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Top 10s African restaurants
Ethiopian food eaten by hand with injera bread
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1Abysinia
Ethiopian cuisine offers gently aromatic berebere-spiced stews, ayeb cheese, tej honey-wine and injera flat breads. Go for the authentic atmosphere, and do not get up from the table without experiencing a traditional cardamom-infused coffee ceremony.
Corner Queens and Langerman streets, Kensington, Johannesburg, Gauteng. Mobile: +27 (0)72 918 8824.
2Zemara
Congolese cuisine at its finest. Expect palm-nut chicken, plantains and tilapia fish grilled to perfection. Zemara is favoured by African diplomats so dress to impress. The Sunday buffet is an excellent way to sample a range of west, central and east African specialities.
223 Schoeman Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, Gauteng. Mobile: +27 (0) 72 756 2057.
3A Palhota
Afro-Lusitanian fusion food originating in Maputo and Luanda. Reputed to be where the Mozambican ambassador eats on his days off. Mainstream Portuguese menu, but ask for the Mozambican specialties like coconut-milk fish curry, and the feijoada Moçambicana. Palhota, 59 Troye St, Johannesburg CBD. Tel: +27 (0)11 336 1156.
4Gramadoelas
Gramadoelas has been the home of cross-cultural South African culinary chic for over 30 years. The extensive buffet means you can try a bit of everything. Their Xhosa umngqusho (samp and bean stew) is legend.
Market Theatre Complex, Bree Street, Newtown, Johannesburg, Gauteng. Tel: +27 (0)11 838 6960.
5Ile Maurice
Mauritian-Creole cuisine. Try the rougaille de boeuf with tomato, ginger, chillies and coriander, or savour the octopus curry with its palate-spiking mazavaroo chilli paste.
9 McCausland Crescent, Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal. Tel: +27 (0)31 561 7609.
6Mzoli’s Place
This famous chisa-nyama barbeque joint sees diners choose their meat in the butchery section and send it to be sizzled and seared to perfection on the wood-fired grills outside. A classic township culinary experience.
Shop 3 NY115 & NY108, Gugulethu, Western Cape. Tel: +27 (0) 21 638 1355.
7Restaurant Ivorian
West African wonderful in a shabby chic space. Feast on bowls of fried plantain aloko, carp with roasted nya nya aubergines and mop it all up with yam bread.
8 Francis Street, Yeoville, Johannesburg, Gauteng Tel: +27 (0)11 487 0885, Mobile: +27 (0) 82 743 6537.
8Addis in Cape
Accessible interpretations of Ethiopian culinary classics complemented by Tej honey wine. Meat eaters adore the doro wat chicken stew and vegetarians will be pleased to note that at least half the offerings are meat free.
41 Church Street, Cape Town CBD, Western Cape. Tel +27 (0) 21 424 5722.
9Kin Malebo
Despite the relatively insalubrious suburb, Kin Malebo offers Congolese culinary classics like egussi mbika beef, palm oil and courgette seed stews, or red fish on a spinach and peanut mélange, with fufu cassava pap or chikwanga breads to mop up the sauce. Choose to stay for, or escape, the loud kwasa kwasa music on weekends.
31 Raleigh Street, Yeoville, Johannesburg. Mobile: +27 (0)82 707 2888
10Homebaze
Homebaze offers a small selection of Ghanaian and Nigerian staples like fufu, gari foto, isi-ewu, and jollof rice. The slow service doesn't deter West African immigrants hungry for home-cooked meals in Jo'burg.
Village Walk shopping centre, Rivonia Road, Sandton. Tel: +27 (0)11 783 0366
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