South Africa offers a fine range of eating establishments. Local offerings which the more adventurous diner may wish to try include crocodile, kudu, impala and even warthog. More common specialities include delicacies such as biltong (a dried, salted meat, similar to jerky), bobotie (much like Shepherd's pie) and boerowors (large, hand-made sausage coils, which are normally grilled on a braai). Those wishing to stick to familiar cuisines will find everything from hamburgers to sushi, and a wide variety of different national cuisines are represented in the major cities.
This South African Restaurants Guide below gives a brief rundown of types of food you are likely to encounter on a trip to South Africa. For useful information about things to see and do during your travels, take a look at our South Africa Destination Guides page. And to get the most out of your trip, make sure you have a quick look at our South Africa Shopping Guide, for hints and tips about what local products make the best and most interesting souvenirs; and our South Africa Country Guide will give you general travel information to plan your holiday. For more detailed information about specific regional and restaurant information, check out these sites:
- Cape Town
- Cape Winelands
- Garden Route
- Johannesburg
- Panorama Route
- Port Elizabeth and Addo
- Wild Coast (Eastern Cape)
South African Food & Cuisine
Major cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are awash with foreign cuisines. More than two dozen are represented, including Italian, Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Moroccan, Portuguese and Indian. Your host will be able to recommend some local favourites, and eating guides are also a good source of information.
Those looking for something more uniquely South African may have to look a little harder. Certain establishments are justifiably quite famous for specialising in it - these include Wandie's Place, which is in Soweto, the Africa Café, located in central Cape Town, and Gramadoelas in central Johannesburg.
However, while it may be difficult to find restaurants that specialise in South African cuisine, aspects of it are ever-present. Regional varieties of biltong are found at supermarkets and convenience stores, as well as almost every café. Boerwors is offered alongside juicy steaks at steakhouses across the country. And nothing is more South African than the braai (a traditional South African barbecue), the smells of which can be found wafting through every neighbourhood in the country every weekend.
And then there are the unique animals which can be found on menus in anything from a humble eating establishment up to a luxurious 5 star restaurant. This includes, but is not limited, meats such as crocodile, ostrich, impala and warthog. Various fusion dishes incorporate these to create some interesting and memorable meals.
