Best of Johannesburg
Where locals eat in Johannesburg
Start with Dosa Hut in Fordsburg for masala dosa, Kota King Roadhouse in Protea Glen, Soweto for A loaded kota with Russian, cheese, egg and atchar and De Baba Eatery in Melville for almond croissant. Here are all 10, with what to get at each.
- Kota King RoadhouseProtea Glen, Soweto
Get: A loaded kota with Russian, cheese, egg and atchar
A Soweto spot known for big, loaded kotas.
- Amanda's Fast FoodNaturena, Soweto
Get: R14 starter kota with chips, polony, achaar and special sauce; a fully loaded one is R45
- Wandie's PlaceDube, Soweto
Get: The traditional buffet: dumplings, mogodu, ting, pap, umqushu and chakalaka
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What are the local restaurants in Johannesburg?
Chef Amazing’s picks start with Dosa Hut (Fordsburg), Kota King Roadhouse (Protea Glen, Soweto) and De Baba Eatery (Melville). All 10 places are on this page with what to get, where they are and a map.
What should I order?
At Dosa Hut, get masala dosa. At Kota King Roadhouse, get A loaded kota with Russian, cheese, egg and atchar. At De Baba Eatery, get almond croissant. At Akhalwaya's, get steak sandwiches, burgers and dagwoods; the samoosas.
Which neighborhood is best for local restaurants in Johannesburg?
Most of these are in Fordsburg. The map on this page shows every one, numbered like the list.
How does Chef Amazing pick these?
From Chef Amazing’s city guide and lists for Johannesburg: the places critics, chefs and locals keep recommending, checked and kept current, with what to order at each. Nobody pays to be on them.
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Local restaurants in other cities
Places change: check hours before you go. Pins come from addresses and OpenStreetMap and can be a little off. Updated October 25, 2026.