South African street food culture is a diverse and flavorful fusion of traditional African, colonial, and immigrant cuisine. Street food vendors, known as “spaza shops”, can be found in bustling urban centres, busy marketplaces, and along busy highways, offering a wide range of snacks and meals to go.
Some popular street foods in South Africa include:
- Bunny chow: a Durban speciality, this dish consists of a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with a spicy curry.
- Pap and wors: a staple dish made from maize meal (pap) and spicy sausage (wors).
- Boerewors rolls: a grilled sausage wrapped in a soft roll often served with a spicy tomato sauce.
- Stokvel snacks: small bites typically served at community gatherings, such as samosas, vetkoek (deep-fried bread dough), and sosaties (spicy kebabs).
- Biltong: a dried and cured meat snack, similar to jerky, made from beef or game meat.
Street food in South Africa is not only a source of affordable and delicious meals, but also an important part of the country’s cultural heritage. It reflects the diverse influences and tastes of the South African people and provides a glimpse into the country’s rich and flavorful culinary history