Written by Nadine Kilala

Travel is a multi-sensory experience that awakens your senses to unchartered territories. Food has always been an intimate part of travel as it allows travellers to get a flavour of the cultures, identities, and histories of the places they visit. Food is a truly universal language that deeply binds people together beyond taste.

South Africa’s vibrant foodscape tells a story of a melting pot of cultures that have evolved and influenced each other over time to get to what is on your plate today when travelling to South Africa. The country’s cuisine is a mouth-watering blend of African, Asian, and European influences. South Africa offers travellers an exceptional spectrum of unforgettable culinary experiences.

This blog takes a culinary trip into South Africa’s scrumptious local delicacies. Let’s dig in!

Sandwiches for Starters?

Bunny Chow

The ‘bunny chow’ is an iconic dish that hails from KwaZulu-Natal. The delicacy is a hollowed-out white bread that is filled with an aromatic vegetable, chicken, lamb, or mutton curry. The curries in the bunny chow are remnants of its Indian roots. The bunny chow was created due to the necessity of the migrant Indian labourers to transport their hearty curries while working under apartheid rule. Eating the curry-filled hollowed bread is a transcendent experience of African and Asian culinary fusion — no wonder the bunny chow is one of South Africa’s most loved street foods.

The best place to eat authentic bunny chow is in Durban. Visit the Victoria Market to have an eat-it-with-your-hands taste of a dish where South Africa meets India.

Kota 

Like the bunny chow, the ‘kota’ is a hollowed bread that is generously filled with an assortment of well-seasoned French fries, polony, Russian sausages, egg, cheese, and atchar – a spicy pickled mango condiment. The kota is a street food favourite that originated in the townships of Gauteng. Today, kota can be found in the thousands of spaza shops and restaurants throughout South Africa.

When visiting Soweto’s landmarks, do make a worthwhile stop at the restaurants and spaza shops on Vilakazi Street that offer the delicious kota. 

South Africa’s Top Comfort Meals:

Bobotie 

‘Bobotie’ is a South African casserole with curried ground beef at the bottom that is blanketed with a thin layer of creamy egg custard on the top. Dried fruit such as raisins and sultanas are often added to the curried ground beef mixture to bring out a sweetness to the savoury dish. The decadent bobotie is traditionally served with fragrant turmeric yellow rice that is garnished with bananas and sweet chutney on the side. The bobotie is an adapted agglomeration of Indo-Asian recipes, spices, and cooking techniques that were brought to the cape by the Dutch settlers. Today, the bobotie has become a household favourite comfort meal in South Africa.

Make a pit stop at one of the family-owned restaurants in the colourful neighbourhood of Bo-Kaap to savour their hearty picks of Cape Malay cuisine, and pair it with one of South Africa’s top wines to wash it down!

Potjiekos

When one thinks about slow food in South Africa, the famous ‘potjiekos’ comes to mind. Potjiekos is a slow-cooked meal that is prepared in a three-legged cast-iron pot known as a potjie. The main ingredients of the potjiekos include meat and vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, cabbage, and cauliflower, which are slow-cooked to perfection. The potjiekos is seasoned with a distinctive mix of Dutch-Malay spices that give it a delicious and tasty burst of flavours. Potjiekos is traditionally cooked on an open fire that produces a unique smokey flavour to the hearty stew. This slow cooking ensures that the flavours and aromas of the potjiekos blend perfectly. 

Dombolo and Oxtail Stew 

‘Dombolo’ is South Africa’s much-loved traditional steamed bread. This bread is made out of a dough mixture that is streamed in a pot of boiling water or in a hearty stew. Dombolo is often paired with delicious dishes such as oxtail stew, creamy spinach, lentil stew, and butternut mash. Dipping the fluffy dombolo in a hearty oxtail stew alongside some creamy spinach is an unbeatable match of flavours – you will be hooked! Many South Africans enjoy this dish as their favourite wintertime or Sunday family meal.

