With options ranging from pan-African food to seafood and steaks in internationally recognized restaurants, South Africa’s culinary diversity reflects its heterogeneous society. Eating is a great way to experience the essence of the Rainbow Nation. South African cuisine originated in the Cape, but KwaZulu-Natal is also significant because of the British colonialists, Indian indentured laborers, Mauritius natives, and migrants from other African nations who grew exotic fruits and brought hot tomato sauces. Exploring South Africa’s varied specialties becomes intriguing when one learns about the cultural significance of its cuisine.
1. Taste history in Cape Malay cuisine
Cape Malay food encompasses local history, having been produced by the same-named people – now more popularly known as Cape Muslims – who migrated from Southeast Asia when Cape Town was a Dutch East India Company naval colony. They mixed spices and recipes from their homelands with European influences to develop a cooking style known as Cape Dutch. The mix resulted in light and aromatic curries, served with saffron rice and tomato-and-onion sambal. For dessert, try a koe’sister, the city’s coconut-sprinkled doughnut (not to be confused with the Afrikaners’ plaited, syrupy, and equally wonderful koeksister).
2. traditional braai
South Africa’s beloved braais are feasts of barbecued meat and vegetables, grilled over charcoal or wood. Gas would be sacrilege, as there’s a culture of camaraderie around the ritual of cooking a curly boerewors (spiced beef sausage) and steaks over the coals, ideally accompanied by a braaibroodjie(toasted cheese, tomato and onion sandwich). The cherished tradition is often part of social gatherings and holds a cultural significance similar to inviting family, friends and visitors over for a backyard barbeque.
Where to try it: Visiting a small-town slaghuis (butcher), getting some Blitz firelighters, and having a braai at your farmstay or campsite is the best course of action. Both casual “bush pubs” and steakhouses like the Tauren Steak Ranch in Springbok, Stellenbosch’s The Fat Butcher, and the Hussar Grill chain (try the flagship in Rondebosch, Cape Town) are excellent spots to enjoy a braai.
3. Fill up on bunnies
Durban has the largest Indian community outside of the subcontinent, dating back to 1860, when indentured workers arrived. KwaZulu-Natal’s largest metropolis combines a strong Indian taste with Zulu and British traditions, and its contribution to Indian cuisine is bunny chow, a hollowed half-loaf of white bread filled with curry. Where to sample it: Visit a Durban curry eatery like Glenwood’s CaneCutters or Goundens.
4. Say cheers to Cape wine
Although South African craft beer and fynbos-flavored gin are booming, Cape wine remains the country’s best-known tipple. The Dutch started bottling grapes in the 1650s, and Cape Town’s Constantia area is the oldest wine region outside Europe.
Today, several hundred wineries in the mountainous Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek offer tastings of elegant reds, refreshing whites and sparkling Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) wines.
Where to try it: To see a few wine fields, take a day trip or ride the Franschhoek Wine Tram, which includes lunch along the way. Wine Flies Tours provides enjoyable trips, whereas Coffeebeans Routes offers an itinerary that focuses on black winemakers. Another popular pastime in the area is opening a gourmet picnic basket on a Stellenbosch wine estate, like Warwick or Spier.
5. Dance and dine at local markets
Market culture in South Africa is a not-so-secret gem that should be discovered at least once, regardless of which South African city you visit. A local market is one of the finest places to sample local food and learn about the culture that shapes the country’s cuisine. These food hall-style venues resemble international food fairs, with lively atmospheres created by international DJs and the sounds of Amapiano. Dance is an important aspect of South African social settings, so be prepared to participate or simply observe to get the positive energies.
Market food vendors showcase the variety that characterizes the South African food scene, from Malay and Indian to Indonesian, Thai, Chinese and South African cuisine. It’s the perfect setting to find local delicacies like biltong (an air-dried, cured meat snack), braaibroodjie (South African grilled cheese sandwich), lamb spitbraai and other grilled meats. Near the coast, freshly caught lobster, prawns and calamari are typically served fried or grilled, and oyster lovers will enjoy the availability of raw selections. Gelato shops, chocolatiers, decadent donuts, and other confections satisfy sweet tooth cravings, and full-service bars serve everything from sodas to spirits.
Where to try it: A must-visit weekend destination, the neighborhood products market offers the ideal fusion of food, shopping, and day partying. You can also find everything from American staples like burgers and french fries to traditional South African fare at Mojo Market.
6. Try African cuisine
African cuisine is as diverse as the Zulus, Xhosas, and the country’s other ethnic groups, yet mealie pap (maize porridge) is a mainstay. It can be served alongside a chop and boerewors or as an invigorating breakfast when combined with milk and sugar. Samp (dried and crushed maize kernels) and beans are also popular stew bases, and spicy chakalaka is a must-try braai condiment. Where to sample it: Bites and Sites and JoburgPlaces provide culinary walking tours of Stellenbosch’s Kayamandi township and Johannesburg, respectively, while Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers provides a potjie (slow-cooked stew) experience.
7. Sample South Africa’s most unique ice cream
Finish off your South African culinary excursions with an innovative twist on a traditional dessert. Find small-batch South African ice cream bursting with flavors such as tamarind and coconut, roasted sorghum biscuits, or rooibos with imphepho smoke, to mention a few. A popular delicacy in Cape Town, uniquely African ice cream is worth tasting. Where to taste it: Tapi Tapi is the location for unique flavors that people crave, thanks to founder Tapiwa Guzha’s handcrafted authenticity.
8. Enjoy the fine dining scene
Taking advantage of South Africa’s gastronomic melting pot and lush Mediterranean and subtropical climates, local and foreign chefs have transformed Cape Town, Franschhoek, and Johannesburg into world-class fine-dining destinations. If you can’t make it to Klein JAN, celebrity chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s outpost at the rare Tswalu reserve in the deepest Kalahari, make reservations at Luke Dale Roberts’ Johannesburg and Cape Town restaurants, or Chefs Warehouse in Cape Town or Franschhoek.