The best part about traveling is to learn about a city or country through their food. There is so much to learn about a place, its culture, and people through their traditional cuisine, their ingredients, and how they prepare the food. South Africa prides itself in staying true to its indigenous roots and continues to enjoy the same food passed on to them by their ancestors. Amalgamating the influences of the Dutch rule in South Africa, and the synthesis of Malay and Indian, the traditional culinary art of South Africa has since evolved to include food elements from these aforementioned cultures. South Africans have always eaten corn porridge, with their meat, along with pumpkin, beans, and cabbage. But with the influence of other cultures, they have added more flavors, including spices such as nutmeg, chili peppers, and allspice, as well as curries, and sambal. If you’re planning to taste South African cuisine soon, make sure to secure your lodging first and choose among the many huts and beach resorts available in the country. Then read on to know more about South Africa’s mouthwatering traditional food.
1. Chakalaka
Chakalaka (cha-ka-la-ka) is one of the few traditional foods in South Africa that’s also apt for vegetarians. South African history relates that mineworkers created chakalaka when they threw different ingredients in a pot that so that they could eat with their mielie meel (corn porridge). It’s a spicy dish of tomatoes, beans, pepper, onions, and curry, although each region of South Africa has their own version of it. Chakalaka can be a meal in itself or it can be served with shisa nyama (barbeque meat) or boerewors (a type of sausage).
Chaf Pozi
Address: Corner Chris Hani and Nicholas street, Orlando Towers, Soweto
Website: Chaf Pozi
2. Mielie Meel
Mielie Meel (mi-li mil), or corn porridge or miele pap, is usually served for breakfast, or as a side dish with South African meat and vegetable preparations. It’s cheap, abundant, and a local favorite because no refrigeration is needed for this South African staple. White corn is boiled with water or, to make it creamier and thicker, boiled with milk. Mielie Meel can be found in many African cuisine restaurants in South Africa.
M'zoli's Place
Address: NY 115 Gugulethu, 7551, Cape Town
Website: M'zoli’s Place
3. Boerewors
Boerewors (bu-re-vors) is a traditional South African spicy sausage, made up of pork, beef, coriander, and curry. Introduced by early Dutch migrants, a lot of locals enjoy it plain, and others enjoy it inside a soft roll, topped with grilled onions, and drizzled with ketchup. And some others eat it with Chakalaka to make it a truly authentic traditional South African experience. South Africans enjoy cooking Boerewors over braai, or barbeque, especially during national holidays.
Gold Restaurant
Address: 15 Bennett Street, Green Point, 8005 Cape Town
Website: Gold Restaurant
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4. Bobotie
Bobotie (bo-bo-tee) is South Africa’s national dish, brought over by the Dutch and adopted by the Cape Malay community. Made with dried fruit, spiced beef or lamb, it used to be seasoned with ginger, turmeric, marjoram, and lemon rind, but now, it’s seasoned with curry powder to give it a sharp tangy flavor. It is topped with a milky egg custard and baked until golden brown. Enjoy it with rice and vegetables, with a glass of wine.
Den Anker
Address: Pierhead - V & A Waterfront, Cape Town
Website: Den Anker
5. Bunny Chow
The origins of the Bunny Chow are a mystery but locals say Indian migrant workers created this dish to reminisce about home. It eventually evolved into a street food staple for them and for the South Africans. Bunny Chow is, basically, curry in a bread bowl. White bread loaf is hollowed out in the middle and stuffed with lamb, mutton, or chicken curry, or, for the vegetarian’s bean curry. Since it used to be sold in the streets of South Africa, the bread served as the plate for the curry. Nowadays, if you want to try this traditional food in South Africa, you’ll find the Bunny Chow in Indian restaurants and takeaways all over the country served with grated carrot, chili, and onion salad.
The Hill Cafe
Address: 11 Kotze Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Website: The Hill Cafe
6. Potjiekos
Potjiekos means “small pot food” in South Africa. Locals usually gather in homes and catch up with each other while the Potjiekos cooks between three to six hours in a round cast iron pot over wood or charcoal fire. Potjiekos regularly consists of spiced beef or lamb, flavored with alcohol, usually beer or sherry, with carrots, cauliflower, potatoes or maize (corn) and a few spices, as needed. Its cooking concept is similar to a slow cooker. Add all ingredients to the pot and let it simmer under low heat until all the ingredients have blended together, without stirring. Most South Africans eat potjiekos with mielie meal or pasta.