Samp

‘Samp’ is another beloved South African staple meal that is made out of dried stamped corn kernels as a base ingredient. There are no limits when it comes to eating samp; the meal is often mixed and matched with a variety of side dishes. The samp recipe is very versatile as it has a lot of twists that depend on personal and cultural preferences. However, the two most prominent takes on samp are the savoury or creamy recipes. The savoury recipe is accompanied by beans and it is also served with savoury beef, chicken, lamb, or vegetable stew. On the other hand, creamy samp is prepared with fresh cream and butter. Samp is a relished common meal across numerous South African cultures. What makes samp incredibly special is its simplicity, affordability, and versatility. 

Nudge: Add the Neighbourgoods Market to your itinerary list when you visit Cape Town. The market offers authentic traditional and contemporary twists on traditional South African dishes such as samp and dombolo. 

Shisa Nyama or Braai

‘Shisa nyama’ literally means ‘burn meat’ in Zulu. The barbeque culture in South Africa is a huge part of the national culture as it is a social agent that brings together friends and family. Similar to the ‘braai’, a barbecue in Afrikaans, shisa nyama has its roots in the townships. Shisa nyama is more than just food, it is a combination of music, beer, sizzling meat, and great company – to sum it up, a shisa nyama is a whole vibe! A shisa nyama usually has a variety of meat cuts such as ‘boerewors’, lamb chops, chicken, and t-bone steak that are grilled to perfection. The grilled meat is usually paired with pap (cooked maize meal), chakalaka (a spicy South African relish), and an array of salads.

The best places to get an authentic shisa nyama experience are the local pubs and restaurants in townships such as Soweto. Or you can also visit the shisa nyama food stalls at the Fourways Farmer's Market in Johannesburg to get an outdoor experience of live music and good food during the weekend.

Let’s Take a Snack Break:

Biltong 

‘Biltong’ is one of South Africa’s classic snacks. The word biltong is derived from the Dutch words Dutch ‘bil’, meaning hind quarter, and ‘tong’, meaning strip or tongue. Biltong is a dried, cured meat snack that is distinctively coated with salt, vinegar, and a traditional mixture of black pepper and coriander. The snack is a flavour-packed and delicious nibbling treat that can easily be found in South African convenience stores and gourmet shops.

Rusks

Rusks are an enjoyable complement to your tea and coffee breaks throughout the day. This snack is not your average biscuit because it is characterised as a hard, crunchy, and dry biscuit that is double-baked. This snack is a supreme dunker that is often dipped in rooibos tea, coffee, warm milk, or hot chocolate before being eaten. Today, South Africa offers a wide variety of rusks that range from buttermilk, bran, raisin, and pecan versions – to name a few.

Desert to Finish It Off:

Malva Pudding

Malva pudding is an apricot-flavoured moist cake that is soaked in a creamy caramelised butter sauce. The desert is a decadent and moist sweet pudding that is often served with whipped cream, vanilla custard, or ice cream. Malva pudding is a popular dessert that is believed to be named after the Afrikaans word for marshmallow, ‘malva’. The Afrikaans word malva fittingly describes the spongy texture of the desert. You can enjoy malva pudding at numerous coffee shops in and around South Africa.

Koeksisters

‘Koeksisters’ is a South African confectionery delicacy that you cannot miss. The sweet and sticky confectionary is a braided dough that is deep fried and coated in a cinnamon, ginger, and lemon-infused syrup. Koeksisters are a big deal in South Africa as it is sold on major streets and bakeries all around the country. This indulgent treat is perfect to pair with your teas and coffees during your day.

Melkkos

‘Melkkos’ is a creamy cinnamon dessert that warms your soul. The dessert is a thick milk mixture that is made with sago or butter rubbed into the flour. Cinnamon is a defining ingredient that brings out the fragrant melkkos taste. Traditionally, cinnamon is either added by cooking the mixture with a cinnamon stick and/or by having cinnamon sugar that is sprinkled over a cooked bowl of warm melkkos. Melkkos is a winter comfort dessert that can also be enjoyed all year round too!

Trying new dishes from a country you’re visiting opens the floodgates for you to get a real flavour of the culture of the places you visit, no pun intended. Exploring the world through food simply opens opportunities for greater appreciation and understanding of the diversity of cultures that exist around us. 

Yearning to taste South Africa’s culinary gems? Visit Viatu to book your once-in-a-lifetime holiday to South Africa.