South African Food: Top 37 Dishes - TasteAtlas
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What to eat in South Africa? Top 37 South African Foods

Last update: Sat May 18 2024
Top 37 South African Foods
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01

Stew

SOUTH AFRICA
4.4
Potjiekos
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Potjiekos is a South African dish made by layering meat, vegetables, starches (such as potatoes, rice, or pasta), and sauce in the pot. Potjiekos is never stirred during cooking because the dish cooks slowly in order to let the steam build up. Making potjiekos is usually a social activity, since the dish is typically cooked from three to six hours.


It is prepared in small pots, hence the name. The dish dates back to the 1800s, but it is still widely consumed today.

MOST ICONIC Potjiekos

1
Ons Huisie
02

Sausage

SOUTH AFRICA
4.3
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Boerewors is a South African sausage that's shaped into a coil and must contain at least 90% meat, while the other 10% consists of spices (nutmeg, allspice, cloves, black pepper...) and other ingredients. The fat in the meat must not exceed 30%.


The sausage must contain beef, but it can also have lamb, pork, or a combination of both, while offal or mechanically processed meat is forbidden. The name boerewors is derived from two words – boer, which means farmer, and wors, which means sausage.


Boerewors is traditionally grilled on the braai (South African barbecue), and it's usually served with pap and sous (sauce). 
03

Chicken Dish

SOUTH AFRICA and  one more region
4.3
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Peri peri chicken is a Mozambican dish consisting of grilled or roasted chicken that is often served with a creamy and spicy coconut sauce. Before grilling, the meat is traditionally marinated in cumin, garlic, paprika, lemon juice, and bird's eye chilis, giving the chicken a unique flavor.


The name of the dish is a Portuguese transliteration of the Swahili phrase piri piri, meaning pepper pepper, referring to the spiciness of the dish.

04

Stew

DURBAN, South Africa
4.2
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Bunny chow is a South African dish consisting of a half or a quarter loaf of bread that is hollowed out and stuffed with curry that has been cooked with kidney beans or meats such as mutton, chicken, and lamb. It is traditionally consumed without utensils.


The dish originated in the city of Durban, and it is believed that bunny chow owes its origins to the Indian immigrants who came to South Africa in the late 19th century. Today, this cheap and filling dish has crossed borders, so it is also quite popular in the United Kingdom.

MOST ICONIC Bunny Chow

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1
Capscium Restaurant
2
Gounden's Restaurant & Take Away
3
Hollywood Bets
4
Patel Vegetarian Refreshment Room
5
Eastern Food Bazaar
05

Street Food

SOUTH AFRICA
4.2
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Vetkoek is an iconic South African street food item consisting of deep-fried yeast buns that are usually filled with cheese, curry, or fruit jams. It can be served as a small snack, for breakfast or lunch. The ball-shaped dough is made from salt, yeast, and flour.


When served at a South African braai, vetkoek is often served with boerewors, a traditional sausage. You can also serve them as they are, or with a cup of tea on the side.

06

Casserole

SOUTH AFRICA
4.1
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Bobotie or bobotjie is a South African deep-dish casserole made from ground beef or lamb, herbs, spices, curry powder, fruits, and a finish of golden-brown egg custard that is scented with cinnamon or nutmeg. The dish originated from an Indonesian dish called bobotok, which was taken to South Africa in the 16th century by the Indonesians that transported spices and slaves to the country.


It is full of well-balanced flavors – sweet and fruity from the chutney, apricot jam, and sugar, spicy from curry and turmeric, sour from vinegar, and salty from the meat. Today, bobotie is so popular that it is a centerpiece of festive meals and can be found in most South African restaurants, where it is traditionally served with vegetables, yellow rice (white rice with turmeric), or steamed white rice that soaks up the rich juices oozing from the cut portions.

MOST ICONIC Bobotie

1
Jonkershuis Restaurant South Africa
2
Biesmiellah
07

Pudding

SOUTH AFRICA
4.1
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Malva pudding is a traditional South African dessert consisting of a pudding base covered in a creamy, sweet sauce made with water, cream, vanilla, butter, and sugar. The pudding is usually made from butter, sugar, eggs, apricot jam, milk, flour, and salt.


