Popular fast-food chain taking over universities in South Africa

Tasty Gallos has opened its first university campus restaurant at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg as the brand expands its fast-food franchise into the student market.

The restaurant is located in the university’s Student Union Building, known as the Matrix, and held a soft launch last week before officially opening on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.

The opening comes as younger South Africans spend a growing share of their budgets on restaurants, takeaways and fast food.

The restaurant is certified by the South African National Halaal Authority, which makes it accessible to Muslim students alongside the wider campus community.

Tasty Gallos founder and chief executive Muhammed Gutta said younger consumers are becoming an increasingly important market for fast-food brands, with convenience playing a major role in their eating habits.

Standard Bank’s 2026 Youth Barometer Report found that South Africans aged 18 to 24 spend around 12% of their monthly budgets on restaurants, takeaways and fast food. This compares with approximately 7% among those aged 25 to 29.

“At this age, takeaways fit comfortably around the rush of studying, part-time work, and life on the go, and the appetite for fast food goes well beyond filling a space in the grocery cupboard,” Gutta said.

“Eating out is firmly part of everyday student life now, and grabbing a meal with friends has become a key social occasion in its own right.”

University campuses offer fast-food operators access to large numbers of potential customers in one location, with predictable increases in foot traffic around lecture breaks.

Restaurants located near classrooms and student accommodation can also offer convenient meal options for students with limited time between lectures.

For students without convenient cooking facilities, campus outlets offer ready-to-eat meals without requiring them to travel elsewhere or pay for transport.

The locations can also help businesses build brand recognition among younger consumers, potentially encouraging repeat purchases as students move through university and into working life.

Gutta said the Wits opening reflects Tasty Gallos’ broader approach to expansion, which involves selecting locations according to the customers they serve and the commercial opportunities available.

The franchise operates in several types of locations, including university campuses, street-front sites, fuel stations and shopping centres.

Each attracts different customers and requires a different approach to operating the business.

Tasty Gallos is expanding across four different markets

Street-front restaurants near business districts and residential areas can attract customers throughout the day, from workers buying lunch to families collecting dinner.

Tasty Gallos positions its flame-grilled and fried chicken, alongside its own sauces and spices, as part of its offering to these customers.

“Our flame-grilled and fried chicken, with the bold flavour of our own sauces and spices, gives customers a reason to choose Tasty Gallos before, during, or after work,” Gutta said.

“But the operator needs to understand the area well enough to make that choice easy for customers who are short on time, which is why we are highly particular about who we welcome as franchisees.”

Fuel station restaurants offer another opportunity, as motorists can buy a meal while refuelling rather than making an additional trip.

Tasty Gallos is growing its presence in this market, with another restaurant planned at a major fuel station in Pretoria later in 2026.

Shopping centres are also part of the franchise’s expansion strategy. The brand has restaurants at Eastgate, Greenstone, The Glen and Mthatha Plaza, among other locations.

These sites benefit from regular foot traffic generated by shoppers, centre employees and families. They also provide opportunities to serve larger groups and customers who place larger orders.

The Wits opening adds university campuses to this mix, extending the franchise’s reach into a market with different eating habits and spending patterns.