There’s plenty to fascinate about Tanzania; from its enthralling wildlife scenes (and we’re not just looking at the Serengeti) to its rich and diverse cultures. However, one thing we don’t talk about enough is the food in Tanzania! If you’ve ever wondered about the country’s unique dishes and delicacies, now’s your chance to read all about them, morsel by morsel.
Influences on food in Tanzania
Tanzania’s position in East Africa has always placed it firmly along significant trade routes, connecting it to the ancient Arab world, India, and beyond, which left an indelible mark on its traditional foods. Being near the equator with abundant rain and sunshine also produces very fertile lands, resulting in year-round growing seasons for crops like maize and rice, bananas and coconuts, and a collection of flavoursome spices (its islands are famous for them!). And you’ll find these ingredients in most of Tanzania’s traditional food.
Tanzania has over 100 distinct tribes, each with their own traditional foods, many of which are influenced by their geography – tribes near lakes eat a lot of fresh fish while those in the highlands feature beef in their diets. Food in Tanzania varies across regions, but there are some stand-out staples that form the backbone of the country’s cuisine.
Popular food in Tanzania
Sharing similarities with the cuisine of the rest of East Africa, there are a number of dishes that are synonymous with Tanzania’s food culture and worth sampling when you visit.
- Ugali: a stiff porridge (it resembles polenta) made from maize flour and water, Ugali is one of the most common dishes served in Tanzania. It is often eaten with your hands and used to scoop up stews and sauces.
- Nyama Choma: influenced by Portuguese-style barbecue techniques, Nyama Choma is very popular at social gatherings. Beef, chicken, or goat is marinated in a medley of onions, salt, garlic, ginger, and lime juice, then grilled over an open flame and served alongside ugali or thick-cut fries.
- Pilau (or pilaf): originating in Persia and still enjoyed widely across India, Pilau is often served on special occasions. It is a flavoursome rice dish prepared with garlic, onions, and a variety of spices including cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom, served with your choice of meat or potatoes.
- Chapati: very similar to the Indian food of the same name, Chapati is a type of unleavened bread fried in a skillet, resulting in a soft and flaky centre, and crispy exterior. It is most often served as an accompaniment to meat or vegetable stews, but can aslo be enjoyed as a savoury breakfast option.
- Fish is a significant part of Tanzanian cuisine in coastal and lake regions, making this a staple for many. It is either grilled, fried, or cooked in a curry and served with white rice, with fish in coconut sauce being one of the most popular dishes. Tilapia and Nile perch are the most common fish used in these dishes.
- Ndizi Nyama (or Ndizi Samaki): Tanzania produces an abundance of bananas, which you’ll have the chance to enjoy in myriad ways including fried plantains, roasted green bananas, banana soup (a breakfast time classic), and banana beer. One of the tastiest dishes using cooked bananas is Ndizi Nyama, a traditional food of the Chagga tribe who reside at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro – make sure you try it out if you’re spending time in Arusha! It is prepared with green bananas, which are combined with meat or fish in a stew of coconut milk, and once boiled, tastes similar to starchy potatoes.
Vegetarian dishes
A large portion of Tanzania foods are (or can be) completely vegetarian, which comes in very handy if you have dietary restrictions.
- Mchicha: a traditional vegetable dish prepared with amaranth leaves or spinach, tomatoes, onions, and coconut milk, Mchicha is a delectable concoction that can be enjoyed on its own or as a side dish.
- Wali na Maharage: it may sound exceedingly exotic but Wali na Maharage is actually a simple dish of rice and beans (red, kidney, soya or black-eyed peas), prepared with a delicious blend of coconut milk, onions and spices.
- Kachumbari: most commonly made up of tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions, this classic Tanzanian salad is refreshing and tasty. The ingredients are often sliced as thinly as possible to show off the chef’s knife skills – the cucumber is practically see-through!
- Fruit salad: bursting with tropical flavour, a fruit salad in Tanzania often includes fresh, sunset-orange papaya, banana and pineapple, and more unexpected ingredients like cucumber and carrots, which add a rather pleasant crunch.
- Makande: a traditional dish, specifically for the tribes of the Ngorongoro area, Makande is made with the two most popular crops grown here; beans and corn, combined in a thick soup. It’s especially delicious during harvest time when the kernels are sweet and soft.
What’s for breakfast?
While toast is a common part of breakfast in many households, there are some fantastic local options to try out.