The dessert is typically served warm, preferably with ice cream, whipped cream, or vanilla custard on the side. It is believed that the dish is named malva pudding after the Afrikaans word malva, meaning marshmallow, referring to the similarities between marshmallows and the pudding's texture, although some say that the name is derived after the fact that the pudding used to contain Malvasia wine.

MOST ICONIC Malva Pudding

1
The Hussar Grill
2
The Butcher Shop
08

Snack

SOUTH AFRICA
4.0
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Biltong is a traditional South African beef snack that is cured in a unique way. The word comes from the Dutch bil, meaning hind quarter, and tong, meaning strip, in this case - a strip of meat. Although it looks similar to American beef jerky, it is quite different in flavor and the method of preparation.


The beef is dried with vinegar which cures the meat and adds layers of texture and flavor. It is seasoned with salt, pepper, and coriander, and the meat is much thicker than beef jerky. Originally, it was created out of necessity as a survival food when the Dutch settlers arrived in South Africa. 

MOST ICONIC Biltong

1
Spice Route Restaurant
2
Kream
3
Durbanville Hills Winery
4
Turn and Tender
09

Sweet Pastry

SOUTH AFRICA
4.0
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Koeksister is a sweet South African snack with a sticky appearance. It is prepared by frying braided dough strips in oil, then dunking them into a cold sugary syrup. These sticky treats are sold on every major street in South Africa, and today they can even be found in most supermarkets.


It is recommended to top them with cinnamon or lemon juice before consumption.

MOST ICONIC Koeksister

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1
Affie plaas Robertson
2
Biesmiellah
3
Strandkombuis Open Air Restaurant
4
Die Strandloper Restaurant
5
Muisbosskerm Restaurant
10

Relish

SOUTH AFRICA
3.8
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Chakalaka is a spicy South African vegetable relish consisting of tomatoes, beans, and onions as its key ingredients, although some cooks might add various other ingredients such as carrots, bell peppers, chilis, and ginger. Originally, chakalaka was invented in Johannesburg, where it became a staple dish.


Today, it is a key component of most South African barbecues, where it is served as a side dish accompanying meat. Some people like to serve it as a cold salad, when combined with other greens. This relish is traditionally served with breads such as mealie pap, or with amasi, a type of thick sour milk. 

MOST ICONIC Chakalaka

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1
Sakhumzi Restaurant
2
Karibu
3
Jazz Maniacs
4
Chaf Pozi
5
Kwa Lichaba
11
Tart
SOUTH AFRICA
3.6
12
Sausage
SOUTH AFRICA
3.6
13
Sandwich
CAPE TOWN, South Africa
3.5
14
Sweet Bread
SOUTH AFRICA
n/a
15
Sandwich
GAUTENG, South Africa
n/a
16
Dumplings
SOUTH AFRICA
n/a
17
Porridge
SOUTH AFRICA
n/a
18
Stew
SOUTH AFRICA
n/a
19
Bread
SOUTH AFRICA
4.4
20
Porridge
SOUTH AFRICA
n/a
21
Sweet Bread
SOUTH AFRICA
n/a
22
Stew
SOUTH AFRICA
n/a
23
Cookie
SOUTH AFRICA
n/a
24
Salsa
SOUTH AFRICA
4.1
25
26
Lamb Dish
SOUTH AFRICA
4.0
27
Rice Dish
SOUTH AFRICA
n/a
28
Dessert
SOUTH AFRICA
n/a
29
Offal Dish
SOUTH AFRICA
n/a
30
31
Stew
SOUTH AFRICA
n/a
32
Offal Dish
SOUTH AFRICA
3.4
33
Stew
WESTERN CAPE, South Africa
n/a
34
Sweet Bread
WESTERN CAPE, South Africa
n/a
35
36
Porridge
SOUTH AFRICA  and  2 more regions
n/a
37
Cheese
SOUTH AFRICA
n/a

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

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South African Food