Cafe Ganesh
Address: 38 Trill Road Observatory, Cape Town 7925
Website: Cafe Ganesh
7. Shisa Nyama
Shisa Nyama (she-sah-nya-mah) is a Zulu slang phrase, which means, “burn meat”. Shisa nyama actually started as a way for butchers to obtain more sales during the weekend. But the tradition stayed and has evolved to become a daily gathering place at a butchery for the local residents, old and new, to get together and connect with their roots, relax and catch up with family and friends. Coal fires up the grill, where the butcher braais rib eyes, pork rib, chicken, and even prawns, crayfish, and whole fish. Some customers also eat shisa nyama with pap (corn porridge), couscous salad, or grilled sweet potato or sweet corn.
Marble by David Higgs
Address: Trumpet on Keyes, Corner Keyes & Jellicoe Avenue, Rosebank
Website: Marble by David Higgs
8. Koeksisters
Koeksisters (kuk-sister) is another chewy-crunchy, fried dough dessert in South Africa but infused with syrup or honey. Koeksisters are prepared by frying braided dough in oil, and, when it’s done, submerging the hot dough into ice cold syrup. Although prepared the same way by frying, koeksisters are different from koesister, which is similar to the usual round doughnut. Best to have this in Cape Malay, its birthplace.
Wembley Roadhouse
Address: 25 Denchworth Rd &, Belgravia Rd, Belgravia, Cape Town, 7764, South Africa
Website: Wembley Roadhouse
9. Malva Pudding
Malva (mahl-vah) Pudding is a sponge cake, topped with apricot jam and cream. Some bakers create their own versions with ginger, dates, or brandy. This is best served with hot custard or cold ice cream in any South African restaurant.
Adega
Address: 1 Park Street and Hawley Road, Bedfordview, Gauteng, Johannesburg
Website: Adega
10. Melktert
Melktert (melk-tert), or Milk Tart, is a traditional South African tart with a creamy filling of milk, flour, sugar, and eggs inside a sweet pastry crust. They use a higher ratio of milk to the egg than a Portuguese custard tart or Chinese egg tart and has a lighter texture with a strong milky taste. Sometimes, the bakers will sprinkle cinnamon on top, or infuse a cinnamon stick with the milk before baking.
The Whippet
Address: Corner 7th Street and 4th Avenue, Linden, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Website: The Whippet
11. Vetkoek
Vetkoek (vet-kuk), also called Amagwinya, is traditional African fried dough bread, which means “oil cake”. It is eaten as a savory meal, filled with ground beef, or as a dessert, served with syrup, honey, or jam. Vetkoek is also sometimes served with another African food called boerewors. You can find vetkoek at most family restaurants, hawkers, and some street food markets throughout South Africa.
WOZA!
Address: Corner of Burg and Church Streets, Cape Town
Website: WOZA!
12. Biltong
Biltong (bil-tow-ng) is similar to the American beef jerky but thicker and less sweet. Often made from beef, it can also be made with antelope, buffalo, chicken, or ostrich. It’s usually cured with black pepper, coriander, salt, and vinegar. And now, with all the European influences in their food, they’ve also added balsamic vinegar, garlic, paprika, chili peppers, or lemon juice to the curing. Biltong can be bought at butcher shops, or groceries, or at specialty biltong stores.
The Butcher Man
Address: 105 Main Rd, Green Point,Cape Town, 8005
Website: The Butcher Man
Eat and mingle with the locals
Traditional food in South Africa is simple but comforting and filling. And one thing it does is to bring people together, families, new and old friends, and even future friends in one place to spend quality time with each other. When you travel to South Africa, don’t be too busy exploring the best islands and places to visit. Partake these must-eat traditional foods and look for festivals, events, or other settings where you get to eat and mingle with the locals. It’s definitely going to be the best way to learn about South African culture and their people.