The African restaurants in Johannesburg weaves together various flavours from the West, North, and Southern parts of the continent. Africa is a melting pot of cuisine mainly influenced by landscape, colonisation, trade and tradition.

Whether it’s in the ingredients used, the dishes these ingredients appear in, or the choice of carbs that accompany each meal. Ethiopians love their flatbread, Somalis prefer rice, West Africans swear by their cassava, and here in South Africa we love our pap and homemade bread on the homefront.

Below is the running list of our favourite African restaurants in Johannesburg.

Yeoville Dinner Club

At this stage, Sanza Sandile’s Yeoville Dinner Club is an institution and the ultimate meeting spot if you’re looking to get a taste of the vibrant African food culture. The concept pop-up dinner event picked up steam in 2017 and continues to be one of the most important things to do in Johannesburg.

The former radio personality and eccentric chef connects different parts of Africa through an evening with curated food, conversation and music. The long table setup can host up to 18 diners and each visit and menu offering are entirely unique. Expect curries, fried sides, vegetarian dishes and some familiar favourites. After all, African dining is rooted in communal, jovial gatherings with a range of fragrant dishes to choose from. 

There are no walk-ins and advance booking for this immersive Pan-African dining occasion is essential.

When: Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm
Where: 24 Rockey St, Bellevue, Johannesburg

Email: [email protected] | Tel: 083 385 2707

Kings Kraal

At King’s Kraal, Chef Kudzai Bingepinge takes diners on a journey into the heart of Africa where time-honored recipes meet contemporary techniques to create a dining experience for the modern palate. Each dish is an exploration of the continent’s culinary landscape, blending age-old cooking traditions with fresh, bold ideas.

Signature dishes such as the Rooibos and marula glazed chicken wings and fynbos herb-infused oxtail reflect our approach—melding traditional ingredients with contemporary techniques to offer a sensory experience. The rest of the menu features creative starters, small plates, mains and desserts.

Interiors at Kings Kraal is contemporary glam with an intimate feel. Live music is on offer on most evenings.

When: Wednesday to Friday, 1pm to 2am. Saturday and Sunday, 1pm to 2am. Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Where: M71 &, Posthouse St, Bryanston, Sandton

Website: kingskraal.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 076 638 5504

+258 Taste of Mozambique

+258 Taste of Mozambique in Johannesburg brings a slice of the fiery Mozambican flavour to the city in their laid-back, beachy setting. Expect a lively mood with lots of colourful decor, and wooden tables to capture the country’s coastal dining.

When it comes to the food, the restaurant’s new Ghanaian chef whips up a mix of Mozambican and coastal African influences. You’ll find dishes like peri-peri chicken, grilled seafood (think prawns, calamari, and fish), and matapa (a traditional Mozambican dish made with cassava leaves and peanuts). Seafood is a standout and served super fresh and often cooked in that rich, smoky peri-peri sauce. The portions are generous, and many dishes come with sides like riz (fluffy rice), salad, and fried plantains.

When: Monday to Thursday, 7am to 10pm. Friday & Saturday, 7am to 11:30pm. Sunday, 7am to 6:30pm
Where: Design Quarter Shopping Centre Shop 03 Corner Leslie Avenue, Winnie Mandela Dr, Fourways, Johannesburg

Website: 258mafalala.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 010 634 1086

Sakhumzi Restaurant

Sakhumzi Restaurant in Soweto and Zoo Lake both offer vibrant South African dining experiences that are rich in culture. The Soweto spot is situated mere blocks away from Nelson Mandela’s home on Vilakazi Street and serves up classic South African comfort food in a lively, bustling atmosphere.

It’s a great spot to try traditional dishes like pap and chakalaka, braai (barbecue) meats, and hearty stews. And in true African style, the communal, family-style setting makes it a great place to share a meal, and there’s often music or the sounds of Soweto’s street life.

The beautiful Zoo Lake venue is more laid-back with everything from South African specialties to more global options. You can enjoy classic bunny chow (a curry-filled bread bowl), grilled meats, and fresh salads, or sip on a drink while watching the ducks float by on the lake. The outdoor seating under the trees adds to the relaxed mood, making it a perfect choice for a Sunday afternoon or an easygoing dinner.

When: Soweto – Daily, from 11am to 10pm | Zoo Lake – Daily, frpm 8am to 8pm
Where: Soweto – 6980 Vilakazi St, Orlando West, Soweto | Zoo Lake – 1 Prince of Wales Dr, Parkview, Johannesburg

Website: sakhumzi.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 536 1379

Tribes African Grill & Steakhouse

Tribes African Grill and Steakhouse at Emperor’s Palace takes African dining up a notch with carefully crafted traditional dishes with a modern touch. Their extensive menu is stacked with Karoo lamb, South African-bred and grain-fed Wagyu, game cuts, lamb and much more. Leaf through the traditional local favourites such as skewers, Mogodu (tripe), and oxtail cooked the traditional way. 