- Mandazi: most often enjoyed as a snack or breakfast item, Mandazi is a type of fried bread – similar to doughnuts but far less decadent. Depending on the chef, they could be flavoured with cardamom or coconut milk and served with very sweet tea.
- Vitumbua: fried in specialist pans over an open flame or in charcoal stoves, Vitumbua are balls of rice with a crispy exterior and gooey, rice pudding-like middle.
Tanzania street food
In Tanzania’s main hubs, entire streets are often shut down in the evenings to become open-air eateries, where you can enjoy a taste of the country’s street food.
- Mishkaki: these delicious skewers (most often made with beef) are marinated in garlic and ginger and served with chili sauce. Enjoy snacking on one of these as you watch the hustle and bustle of Dar es Salaam pass by.
- Chips Mayai: Tanzania’s very popular ‘fast food’, you can watch as this omelet of eggs and chips is prepared before your eyes.
Stone Town
There are a number of food markets, hole-in-the-wall spots, and streetside stalls throughout Stone Town and getting a taste of the local cuisine is a fantastic way of getting to know the island.
- Zanzibar pizza: a must-have in Zanzibar, this ‘pizza’ is closer to a stuffed pancake filled with meat, seafood or vegetables, and sometimes sweet ingredients for a dessert version.
- Roving coconuts: look out for carts laden with young coconuts moving through the streets of Stone Town. Once you pick out your coconut, they’ll lop it open with a machete, ready for you to snack on.
- Urojo: prepared with a tangy chicken stock base, Urojo is a steaming medley of potato, fried cassava chips, thinly sliced red onions, kachori and a hard-boiled egg. You’ll find some popular stalls serving Urojo in local food markets – just look out for the longest lines!
- Kachori: these delicious, deep-fried balls of mashed potato are spiced with chili, lime and ginger and, stuffed into a chapati with some shredded carrot and cabbage, it makes a very quick and easy lunch on the go.
Tanzania’s iconic beans
And how could we forget Tanzania’s heavenly Arabica coffee? Thanks once again to its geography, climate and soil conditions, Tanzania has one of the most coveted check-lists for coffee growing and it’s now among the country’s largest exports. As many can attest to, there’s nothing better than waking before sunset for a morning safari and being brought back to life by a steaming cup of locally-grown coffee.
Food customs in Tanzania
Eating is considered to be a very social activity in Tanzania but it is generally seen as unacceptable to eat while walking down the street or in a vehicle. Rather, it’s expected that you sit down and eat, even if it’s at an outdoor spot. This is especially relevant in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar during the fasting period of Ramadan (usually between May and June).
Top places to try Tanzania’s traditional food
Arusha
One of the most popular places to go for a feast of local Tanzanian food is Khan’s Barbecue. An auto body shop by day, Khan’s transforms into a vibey eatery at night with long grills laid with whole chickens and fresh chips sizzling. Also, give the spicy carrot salad a try and wash it down with a glass of pressed sugarcane juice.
Not far from the airport, the Tembo Club is a laidback spot to enjoy some of Arusha’s finest grilled bites including mbuzi mguu (goat leg), kuku mzima (whole chicken) and mbuzi mbavu (goat ribs), served with ugali and vegetables. Team it up with a Kilimanjaro beer and you have a classic Tanzanian dinner.
Burka Coffee Lounge offers a mix of international and locally-inspired dishes, which you can enjoy over views of Mount Meru. And their lovely staff provide the warmest of welcomes to Arusha.
Dar es Salaam
Situated in the slick Hyatt hotel, The Palm Restaurant serves an array of cuisine (seafood features heavily, of course) including some fantastic, authentic Tanzanian dishes. Enjoy the likes of Kuku Makange (spicy chicken), Samaki Wa Kupaka (fish served in coconut and tomato gravy), Kuku Wa Kukaanga (Swahili fried chicken and kachumbari) and chicken and beef mishkaki.
From its clifftop perch, Karambezi Cafe’ enjoys 180-degree views of the Indian Ocean, which you can enjoy from the wide open deck. The menu is varied and includes dishes to suit all palettes but includes tasty local dishes too. Enjoy the BBQ beef mishkaki served with fried plantain and kachumbari salad or the Zanzibar tray – crispy fried coconut shrimp and peri peri, garlic and ginger chicken mishkaki.
Zanzibar
This is, by far, one of the best places to really get a taste of Tanzania’s food culture with a whole host of restaurants and eateries to choose from.
