Pre-1600s
Khoisan and Bantu foundations
Sorghum, millet, wild game and foraged plants form the earliest indigenous food traditions of the region.
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Cuisine book · 4 cities · 8 dishes
South Africa
Braai fire, Cape Malay spice and Zulu tradition on one table
South African food layers Dutch, Malay, British, Indian and indigenous African traditions into one of the continent's most varied cuisines, with the open-fire braai as its great unifying ritual.
History
Where it all comes from
1652 onward
Dutch settlement and Cape Malay cooking
Dutch colonists and enslaved people brought from Southeast Asia and Madagascar bring spice-heavy Cape Malay cooking, including bobotie and koeksisters.
1860s onward
Indian indenture in Natal
Indian indentured labourers brought to work Natal's sugar plantations bring curry traditions that produce Durban's bunny chow.
20th century
Braai as national ritual
Open-fire grilling becomes a cross-cultural social tradition uniting communities across South Africa's political divisions.
Today
Post-apartheid food renaissance
Cape Town's wine-and-food scene and a wave of chefs reviving indigenous ingredients have put South African cuisine on the global stage.
Jump to a city
City 1 of 4
Cape Town
Home to Cape Malay spice cooking and the Winelands.
Bobotie
Cape Malay tradition, 17th–18th century
Spiced minced meat baked under a savoury egg custard, often studded with dried fruit and served with yellow rice.
Koeksisters
Cape Malay dessert tradition
Twisted, deep-fried dough soaked in cold sugar syrup, a signature Cape sweet treat.
City 2 of 4
Durban
Indian Ocean city with a deep South Asian culinary influence.
Bunny chow
Indian indenture community, early 1900s
A hollowed loaf of bread filled with curry, invented by Durban's Indian workers as a portable meal.
Durban curry
Indian-influenced tradition
Fiery, deeply spiced curries reflecting Natal's long-standing Indian community.
City 3 of 4
Johannesburg
Economic hub with a strong braai and street-food culture.
Boerewors
Afrikaner tradition
A coiled, spiced sausage grilled over an open fire, the centrepiece of any South African braai.
Bunny chow street stalls
Urban street food
Johannesburg's own take on the Durban classic, sold from informal food stalls across the city.
City 4 of 4
Soweto
Historic township with beloved comfort-food traditions.
Pap and chakalaka
Township staple
Maize porridge served with a spicy vegetable relish, a foundational combination across South African townships.
Kota
Soweto street food, 20th century
A hollowed quarter loaf stuffed with fries, cheese, polony and atchar, a beloved township snack.
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