Not sure where to start? Go for one of the set menu options which tie together Mozabican-style chicken livers, fragrant boerewors served with pap and tomato gravy, grilled black mushrooms, and the tried and trusted malva pudding to end.

​The restaurant interiors boast a refined fusion of African decor with elements of the Karoo and a traditional kraal, with private dining available as well.

When: Daily, from 11am to 11pm
Where: Emperors Palace Casino, 64 Jones Rd Jet Park, Kempton Park

Website: tribesafrica.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 928 1227

The Social Table by ANNEO Farm

The Social Table is a casual eatery on Fox Street that is brimming with modern energy. Here the chefs team focuses on everyday South African cooking such as sorghum porridge, samp and mogodu, magwinya with mince and atchar, and much more. The restaurant is also a cultural meeting place playing host to regular intimate live performances and art exhibitions that capture‘s Joburg’s creative energy.

When: Daily from 1:30pm to 3pm; and 6:30pm to 8pm
Where: 274 Fox Street, Johannesburg

Website: lesedi.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 840 6600

Kraal Restaurant at Thaba Eco Hotel

This Sunday lunch in Johannesburg brings together hearty and homely takes on fresh fruit, savoury roasts, and something sweet to end. The eat-as-much-as-you-can offer runs every Saturday, Sunday and public holiday from 7:30am to 11am.

Start with a mimosa and cold breakfast of cereals and yoghurt with seasonal fruit and fresh juice, or go Euro and bite into some of their freshly baked pastries and coffee. There’s a DIY salad station where you can whip up your own light meal. For the hot breakfast, they do classic scrambled eggs and salmon, an egg shakshuka, grilled bacon and chipolatas, per peri chicken livers and lots more to build a full English breakfast. There’s also a stir-fried noodles and vegetables dish if you’re after something a bit more substantial. 

Cost: R295pp per adult, R145pp per child

When: Every Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday from 7:30am to 11am
Where: Kraal Restaurant at Thaba Eco Hotel, Impala Road, Kibler Park, Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, Johannesburg South

Gratitude Restaurant

Although not an exclusively African cuisine spot, Gratitude Restaurant deserves a mention in our guide for their focused spotlight on traditional South African flavours. Here you can dine on umleqwa (harbody chicken) and tripe cooked in the simple Mzansi-style, or intloko yegusha which is grilled sheep’s head. All African dishes are served with your choice of dombolo (steamed bread) or samp, and veg sides.

Gratitude Restaurant opened in 2017 with a balcony space overlooking the tranquil Lake Flamingo in the Modderfontein Reserve. The rest of the menu features seafood, meat, pasta and poultry dishes done in an Asian Mediterranean Fusion Style.

When: Tuesday to Thursday, 12pm to 9pm. Friday & Saturday, 11:30am to 10:30pm. Sunday & Monday, 12pm to 8:30pm
Where: Flamingo Shopping Centre, 8 Queens St, Modderfontein, Johannesburg

Website: gratitudesa.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 010 786 1691

Chiefs Boma at Indaba Hotel

The 300-seater Chief’s Boma African Dining Experience Restaurant caters for all tastes and brings the flavours of Africa straight to your table. The cuisine spans from North African Moroccan dishes to koeksisters and melktert from the Cap at this African restaurant in Johannesburg. With over 120 dishes available, everyone will find their favourite.

The Boma also does a Shisa Nyama grill where chefs prepare your preferred cut of meat, carefully selected by our on-premises butcher, to your specifications. Enjoy sundowners or craft beer on the deck overlooking the Boma Dam before sitting down to enjoy your meal to the sounds of the Resident African Marimba Band – and when all is done, enjoy a glass of red wine or roast a marshmallow over Boma Fire.

Cost: R695pp per adult; Children 0 – 2 years eat for free and 3 – 5 years pay R100pp; 6 – 12 years pay R235pp. Book via [email protected]

When: Lunch service from 12pm to 2:30pm weekly, and 12pm to 3pm on weekends. Dinner service from 6pm to 10pm
Where: Chiefs Boma Restaurant at Indaba Hotel, cnr. William Nicol & Pieter Wenning Road, Fourways, Johannesburg

Website: indabahotel.co.za | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 840 6600

Ethnic Restaurant

Ethnic Restaurant specialises in Pan-African cuisine, offering a range of dishes that bring together the melting pot of flavours and cooking methods that the continent is famous for. 