One of the most unique is The Rock, which quite literally sits on a giant rock just off the south-east coast of Zanzibar. Their menu is entirely wrapped up in its location; much of the seafood is harvested from surrounding reefs and spices from the iconic farms of Zanzibar, offering a local twist on recognisable dishes. Booking ahead is a must!
Sitting in the heart of Stone Town, the Ma Shaa Allah Cafe serves a tasty lunch menu to enjoy in between sightseeing. Tuck into a buffet of African and Indian flavours like their much-loved barbecued lamb, washed down with a glass of lassi.
Our favourite lodges serving local cuisine
So, what about meals when you’re on safari? While the menu differs from lodge to lodge, most offer a variety of dishes that span global cuisine to local flavours, often staying true to the traditional foods of Tanzania. Either in the form of a buffet or a la carte menu, you can have your pick of dishes. If you love nothing more than getting to know a country through your tastebuds, then we’ve got a fantastic selection of lodges that showcase Tanzania’s local produce and delicacies.
Gibb’s Farm
As you might have guessed, Gibb’s Farm has extensive gardens from which they harvest fresh, organic ingredients for your meals including the coffee beans in your cup each morning. They offer a range of dishes at their beautifully appointed restaurant including locally-inspired cuisine like the pan-fried red snapper fillet and grilled chicken kebab marinated in lemon with marjoram, okra and spicy capsicum.
Kisiwa Hotel
The dining at Kisiwa Hotel taps into the rich culinary heritage of Zanzibar, which can be enjoyed amidst the amber glow of its Darini restaurant or on the terrace with views of the lapping ocean and the iconic rooftops of Stone Town. Tuck into the freshest of seafood, expertly spiced dishes and puddings prepared with the island’s exotic fruits.
Rivertrees Country Inn
Set in sprawling gardens with views of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro, Rivertrees Country Inn has a lovely, homely feel from the moment you arrive. Their restaurant serves dishes inspired by tried-and-true family favourites (the wood-fired pizzas are seriously delicious) but if you’re looking to try out some of the local flavours, take your pick from their Heritage menu. We’re talking Zanzibari fresh coconut and vegetable curry, marinated whole tilapia served with ugali, and chicken curry served with coconut rice. Rivertrees prides themselves on using the freshest ingredients, many of which are picked daily from its garden.
Singita Faru Faru Lodge
Working closely with local farmers to use the freshest produce from potatoes to passion fruit, Singita is known for its fabulous dining experience. The food at Faru Faru Lodge reflects a sense of ‘barefoot elegance’ inspired by the flavours of Zanzibar including scrumptious seafood and lip-smacking spices.
Zuri Zanzibar
Occupying a particularly striking stretch of sand in northern Zanzibar, Zuri employs both the fruits of the sea, the spices of the island and the influences of African, Arabic and Indian cuisine at its four restaurants. Enjoy a fusion of Southern European and Indian Ocean dishes at the poolside restaurant – reserve a mouthwatering set menu curated by the chef just for you – or enjoy live cooking shows at the Main Restaurant.
Onsea House
Helmed by chef Axel Janssens, Onsea House Restaurant serves a menu that fuses delicious French cuisine with creative African flavours, which he has spent a decade discovering across every corner of Tanzania. Every day, the team produces a new menu inspired by seasonal specialties – stand-out dishes include the red snapper fillet with young vegetables and grilled Swahili Style calamari. Everything is prepared with the freshest, local ingredients homemade, right down to the ice cream.
Baraza Resort & Spa
A part of the auspicious Zanzibar Collection, Baraza Resort boasts an ever-changing menu of dishes that fuse the culinary cultures of Africa, Asia, India and Persia. For an especially memorable evening, head to the Sultan’s Dining Room, where you’ll be taken on a journey through time and taste in an elegant setting.
Emerson Zanzibar
Emerson’s hotels have a number of dining options where you can partake in delicious Zanzibari cuisine, whilst taking in the delightful ambiance. At Emerson on Hurumzi’s rooftop Tea House Restaurant, begin your evening with sundowners before enjoying an authentic meal, accompanied by traditional Taarab musicians; and at Emerson Spice, dine on some of the finest seafood in the city where Sultans once did the same – be sure to try the coconut chili king fish baked in banana leaves.
From the fruits of the sea to the spices of the island, Tanzania has a mouth-watering selection of dishes to try. Whether it’s beneath the tent flaps on safari or in a restaurant in Stone Town, you’ll be wanting the recipe for a fair few of these delicacies. If your hands are already reaching for your passport, begin planning your tasty trip to Tanzania now.
