argos, and Morrisons.
The KFC car park was virtually empty for an expected peak time during lunchtime and it did not fill me with confidence to see one car sat alone towards the rear of the restaurant. The whole area seems to be a bit of a wasteland – there were broken lampposts scattered all across the park and broken barriers giving the place a rundown feeling to it. I suppose that isn't necessarily the fault of KFC but it did not fill me with hope.
Entering the restaurant there were only two groups enjoying their meals with the majority of the space being vacant. I ordered from the self-service machine.
A box meal is one of the best value items for getting the most out of your money and so I opted for a fillet box meal with one piece of chicken and a side of sweet chilli bites for a total of £9.98. Drinks, fries, and one other side were also included with the box meal costing £8.49.
The general restaurant was tidy and there was not any visible waste left on tables or random pieces of trash on the floor which may have been down to how quiet it was. When ordering the food I was told to take a seat number by the kiosk to find there weren't any available – nor did it print my receipt so I had to inquire when the food was ready.
Heading up to the counter you notice three flickering TV screens in the background. The design of the restaurant is nice and clean but it does have a feel of being unloved in parts.
As I was waiting for my food the restaurant gradually got busier with customers and delivery drivers – it was clear it was a popular branch as delivery drivers were in and out of the restaurant as we sat down. My meal was called out and I collected it with no missing items and no problems though a member of my party did find two missing hot wings as part of their meal and had to remind the staff.
The staff were pleasant and there were a lot of them on for the job at hand. We were only waiting a handful of minutes and it didn't match up with several complaints of poor staff being left on the review page.
Eating the food was, sadly, where the major complaints were to appear. The fillet burger was a thin piece of chicken that seemingly looked overcooked in a scrappy mashed-together bun but the flavour was there at least. The daredevil bites were hot and sweet and sour, just as I expected, and I couldn't fault them – one of the best sides to have alongside your KFC order. The chips were a big let down – mine were cold and soggy (two words that had been used repeatedly on the TripAdvisor page) and left me disappointed.
The chicken was likely the most greasy piece of chicken I think I have ever had from a KFC. It left an overwhelming fatty taste in my mouth and one that wasn't easy to wipe off the fingers – certainly not 'finger-licking good'. It also felt quite rubbery and was difficult to eat.
One thing I have never tried is KFC's gravy – I was one of those who wanted to steer clear away from it after learning how it was made – but decided I would during this visit. It wasn't as bad as I expected but I certainly don't see why it is a fan favourite and decided two chips laden with it was more than enough for me.
Overall it was a mixed experience which I expected – I think fast food chains receive more criticisms than praise given the huge amounts of food they turn out each and every day. KFC is what I always consider it to be – greasy and deep-fried to help cure the post-night-out blues. With that in mind this bad experience, like the others I have previously had, won't stop me from visiting the chain again.
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