Go on a taste journey starting from the vibrant spices of Morocco to the soulful stews of West Africa, decadent South African desserts and everything in between. Each dish is a journey that transcends borders and captivates the senses.

‘At Ethnic Restaurant, we serve not just food, but stories on a plate, each bite a reminder of the rich tapestry of Africa,’ explains founder Raymond Ayila Kpojime. ‘We believe in fostering a sense of community and cultural appreciation through the universal language of food. Our passion is crafting experiences that feed the soul as much as the body.’ 

This African restaurant in Johannesburg is located at Eden Terrace, a small shopping centre in suburban Edenvale, and boasts a spacious dining area. ‘Our ambience is adorned with authentic ethnic art, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for our guests,’ continues Raymond. READ MORE

When: Monday to Thursday, 10am to 12pm. Friday to Sunday, 10am to 2am
Where: Eden Terrace, 60 Terrace Road, Eden Glen, Edenvale, Johannesburg

Pontinha De Xai Xai

Many fast food joints have popularised Mozambican food mostly through spices and grilled chicken, but there’s so much more to the food culture of the East African country. For starters, traditional food and cooking style differs vastly from most of the African cuisine which we’re all familiar with. There’s a heavy focus on flavours that stem from its Portuguese, African, and Indian culinary roots. Most dishes at Pontinha De Xai Xai are made with coconut milk along with spices which create a rich and flavourful taste.

“And as a coastal nation, seafood plays a huge role in the cuisine which makes for a diverse and unique experience not only among African cuisines but against any global cuisine,” says Leroi Khoza, restaurant manager at Pontinha De Xai Xai.

Signature dishes on the menu include Mozambican Prawns done the right way, Red snapper line fish, Mozambican Peri Peri chicken, Prawn curry, a hearty Beef Trinchado, and a choice of seafood platters.

When: Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 9pm. Sunday, 12pm to 7pm
Where: Shop 6 at Morningview Shopping Centre, 100 South Rd, Morningside, Sandton

Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 568 3763

Nyama Choma Restaurant at Lesedi Cultural Village

Sunday Lunch in Johannesburg isn’t just a weekend treat at one of the city’s most popular cultural spots. You can tuck into hearty and homely African cuisine every day of the week at the charming Nyama Choma at Lesedi Cultural Village in Lanseria. They take guests on a culinary journey from South Africa right up to the North of the continent with a wide range of buffet-style dishes. Think Kalahari lamb, Mozambican fish, and vegetable sides cooked in a myriad of ways.

Cost: R230pp. Book via call or email

When: Daily from 1:30pm to 3pm; and 6:30pm to 8pm
Where: Lesedi Cultural Village, Kalkheuwel Broederstroom, R512, Lanseria, Johannesburg

Website: lesedi.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 011 840 6600

Thathu Restaurant – Temporarily closed

As South Africans, we are a fiercely patriotic bunch, and yet somehow that energy doesn’t really extend to our taste in restaurant dining. Thathu Restaurant in Illovo is meeting us halfway with a mod and gastro spin on traditional South African faves. Think smoked oysters served with whipped Amasi, Ostrich Bobotie spring rolls alongside curry mayo and chutney, steamed bread infused with Impepho, and Pap arancini balls, among other small plate offerings.

The team prides itself on sourcing fresh and organic ingredients from local farmers for good-tasting and environmentally-conscious fare. You can expect a classy but understated mood, and the walls are decorated with a curated art collection.

When: Monday to Saturday, from 1pm to 12am. Sunday, from 1pm to 10pm
Where: Unit 3 Illovo Junction, 178 Oxford Rd, Illovo, Johannesburg

Website: thathuafrica.com | Email: [email protected] | Tel: 079 117 1360

Little Addis Cafe – Temporarily closed

Go for the earthy pulses, rich stews and bubbly injera cooked daily by the chef’s team who puts in the hours on the pans. As one of the more popular African restaurants in Johannesburg, this spot is a jolt of colour with checkered floors, bold red walls, and interior plants for some natural greenery. 

For those not familiar with Ethiopian cuisine, the cuisine is centred around injera, a bouncy sourdough flatbread made from ground teff seed that’s fermented until spongy and comes with an unmistakable tang. Injera acts as both carb and cutlery, used to scoop and swipe every last bite. A range of meat, vegetarian and vegan dishes are on the menu. Don’t leave without trying a strong and freshly brewed pot of Ethiopian coffee. READ MORE

When: Daily, from 7am to 11:30pm
Where: Shop 10, Cobbels Shopping Centre 4th Ave, Parkhurst, Johannesburg

Email: [email protected] | Tel: 082 683 8675