Afro’s Chicken Morningside

Afro's Chicken is a home-grown Durban success story. It started life in 2012 as a food truck in the city, serving simple grilled chicken with its own dressing, and has since grown into a small chain of shops across KwaZulu-Natal, from Overport and Morningside to Umhlanga, Durban North, Hillcrest, Pinetown and the coast. It calls itself a proudly local chicken shop focused on fresh, uncomplicated food, and it is a dependable choice for a cheap, quick meal while you are out sightseeing in the city.

The core of the menu is chicken cooked two ways: flame-grilled or coated in crispy panko crumbs. You can order strips, a quarter or half chicken or a full chicken meal, and choose a flavour from options such as barbecue, sweet chilli, lemony, chilli or a half-and-half mix, finished with Afro's house dressing and sauces. Burgers, wraps and salads fill out the menu, and most items can be upgraded with a side.

Breakfast is a big part of Afro's reputation. The breakfast rolls, including a bacon and egg roll, the Regmaaker and the Babalas Wrap, are aimed squarely at anyone recovering from a late night; regmaker and babalas are South African slang for a hangover cure and a hangover. They make a good early start before a day at the beach or a walk on the promenade.

This is a budget, counter-service experience rather than a sit-down restaurant, so it suits backpackers, families, students and anyone who wants a quick local meal between sights. Expect counter service, simple seating at most branches and food that arrives quickly. You can order at the counter or use the click-and-collect ordering system on the website to skip the queue.

The Morningside shop on Gordon Road is open from 10:00 to 20:00 every day, which makes it handy for a casual lunch or early dinner in the same suburb as Florida Road and Mitchell Park. Other branches keep different hours: the Overport shop is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and there is an Umhlanga branch on Lagoon Drive. Check the shop list on the website for the branch nearest your hotel.