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What to eat in South Africa

The 10 best dishes in South Africa

The braai, Cape Malay spice and a dozen cuisines in one country.

1A photo like it

Braai

Eaten all over South Africa

A wood-fire barbecue of boerewors, lamb chops and sosaties with pap.

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2

Bobotie

Best: Cape Town

Curried minced meat baked under an egg custard, with yellow rice and chutney.

Cook itWhere to eat itWikipedia

3

Bunny chow

Best: Durban

A hollowed half loaf filled with fiery Durban curry.

Cook itWhere to eat itWikipedia

4

Biltong

Eaten all over South Africa

Air-dried spiced beef, sliced and eaten as a snack.

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5

Boerewors

Eaten all over South Africa

A coiled farmer's sausage spiced with coriander, grilled on the braai.

Cook itWhere to eat itWikipedia

6

Bredie

Best: Cape Town

Lamb stew with tomato or waterblommetjies.

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7

Potjiekos

Eaten all over South Africa

Meat and vegetables layered in a three-legged iron pot over coals.

Cook itWhere to eat itWikipedia

8

Chakalaka

Best: Johannesburg

Spicy relish of beans, peppers and carrot, with pap.

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9

Koeksisters

Eaten all over South Africa

Braided fried dough soaked in cold syrup.

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10

Malva pudding

Eaten all over South Africa

A sticky apricot sponge pudding with custard.

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Photos: each dish's lead photo on its Wikipedia article (license and author on Wikimedia Commons); "a photo like it" is a food photo of the same kind, not that dish. Cook it opens a recipe in Chef Amazing, or Chef writes one for you. Picked by Chef Amazing, November 2026.