Scores reflect the Overall AI Score for each category
Based on recent customer reviews, Hungry Lion is described by customers as a brand where the fast food promise breaks down at store level. Recurring themes are extreme waits for orders, missing or incorrect items discovered only at home, chicken served raw, burnt or smelling off, and staff and managers who dismiss complaints. Hygiene incidents including cockroaches and foreign objects in food appear across multiple branches.
Top Strengths:
- •Hygiene, Cleanliness & Store Conditions: Hygiene, Cleanliness and Store Conditions (1.3) scores highest only because most reviews focus elsewhere. A handful of visits describe clean stores, tidy uniforms and well packaged food, but serious contamination reports dominate this theme.
Replied to 58% of negative reviews
Reply time on negative reviews: 101h 15m
TrustIndex
2.1
Ranking
#2
in Fast Food
Reply Time
99h 47m
NPS Score
-83
Recommended: Unlikely
Replied to 58% of negative reviews
Reply time on negative reviews: 101h 15m
Nov '25 - Oct '26
Frequently Asked Questions About Hungry Lion
What do customers say about Hungry Lion?
Based on recent customer reviews, Hungry Lion is described by customers as a brand where the fast food promise breaks down at store level. Recurring themes are extreme waits for orders, missing or incorrect items discovered only at home, chicken served raw, burnt or smelling off, and staff and managers who dismiss complaints. Hygiene incidents including cockroaches and foreign objects in food appear across multiple branches.
What is Hungry Lion's biggest strength?
Hungry Lion's biggest strength, according to Hellopeter's AI analysis, is Hygiene, Cleanliness & Store Conditions. Hygiene, Cleanliness and Store Conditions (1.3) scores highest only because most reviews focus elsewhere. A handful of visits describe clean stores, tidy uniforms and well packaged food, but serious contamination reports dominate this theme.
What are the most common complaints about Hungry Lion?
The most common complaint about Hungry Lion, based on Hellopeter's AI analysis of recent customer reviews, is Order Accuracy & Delivery. Order Accuracy and Delivery (1.1) shows a pattern of short buckets, absent chips, drinks and sauces, promotional extras left out, and voucher or wicode codes rejected in store. Customers say they must open every bag before leaving.
How does Hungry Lion compare to other Fast Food companies?
Hungry Lion scores 1.1 out of 5 on Hellopeter's AI analysis of service quality in Fast Food, compared to the Fast Food industry average of 1.3. Their strongest theme is Hygiene & Cleanliness (1.3); their weakest is Speed of Service (0.9). The top AI-rated Fast Food business on Hellopeter is (). How is the AI Score calculated? →
Is Hungry Lion trustworthy?
Hungry Lion has a TrustIndex of 2.1 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 394 reviews in the last 12 months. They reply to 58% of negative reviews, typically within 101 hours 15 min. Hellopeter has tracked Hungry Lion across 1,351 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →
Recent reviews (394)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Sept 2012
Complaint ignored despite evidence and promise of follow-up
I am extremely disappointed with Hungry Lion's handling of a serious complaint regarding the N1 City Mall branch on 25 September 2026, Order ***. Our order was placed at 13:50:45 and only received at approximately 14:40 — almost 50 minutes later. During this time, orders with significantly higher numbers were being called, while we were still waiting. We were told there was only one person making burgers. There were also several other issues: a very poor portion of chicken in one of our double burgers, a missing Mini Loaf shown on the receipt, no serviettes, and an additional R20 cash payment requested for two chicken-strip add-ons which we did not see being processed or receipted. I contacted Hungry Lion via Facebook Messenger while I was still in the store and supp**** photographs, the receipt and timestamped correspondence. I subsequently supp**** my contact details and submitted a formal complaint by email. After eventually responding, Hungry Lion offered me a Big Bite 2 voucher as a "gesture of goodwill". I declined this because it does not address the actual issues raised. More importantly, I was told the matter would be taken further and that I would be contacted. I have not been contacted. I have repeatedly given Hungry Lion the opportunity to resolve this privately and have been met with an unacceptable lack of accountability and follow-through. I have retained the receipt, photographs and timestamped correspondence, including evidence of my attempts to obtain assistance and the subsequent lack of response. I am now escalating this matter to the appropriate consumer channels. Very disappointing customer service and an even more disappointing complaints process.
