Right after security in T1, KFC is the fast default.
This KFC sits airside in Terminal T1 at Rafael Nuñez International, past security and before most of the gates, so you hit it shortly after passport control. It’s one of the few global chains in the building, which makes it an easy call if you don’t feel like gambling on something unfamiliar right before a 3-hour flight.
Menu is the standard KFC setup: fried chicken pieces, sandwiches, wraps, and sides like fries and coleslaw, with combos usually priced in the mid-range for the airport. Expect to pay more than in central Cartagena, but in line with other CTG airside spots. Portions tend to be generous enough to split a bucket between two people if you’re trying to keep things under control before a long-haul.
Drinks run from bottled water and soft drinks to basic coffee, which helps if you rolled in from the walled city on too little sleep. The big advantage here is speed: orders usually come out in under 10 minutes outside of peak afternoon bank times, so a 40-minute window before boarding is generally enough to order, eat, and walk to most T1 gates.
Food holds up reasonably well on the plane; box up the extra chicken and fries and you avoid the buy-on-board menu on a 2-hour regional hop. If your stomach is sensitive, stick to the sandwiches and avoid going heavy on spicy sauces right before a bumpy descent into Bogotá or Panama City.
Tip: lines spike around the morning and late-afternoon departure waves, so if your flight leaves around 09:00 or 17:00, order first and then sit; seating in the immediate KFC area fills quickly, but you can carry your tray to quieter chairs closer to the mid-20s gates.