Moving on from the natural beauty and amazing beauty of South Africa, the country is also on top when it comes to the most affordable street food. A foodie traveler can find delicious and ready-to-eat food at every corner of South African cities that not only tastes good but is also pocket-friendly.
9 dishes that make up the best street food in South Africa
Here are some of the most delicious and popular South African street foods that you must try if you are a foodie at heart.
1. Bunny Chow
It is a very popular dish in South Africa and every local person loves it. It is not only a well-known street snack but also one of the original foods of South Africa. A mixture of bread and curry, this dish originated in the Durban Indian community and has made its way to many parts of South Africa, is known as bunni and can be found in some Indian restaurants in Cape Town.
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2. swallow
This street food is also known as wetkoek which is one of the famous street foods of South Africa. You can easily spot a vetkoek stall as it is on almost every street corner. There are many options through which you can choose your favorite amagwinya.
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3. Walkie Talkies
The name Walkie Talkie refers to the chicken heads and chicken feet which South Africans consider a very tasty street delicacy. It comes in two forms i.e. boiled or breaded where both are fried and cooked very well. This dish may not seem that tasty but once you eat it, you will not be able to stop yourself.
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4. Johnny’s Bread
Popularly known as Durban street food snack, this street snack is loved by the locals and teenagers. This delicious dish of mutton curry and cheese is a local hangover dish. Although this one location i.e. Johnny’s Roti has limited branches but it is in popular places like Durban and Mowbray.
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5. Smiley
This dish is of sheep’s head but once you eat that juicy meat you will love this strange looking dish. During apartheid, butchers would get prime or prime meat and residents would have to settle for the heads of animals. In this way the residents came up with smileys. The sheep’s head is boiled and the fur is removed using metal rods. The meat is really tender and people eat it with bare hands. There are lots of stalls in South Africa but you won’t find these on Western menus.
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6. Farmer’s Sausage
A popular food in South Africa and it originated not only in South Africa but also in Zimbabwe. To qualify as boerewors the dish must contain at least 90% meat. It is also thicker than sausage and is believed to be derived from a type of sausage made south of the River Ardour in France. It is made from beef mince and also has coriander, cloves and nutmeg added to it.
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7. Biltong
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It is considered a staple food in South Africa and originated in Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. Salted dried piece of beef or kudu but can sometimes also be of ostrich or rhinoceros. The name is derived from the Dutch language where ‘bil’ means rump and ‘tong’ means tongue. If you eat it, it will taste like coriander, vinegar, black pepper and raw meat. Many stalls also sell soups and stews along with biltong.
8. quota
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This dish is like a type of bunny chow or a cousin of bunny. This is a blue collar basic. This staple of petrol stations is a quarter loaf of bread topped with hot chips. They also have Vienna and Polony topped with tomato sauce. This street food is not that familiar but everyone should eat it as it is a part of street food cuisine.
9. Bori Rolls
This is another great street food that is delicious and filling. It’s a type of hot dog but it just looks like one. This roll is a white bread topped with sausage, tomato sauce and fried onions. This staple South African food is best enjoyed on a lovely evening out with family or friends.
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All you die-hard food lovers out there, if you fancy a South African holiday then don’t miss out on these delicious street dishes. While you are planning to taste these dishes, you can also book one of these Africa Vacation Packages with TourTravelHotels,
FAQs about South African street food
What is the most famous South African street food in the world?
Many products from South Africa are very popular in the world. Especially street food items are very popular. Some of them are bunny chow, walkie talkie, johnny’s roti, smiley, boerewors, biltong and many others.
What are some dishes of Indian origin that are popular in South Africa?
South Africa is greatly influenced by Indian cuisine. That’s why a lot of the street food dishes out there are Indian. Some of them are Bunny Chow, Johnny’s Roti, Kota, and many more.
Where can you find the famous street food in South Africa?
You will find street food items in many parts of South Africa. But some of the most popular places which are famous for street food dishes are the streets of Durban, Mowbray, South Africa and many more.
Where can you find Johnny’s Bread in South Africa?
Johnny’s Roti is a popular South African dish largely influenced by Indian cuisine. It can be found in places like Durban.
What are some South African street food items that are quite strange?
South Africans enjoy some very unusual foods. Some of them are smiley, biltong, boerewors and many more.
When is the right time to visit South Africa?
South Africa has wonderful weather all year round. But the best time to go there is between May to October. You will be able to visit this place quite comfortably.
How many days are enough to visit South Africa?
You can tour all of South Africa in twelve days. If you do not have much time then you can cover that place even in eight days.
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