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2012
Complaint ignored despite evidence and promise of follow-up
I am extremely disappointed with Hungry Lion's handling of a serious complaint regarding the N1 City Mall branch on 25 September 2026, Order ***. Our order was placed at 13:50:45 and only received at approximately 14:40 — almost 50 minutes later. During this time, orders with significantly higher numbers were being called, while we were still waiting. We were told there was only one person making burgers. There were also several other issues: a very poor portion of chicken in one of our double burgers, a missing Mini Loaf shown on the receipt, no serviettes, and an additional R20 cash payment requested for two chicken-strip add-ons which we did not see being processed or receipted. I contacted Hungry Lion via Facebook Messenger while I was still in the store and supp**** photographs, the receipt and timestamped correspondence. I subsequently supp**** my contact details and submitted a formal complaint by email. After eventually responding, Hungry Lion offered me a Big Bite 2 voucher as a "gesture of goodwill". I declined this because it does not address the actual issues raised. More importantly, I was told the matter would be taken further and that I would be contacted. I have not been contacted. I have repeatedly given Hungry Lion the opportunity to resolve this privately and have been met with an unacceptable lack of accountability and follow-through. I have retained the receipt, photographs and timestamped correspondence, including evidence of my attempts to obtain assistance and the subsequent lack of response. I am now escalating this matter to the appropriate consumer channels. Very disappointing customer service and an even more disappointing complaints process.
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2013
Not happy
Yesterday afternoon I went to buy two chocolate dip ice creams and once I got them the one ice cream was only half... While the second was full.. I never got a receipt for my purchase either... And the chocolate had a funny taste to it too..
1 reviews | Active since Sept 2013
Not happy
Yesterday afternoon I went to buy two chocolate dip ice creams and once I got them the one ice cream was only half... While the second was full.. I never got a receipt for my purchase either... And the chocolate had a funny taste to it too..
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2022
Disappointed
I am disappointed with the service from Naledi mall Hungry lion. I believe it's a brand and service should be out of this world. I usually buy from Heidelberg they give the best service. So today I bought a wing combo for my mom at Naledi mall and asked for juice instead of soda to my surprise I was told that is not possible, could this be the service rendered in the township's? I was told that manger said they should only issue sodas not juice when I asked to top up for the juice they had no answers. Kindly fix that branch service should be same. I am utterly disappointed!
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2022
Disappointed
I am disappointed with the service from Naledi mall Hungry lion. I believe it's a brand and service should be out of this world. I usually buy from Heidelberg they give the best service. So today I bought a wing combo for my mom at Naledi mall and asked for juice instead of soda to my surprise I was told that is not possible, could this be the service rendered in the township's? I was told that manger said they should only issue sodas not juice when I asked to top up for the juice they had no answers. Kindly fix that branch service should be same. I am utterly disappointed!
1 reviews | Active since Dec 2019
The service was extremely disappointing, and the quality of the food fell well below expectations.
Yesterday I just had the worst experience ever at Hungry Lion Zevenwacht Mall. I placed a instore order at 17:05 on the 28th of September I the shop was not even full. I was not informed about a waiting time at all. after waiting 20min I asked about my order as I see people that came after me are getting the orders before me, the lady handing out the orders informed me the wings just came out. At 17:35 I ask again and were again told they are waiting on wings, In the meanwhile the staff are laughing and having a ball at the back I requested to speak to the manager and showed him my slip and order time, He didn't seem much interest in my complaint. This was very frustrating and disappointing to say the least. I felt like a complete fool standing there alone while everyone left that came after me. Just to end up receiving raw chicken (of which I took a photo) and cold chip. this is unacceptable.
