Given the quality of restaurants in South Africa, it seems odd that there aren’t too many places you can enjoy South African food in the US. It would take less time to fly to South Africa and dine there, than to find a little nook where you can enjoy some bobotie washed down with a Peaock Ridge Merlot.
Perhaps it’s because South African food is hard to define, unlike Ethiopian or Moroccan. South African food is really a mixed bag of world cuisines reflecting the country’s history. You’ve got a fusion of French, Portuguese, Dutch, Malaysian, Zulu, Xhosa and German influences all blending in harmony on a single plate.
Here’s a list of South African Restaurants in the US:
- Braai in New York. We’re regulars here, it’s a nice restaurant, the menu is decent and the wine list is extensive. Our favorite dish is the ostrich.
- Madiba Restaurant in Brooklyn NY, offers traditional South African food, in a relaxed setting. It has a slightly more elaborate menu than Braai, but the food can be a bit inconsistent. Their grocery shop is a bonus though.
- Shebeen in Charlotsville, VA offers all the goodies and more: boerewors, sosaties, sadza cakes, and peri-peri shrimp along with an excellent selection of wine.
- 10 Degrees South in Atlanta is a small, contemporary restaurant serving fun and inventive South African cuisine including bobotie spring rolls as an appetizer.
There used to be a South African vegetarian restaurant in San Francisco, it unfortunately closed down. Instead, you can always enjoy eating some delicious dishes at Bar Bambino, prepared by executive chef Madiba Restaurant who originally hails from Durban. And if you’re planning a party and need a little South African catering, On Safari Foods does a fabulous job in the Seattle area.
South African Food Stores in the US:
If you’d like to try some of the recipes we’ll be featuring on this blog, or just miss a taste of home, you can stock up here …
Of course, nothing really beats actually being in South Africa and eating there. If you haven’t entered our contest to win a gourmet safari for two, click here and do so now!
