Johannesburg

Johannesburg is known as the “City of Gold” and is also a city filled with gastronomic delights, from fast food to exquisite fine dining options the city has a lot to offer. The hunting farms and game reserves in Johannesburg lead visitors the great outdoor adventures, foodies will rejoice in this city as well with exotic wildlife cuisine like crocodile, eland, waterbuck, wildebeest, ostrich, zebra, and giraffe, beer gardens aplenty, and mouthwatering meats cooked on a braai (barbecue). Exploring the dynamic restaurant scene in Jo is a fun way to explore the entire city, loaded with gorgeous scenery, and delicious South African, local, international, and traditional cuisine.

Must Savor Specialties: Pap (softly cooked maize-meal, the main staple in South Africa, especially Johannesburg), Braai (a barbecue in South Africa, grilled meats), Boerewors (national sausage of South Africa with coriander spiced coarsely ground beef and pork), umngquesho (slow-cooked sugar beans with samp), melktert (cinnamon-spiced custard tart), bunny chow or Kota, Bobotie (a dish with made with layers of meat and spices like curry, turmeric, garlic, and onions topped with egg and milk), Biltong (meat cuts soaked in a brine and hung) and Droewors (dried sausage, ground mince, and mutton fat), Potjiekos (food made in a pot, layers of vegetables on top of meat with sauce), umleqwa (a Xhosa-style chicken stew), pap (boiled cornmeal with a mashed potato consistency), samosa (savory, triangular pastry).

Durban

Dining in the seaside paradise of Durban is a real treat, the city is home to the largest Indian community and the cuisine here is largely influenced by Indian culture, with curry being its specialty. The city is renowned for its diverse food and sophisticated culinary experience. Snack on some “bunny chow” the city’s signature hollowed-out white bread filled with curry, dine on some of the freshest fish and seafood in the beachfront restaurants, and tantalize your taste buds with spicy curry in a casual curry den.

Must Savor Specialties: Bunny Chow (originated in Durban, hollowed-out bread filled with Indian curry), Mogodu (traditional spicy dish), Pap (sheep’s head), Slap Chili Chips (french fries with vinegar, chili powder, and salt), Samosa (Indian appetizer, crispy triangular-shaped pastries stuffed with spicy minced blend of onions, chilis, and either lamb, fish, potato, or veggies), sardines on toast, Shisa Nyama (tender, hot, flavorful meat cooked on the barbecue), Cape Malay curry, Malva pudding, afternoon tea (tiered decks filled with scones, tiny, cakes and finger sandwiches accompanied by British Tea).

Knysna

Knysna is a small town set in the heart of the Garden Route, famous for its stunning lagoon setting, and its oysters. The town is a magnet for foodies from all over the world especially during the Knysna Oyster Festival, which is held the last week of June or the first week of July for 10 days, during peak oyster season. The small peaceful town is filled with lovely restaurants and wonderful cuisine, many establishments are located along the waterfront serving delicious fresh seafood and fish. There are a variety of eateries to choose from in Knysna including cute coffee spots serving delicious fresh coffee, bread, and pastries, some feature lovely quiet gardens to sit and relax in. Knysna boasts a wide variety of cuisine including Mediterranean, Italian, South African, seafood, steaks, and more.

Must Savor Specialties: Oysters (with hot sauce and lemon juice), Lobster, Fish, Seafood, Koeksister (sweet snack twisted and plaited dough, deep-fried then coated in honey or syrup), Bobotie (spiced minced meat with medium curry heat, turmeric, garlic, onions, lemon zest, salt, and pepper, then topped with egg and milk and baked), Boerewors (traditional South African sausage with a mixture of spices cooked on a braai), Malva pudding (sweet, sticky baked sponge pudding made with apricot jam, covered in a hot cream sauce), Chakalaka (a vegetable dish made with onions, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, beans, and spices), Pap (similar to grits), Melktert (pastry filled with milk, eggs, and sugar and thickened with flour then dusted with cinnamon).

Cape Town

Cape Town is part of the gorgeous Garden Route which stretches for miles along the coast to Constantia, then Port Elizabeth. This region is also part of South Africa’s Cape Winelands, the longest wine route in the world, picturesque wine-making towns such as Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, and Paarl can be visited for wine tasting and tours, these are some of the oldest and most beautiful wine estates in the country. These destinations also feature some of the best gastronomic cuisines in the country, with Franschhoek considered to be the gourmet capital of the Cape Winelands, with several fantastic restaurants serving delicious traditional Cape fare and French Haute cuisine.

Cape Town, “Mother City” itself caters to every taste and budget with one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan dining options anywhere in the country, from fine dining to street food, and rooftop dining options with sensational views, the city has it all. Cape Town is the foodie capital of South Africa, its rich cultural heritage shows through its award-winning cuisine and wines. The cuisine here is strongly influenced by its deep Dutch East Indies and British influences.

Must Savor Specialties: South African braai (barbecue), wild game meat, seafood, Japanese sushi, fish and chips, boerewors, Gatsby (a foot-long loaf of bread stuffed with french fries, meat; steak, fish, calamari, eggs, salad, and sauces), Bobotie (Cape Malay dish of curried meat, raisin, and creamy egg topping), Malva pudding (sponge cake with apricot jam covered in a cream sauce and topped with ice cream or custard), South African Wine.