1 reviews | Active since Dec 2019
The service was extremely disappointing, and the quality of the food fell well below expectations.
Yesterday I just had the worst experience ever at Hungry Lion Zevenwacht Mall. I placed a instore order at 17:05 on the 28th of September I the shop was not even full. I was not informed about a waiting time at all. after waiting 20min I asked about my order as I see people that came after me are getting the orders before me, the lady handing out the orders informed me the wings just came out. At 17:35 I ask again and were again told they are waiting on wings, In the meanwhile the staff are laughing and having a ball at the back I requested to speak to the manager and showed him my slip and order time, He didn't seem much interest in my complaint. This was very frustrating and disappointing to say the least. I felt like a complete fool standing there alone while everyone left that came after me. Just to end up receiving raw chicken (of which I took a photo) and cold chip. this is unacceptable.
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2026
Awful service
Poor Service I visited Hungry Lion Protea Glen Mall today, 28 September 2026, at Protea Glen Shopping Centre, Shop 69. I experienced very poor service: -came in the shop checked the menu up there someone came after me and I was in front of them.Cashier shouts cards not working she didn't even greet us on the line and let us know they only accepting cash cause machines are off line she just shouted I stood there cause I was confused then the guy at the back went to the front to buy cashier pays attention to the guy she doesn't even care who came first then she asks do we still have pieces then becomes busy with the lady who bought I've cream who was infront of me its like they also short staffed - cashier were rude and unprofessional - The overall service and attitude were bad I eventually left without buying anything as I wanted to use cash and card for my payment,had to go buy my food at KFC. This is unacceptable for a big brand. I request that management address staff attitude and working ethics
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2026
Awful service
Poor Service I visited Hungry Lion Protea Glen Mall today, 28 September 2026, at Protea Glen Shopping Centre, Shop 69. I experienced very poor service: -came in the shop checked the menu up there someone came after me and I was in front of them.Cashier shouts cards not working she didn't even greet us on the line and let us know they only accepting cash cause machines are off line she just shouted I stood there cause I was confused then the guy at the back went to the front to buy cashier pays attention to the guy she doesn't even care who came first then she asks do we still have pieces then becomes busy with the lady who bought I've cream who was infront of me its like they also short staffed - cashier were rude and unprofessional - The overall service and attitude were bad I eventually left without buying anything as I wanted to use cash and card for my payment,had to go buy my food at KFC. This is unacceptable for a big brand. I request that management address staff attitude and working ethics
1 reviews | Active since May 2017
pathetic
i went to claremont hungryblion disgusted with the service stood 10 min no1 called to ask if they can help bought 4 chips and chicken the lady came out with the chips in a clear packet since wen thats a first disgusting probably sumeone elses chips i askf the lady y in clesr bag she jus gv me dirty luk tuk chips to bck probably gavme the same chips im disgusted the chips was half in packet askd for exta spice she practicaly theu the spice it wss horrible
1 reviews | Active since May 2017
pathetic
i went to claremont hungryblion disgusted with the service stood 10 min no1 called to ask if they can help bought 4 chips and chicken the lady came out with the chips in a clear packet since wen thats a first disgusting probably sumeone elses chips i askf the lady y in clesr bag she jus gv me dirty luk tuk chips to bck probably gavme the same chips im disgusted the chips was half in packet askd for exta spice she practicaly theu the spice it wss horrible
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2021
Mr kammies
Bought a strip box of R119 Friday night at zewenwaght mall in kuilsriver cape town and ask for normal strip not mild or spicy they still gave us spicy, when I told them it's for my daughter who is 3 years old, her tummy could not stop because they gave us spicy strips not happy with the incompetence from the employees.
1 reviews | Active since Apr 2021
Mr kammies
Bought a strip box of R119 Friday night at zewenwaght mall in kuilsriver cape town and ask for normal strip not mild or spicy they still gave us spicy, when I told them it's for my daughter who is 3 years old, her tummy could not stop because they gave us spicy strips not happy with the incompetence from the employees.