city Essentials · 10 foods
Cape Town Essentials
A considered first route through Cape Town: the foods that carry its everyday habits, celebrations, ingredients, and memory.
Explore all South Africa foods →THE
ESSENTIALS
The complete shortlist
10 foods to know.
Each selection includes the reason it belongs here—so this is a guide, not just a pile of names.
Cape Town, South Africa
Bobotie
Order it where the Bo-Kaap set the standard - spiced mince baked under egg custard.
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Malay Curry
Cape Maleier curry
The fragrant, fruit-laced curry style that defines Cape Malay home kitchens.
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Breyani (Biryani)
Breyani
Wedding-strength layered biryani with lentils and spices, a Bo-Kaap feast classic.
Cape Town, South Africa
Denningvleis
Sweet-sour tamarind lamb, the Cape's oldest recorded local recipe.
Cape Town, South Africa
Gatsby
A foot-long chip-loaded submarine sandwich built on the Cape Flats.
Cape Town, South Africa
Koesister (Cape Malay)
Koesister
Sunday-morning spiced, coconut-rolled cousin of the koeksister.
Cape Town, South Africa
Pickled Fish
Cape Malay fish in yellow turmeric pickle, eaten on Good Friday by tradition.
Cape Town, South Africa
Sosaties
Lamb-and-apricot kebabs whose marinade is pure Cape Malay pantry.
Cape Town, South Africa
Tomato Bredie
Tamatie bredie
Slow lamb-and-tomato stew, the most loved of all bredies.
Cape Town, South Africa
Salomie
A curry-and-chips roti wrap folded to be eaten standing up.