Street Food in Sub-Saharan Africa
Jun 5, 2014, 9:41 am
#1
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
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Street Food in Sub-Saharan Africa
Compliments of the season, FT
I'd like to know what you all think are the best cities in Sub-Saharan Africa for street food. Not necessarily in terms of quality - this is street food - but for variety and presence (that is, stalls can be found throughout the city, not just in a downtown/tourist area).
Based on previous travels, Johannesburg's offerings left much to be desired, Harare had nothing and Addis Ababa had more shoe polish than food.
Thanks for your input, particularly because your responses will help me in planning my next trip.
I'd like to know what you all think are the best cities in Sub-Saharan Africa for street food. Not necessarily in terms of quality - this is street food - but for variety and presence (that is, stalls can be found throughout the city, not just in a downtown/tourist area).
Based on previous travels, Johannesburg's offerings left much to be desired, Harare had nothing and Addis Ababa had more shoe polish than food.
Thanks for your input, particularly because your responses will help me in planning my next trip.
Oct 14, 2014, 6:41 pm
#4
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As we drove down from Nairobi to Cape Town - I can honestly say that street food was not something one goes to Africa for.
Unlike other parts of the world (MEast, Asia, etc...) - it just wasnt happening.
In general, there was more diversity in food, and in the supermarkets, and the prices also went down as one went south.
Beer on the other hand was plentiful. As was moonshine.
By Vic Falls, it was easy to enjoy a cool Savannah Dry or some Mainstay with coke.
Tusker in Kenya, Kili in Tanzania, Windhoek in Namibia
Unlike other parts of the world (MEast, Asia, etc...) - it just wasnt happening.
In general, there was more diversity in food, and in the supermarkets, and the prices also went down as one went south.
Beer on the other hand was plentiful. As was moonshine.
By Vic Falls, it was easy to enjoy a cool Savannah Dry or some Mainstay with coke.
Tusker in Kenya, Kili in Tanzania, Windhoek in Namibia
Oct 15, 2014, 12:47 am
#5
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rankourabu's reply resonated with me,especially the first part. Ive been to 48 African countries. I don't go to Africa-for-non-Africans (safaris, Morocco, Sandton, beaches, Kilimanjaro...) Fruit and packaged "treats" are sometimes sold on streets and out of yards and near bush taxi rally points. But indulgences like Asian night markets arr not African. The exception would be around Ramadan and Iftar, but these are closed and family things in my experience.
Oct 15, 2014, 6:10 am
#6
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If you go off the beaten tourist path, you'll find the best food in people homes that double as "restaurants". I find that especially so in central and west Africa. For example, the porcupine in Cameroon is a very special delicacy when home cooked.
I'm a fan of street food in cities like Los Angeles, Salvador, and Bangkok, etc., but with a few exceptions, you just don't see it as much in Africa.
I'm a fan of street food in cities like Los Angeles, Salvador, and Bangkok, etc., but with a few exceptions, you just don't see it as much in Africa.
Oct 15, 2014, 1:14 pm
#8
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Yes and no. Along the coast, of which there's a lot in Africa, you can often find eats because of course you find some sort of tourism. Even in small towns along the coast I've found good food both on the Atlantic and Pacific sides.
Oct 16, 2014, 5:41 am
#9
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Pacific? I think you might mean Indian!
Originally Posted by stimpy
Yes and no. Along the coast, of which there's a lot in Africa, you can often find eats because of course you find some sort of tourism. Even in small towns along the coast I've found good food both on the Atlantic and Pacific sides.
Oct 16, 2014, 5:44 am
#10
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Oct 16, 2014, 7:05 am
#12
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I haven't ever seen street food in West Africa, though there are cheap informal stands selling cooked food in many markets.
The East and South do better:
The night market on Zanzibar has good grilled octopus.
You can sometimes get good snack type things like samosas at bus stations.
There used to be and possibly still is a really good shwarma stand outside the large supermarket in Lusaka, Zambia.
But the person who criticized South African street food must not have spent time around Durban. I love bunny chow (hollowed out bread, filled with some sort of curry.) A half veggie bunny is an excellent road meal.
The East and South do better:
The night market on Zanzibar has good grilled octopus.
You can sometimes get good snack type things like samosas at bus stations.
There used to be and possibly still is a really good shwarma stand outside the large supermarket in Lusaka, Zambia.
But the person who criticized South African street food must not have spent time around Durban. I love bunny chow (hollowed out bread, filled with some sort of curry.) A half veggie bunny is an excellent road meal.
Oct 16, 2014, 11:37 am
#13
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Just steer clear of the fruit bat.
Oct 20, 2014, 10:46 pm
#14
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
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I haven't ever seen street food in West Africa, though there are cheap informal stands selling cooked food in many markets.
The East and South do better:
The night market on Zanzibar has good grilled octopus.
You can sometimes get good snack type things like samosas at bus stations.
There used to be and possibly still is a really good shwarma stand outside the large supermarket in Lusaka, Zambia.
But the person who criticized South African street food must not have spent time around Durban. I love bunny chow (hollowed out bread, filled with some sort of curry.) A half veggie bunny is an excellent road meal.
The East and South do better:
The night market on Zanzibar has good grilled octopus.
You can sometimes get good snack type things like samosas at bus stations.
There used to be and possibly still is a really good shwarma stand outside the large supermarket in Lusaka, Zambia.
But the person who criticized South African street food must not have spent time around Durban. I love bunny chow (hollowed out bread, filled with some sort of curry.) A half veggie bunny is an excellent road meal.
Also, what was the octopus grilled with in Zanzibar?
Oct 21, 2014, 7:17 am
#15
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There are many choices, as the night market is quite big.
http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant...chipelago.html
As with all tourist things in Africa, its overpriced, but hey......
http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant...chipelago.html
As with all tourist things in Africa, its overpriced, but hey......