Top 5 Must-Try South African Street Foods for First-Time Visitors

First-time visitors to South Africa should skip fancy restaurants to discover authentic local culture through street food. These five street specialties showcase the Rainbow Nation’s diverse flavours and culinary traditions.

Bunny chow is a Durban street food featuring spicy curry chicken, lamb, or veggie stuffed in hollowed-out bread. Created by the Indian community, it’s best eaten hands-on from street vendors in Durban or Cape Town.

Vetkoek (meaning “fat cake”) offers crispy deep-fried dough balls stuffed with minced meat, cheese, or jam. Find them at street stalls nationwide – perfect with rooibos tea.

Boerewors rolls serve spiced beef sausage (boerewors) coiled in bread with onions, chutney and tomato sauce. This South African take on hot dogs dominates markets and street corners.

Sosaties deliver skewered meat marinated in sweet-tangy apricot sauce. As Cape Malay classics, they shine at braais and street stalls across the country.

Gatsby, a Cape Town icon, packs a foot-long sub with chips, fish or steak plus peri-peri sauce. Large enough to share, it’s best experienced at Cape Flats takeaways.

Ready to eat like a local? Explore these street food gems for an authentic taste of South Africa.