South African Food: 25 Best Traditional South African Dishes

Have you ever tried South African cuisine?

Traditional South African food is as diverse as South Africans themselves. The different influences created an incredible fusion where even the simplest dishes receive a tasty South African twist.

In this article, I‘ve collected the 25 traditional South African dishes that made me lick my fingers more than once. From the lip-smacking breakfasts to the national dish, and from the healthy salads to the creative desserts, let’s discover the most scrumptious South African food.

Get your napkin and let’s dive right in!

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25 Scrumptious Traditional South African Food Classics

South African food experienced many transformations from the Age of Discovery until today.

The Portuguese arrived in the 15^th century. About 200 years later, the Dutch followed and brought their typical recipes to the southern parts of Africa. Both nations mixed their cooking with the local African dishes.

Later, the Malaysian and Indian cuisines of the Asian slaves added to the fusion. Last but not least, a pinch of French, Belgian, and German influences were stirred in the pot. This made a unique and colorful combination of recipes and flavors from three continents.

So, what does a typical South African menu look like nowadays?

Breakfasts Made in South Africa

Start your day with a hearty South African breakfast. It’ll prepare you for the adventures ahead.

1. Vetkoek: A deep-fried bread, which, as the name suggests, is a legacy of the Dutch. Despite being deep-fried, it’s not heavy or soaking in fat. Add ham & cheese or jams to the fried scrumptiousness and start your day with an explosion of flavors.
2. Eggs: Thanks to the British influence, South African breakfast includes a combination of eggs, bacon, ham, cheese, etc. I’m not sure what the South African hens are fed with, but their eggs are extremely delicious.
3. Fruit salad: With or without yogurt, it’s a must at every breakfast table. Everything is locally grown, except for kiwis. Don’t even think of starting your day of exploration before eating a vitamin bomb made in South Africa.

Mouth-Watering South African Dishes

When traveling around the country, try at least one new traditional South African food classic every day. Well, if you have an insatiable appetite for new dishes like me, only one won’t be enough. Thankfully, there are a ton of delectable South African dishes to choose from:

4. Oysters: The slippery mollusks are a great delicacy and an aphrodisiac. The best place to try them fresh is the town of Knysna on the Garden Route.
5. Fried mopane worms: I’ll confess that I didn’t try the colorful caterpillars despite wanting to. Sautéed in butter and served with a traditional tomato gravy, they sounded incredibly delicious.
6. Ostrich salad: Marinated ostrich slivers, cubed cheese, peppers, avocado, cucumber, nut crackle, and baby spinach leaves with a honey and mustard dressing. Doesn’t this sound lip-smacking? There are variations with other meats on the menu, such as Chicken salad, but the low-fat ostrich meat is the highlight.
7. Ostrich or springbok carpaccio: The thin slices of raw meat are a mouth-watering Italian starter, but South Africans use springbok and ostrich meats to make a perfect dish taste even better.
8. Fresh fish grilled or deep-fried: The “catch of the day” is a must-try if you find yourself near the Atlantic or Indian Ocean coasts. Hake, cod, or snoek, it doesn’t matter – it all tastes remarkably delightful.
9. Tiger prawns: South Africa’s seacoast boasts some of the richest fishing grounds in the world. This includes the huge tiger prawns, as well as queen prawns and shrimps. Who can say no to fresh prawns?

10. Calamari steaks: Forget about calamari rings or tubes, the calamari steaks are the most tender and delightful part of the calamari. And South Africans know how to seduce your palate!
11. Seafood platter: Fish and prawns, as well as calamari rings, tubes, or steaks, and a combination of dips, sauces, and relishes. If you’re a seafood lover, that’s the one South African food classic you shouldn’t miss!
12. Mussels: Prepared in cream and garlic sauce, fresh sea mussels are served in most restaurants as appetizers, but the portions are large enough to satisfy your hunger for at least a few hours.
13. Braai: South African-style grilled meat. For meat lovers, this is the definition of paradise. Steaks, sausages (Boerewors), skewers, kebabs, spareribs, and even fish and lobster are perfectly grilled. Braai is not only about the food, it is also a social event with friends and family.
14. Crumbed chicken: Chicken pieces in breadcrumbs, deep-fried to make a crunchy deliciousness. Simply irresistible!
15. Karoo lamb stew: According to South Africans, Karoo lamb is the tastiest lamb meat in the world. The Karoo is the semi-desert and lambs are veld-raised in the wide-open spaces of the Karoo. For someone who loves lamb and has eaten countless dishes containing this meat, I was pleasantly surprised by how tender and scrumptious Karoo lamb was.

16. Klein Karoo venison potjie: Potjie is a dish prepared in a small pot outdoors. The Klein Karoo venison potjie is slowly cooked in a sweet dark beer jus with baby onions, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes.
17. Bobotie: This is South Africa’s national dish. It’s an unbelievably delicious mixture of minced meat and spices, baked with an egg topping. The vegetarian version contains lentils instead of minced meat and is similarly delectable.
18. Chicken pie: Roasted chicken delectably baked in a pastry. The comforting meal is perfect for any occasion.
19. Bunny chow: This South African curry dish is served inside a hollow loaf of bread. The recipe blends aromatic spices with hearty bread for a unique culinary experience. Fast food, made in South Africa.
20. Burgers: Beef, cheese, chicken, calamari, or ostrich, the choice is very hard, I promise you. Each bite bursts with juicy flavors, making decision-making even more challenging.
21. Chakalaka: A spicy vegetable relish, served alongside traditional South African dishes. It adds a vibrant kick to every bite and enhances every dining experience.
22. Biltong: Dried cured meat, usually beef. Other variations include chicken, fish, and game. We tried the kudu biltong and it was like pure bites of heaven! There’s also springbok, wildebeest, and ostrich biltong available.

Traditional South African Desserts to Die for

23. Malva pudding: A spongy caramelized pudding with a hot cream sauce poured over it. Don’t devour it too fast! Otherwise, you’ll burn your tongue on the sauce.
24. Double choco mud pudding: Bitter dark chocolate meets unsweetened cocoa powder in this dessert that will make you bite your lips. Ice cream and fresh fruits complete this deliciousness.
25. Frozen coconut yogurt: If you didn’t know you could make yogurt from coconuts, you’ve missed one of the healthiest and most refreshing desserts ever invented. Topped with fresh fruit, nuts, and honey, this South African dessert stole my heart.

South African Drinks You Don’t Want to Miss

We can’t talk about South African food and not mention South African drinks as well.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

• Ginger beer: Despite the name, it doesn’t contain alcohol. The spicy drink is incredibly refreshing and delicious. Some establishments even make their own, along with different styles of lemonades.
• Grape juice or grapetiser: South Africans don’t make all their grapes into delicious wines. They also produce non-alcoholic grape juices and grapetisers (sparkling grape juices).
• Fresh pressed juices and smoothies: South Africa grows all kinds of fresh fruits. This means you can find freshly squeezed juices and smoothies almost everywhere. Choose your own mix or follow the menu. Either way, you’ll end up with a cup of mouth-watering healthy deliciousness.

The World Renowned South African Wines

A visit to South Africa can’t be complete without at least one wine tasting, or even better – a wine tour. The country is well known for its world-renowned wines. A huge thank you goes to the French Huguenots, who brought the craft of winemaking from Europe.

For this reason, most vines grown in South Africa are of French sorts, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, and Shiraz.

The highlight of my wine-tasting experience was a wine pairing with chocolates crafted to complement each of the wines. It was an explosion of tastes and an experience like no other.

Craft Beers Made in South Africa

With more than 200 artisanal beer breweries and about 4 centuries of beer brewing history, there’s no wonder you can order craft beers in almost every establishment.

If you’re searching for your favorite craft beer, check out this extensive list of breweries.

Now You Know Which Traditional South African Dishes to Try

There you have it – the 25 most scrumptious South African food classics you should try!

You won’t be able to sample every single delicious and mouth-watering South African dish on the menu. So, I would suggest that you at least try the seafood, Biltong, Bobotie, and some of the South African desserts.

Add a craft beer to your order and take a bottle of South African wine as a souvenir, and you’ll get an idea of how heavenly scrumptious South African food is. So much so that it’s a great reason to visit the country!

Now, tell me:

Have you tried South African food? Which traditional South African dishes did you enjoy the most?

Let me know in the comment section below.