Food in Kenya: 15 Must-Try Dishes in Kenya

Whereas lovely sunsets, enchanting wildlife, fascinating landscapes, and pleasant persons are its main points of interest, the meals in Kenya can be worthy of a visit to this East African nation.

The nation includes over 44 ethnic teams, and nearly each neighborhood has its personal distinctive conventional dish. Once you mix that truth with worldwide cuisines and culinary variations, each traveler is certain to have an unforgettable expertise.

So, should you’re visiting Kenya quickly and questioning what to eat, learn on. On this article, I’ll introduce you to dishes from numerous areas in my house nation. These embrace ugali, the staple meals; biryani, a Swahili meal from the coast; and irio, a standard meals from the Mount Kenya area.

Beneath, are a few of my favourite dishes to attempt throughout your journey to Kenya.

15 Meals To Strive in Kenya

As a Kenyan native, I’ve traveled to many elements of the nation, sampling totally different meals. To present you an thought of what to anticipate, I’ve ready this information on 15 must-try dishes in Kenya. It consists of common meals, foremost dishes, snacks, pastries, and road meals.

1. Ugali (Cornmeal) – The Most Fashionable Meals in Kenya Total

We start this listing with ugali, undeniably the most well-liked meals in Kenya and lots of elements of Sub-Saharan Africa. It’s additionally the staple meals of Kenya and is often a part of lunch and dinner in most households.

Ugali is made by including flour (maize, millet, or cassava) to boiling water and stirring to a dough-like consistency. The healthful meal is then loved with inexperienced greens, beef stew, or nyama choma (roasted meat – extra on that under!).

This common meal is out there in nearly each native restaurant. When you’re in Nairobi, Ok’Osewe Ranalo Meals is a superb possibility and a spot I’ve loved brown ugali (product of millet flour) many instances. The restaurant additionally serves different conventional and must-try dishes in Kenya, like fried tilapia fish and beef stew.

Ok’Osewe Ranalo Meals Data

Tackle: Kimathi Street, Nairobi
Cellphone: +254 721 323238
Working Hours: 10:30 am-3:00 am (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $7
Web site: N/A

2. Nyama Choma (Roasted Meat)

Translating to roasted or grilled meat in Swahili, nyama choma is essentially the most well-known dish in Kenya. This traditional barbecue is made by slowly roasting meat (goat, beef, or rooster) over scorching coals till it’s tender.

As soon as grilled, nyama choma is positioned on a picket board and chopped into items, and served with ugali, greens, and kachumbari. In Kenya, we often benefit from the well-known dish with pals. It additionally goes effectively with ice-cold beers or espresso.

You’ll find nyama choma on many sit-down restaurant menus throughout the county. It’s additionally out there from roadside eateries (“choma zones”) and native meat outlets.

When you’re in Nairobi, go to the Carnivore Restaurant. It has all kinds of nyama choma to select from, and you’ll eat all you need at a hard and fast value. Char-Choma Restaurant is my favourite spot for the dish in Mombasa.

The Carnivore Restaurant Data

Tackle: Off Langata Road, Nairobi (near Wilson Airport)
Cellphone: +254 731 611606
Working Hours: 12:00 pm-11:00 pm (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $50 (for a buffet)
Web site: tamarind.co.ke/carnivore

3. Samaki Fry (Fried Fish)

Samaki fry, Swahili for fried fish, is among the most scrumptious and common meals in Kenya. The fish (often tilapia or Nile perch) is deep-fried and served with ugali alongside kachumbari (often contemporary tomato and onion salad). Apart from the dry fry (my favourite), it will also be wet-fried (with onions, tomatoes, and spices) which provides it extra aroma.

Omena (silver cyprinid) is one other typical fish dish in Kenya, particularly amongst communities dwelling alongside the shores of Lake Victoria. The small fish are first dried within the solar earlier than being deep fried.

The most effective locations to eat fish in Kenya is Mama Oliech Restaurant in Nairobi’s Kilimani space. When you’re visiting Nanyuki city, drop by the Trout Tree Restaurant. It’s my favourite fish restaurant in Kenya for its scrumptious farm-to-table trout and contemporary sukuma wiki (kale).

Trout Tree Restaurant Data

Tackle: Along Road A2 between Naro Moru and Nanyuki
Cellphone: +254 726 281704
Working Hours: 10:00 am-5:00 pm (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $10
Web site: trout-tree.com

4. Karanga (Kenyan Beef Stew)

Karanga (a neighborhood stew) is a typical meal in Kenya and a favourite for many individuals. The dish is straightforward to organize utilizing totally different meats and different substances that give it an inviting aroma.

It’s made by frying chunks of meat with onions, tomatoes, potatoes, greens, and spices. When water is added, the result’s a thick, hearty meal greatest loved with ugali, chapati, or rice.

My favourite restaurant in Kenya for karanga is K’Osewe Ranalo Foods. The eatery serves scrumptious beef stew, which I get pleasure from with ugali (millet flour) and managu (indigenous inexperienced greens).

The Talisman Restaurant might have a special title for the stew, however it’s positively well-known for making among the greatest.

The Talisman Restaurant Data

Tackle: Off Ngong Road, Karen, Nairobi
Cellphone: +254 705 999997
Working Hours: 11:00 am-10:00 pm (Tue-Fri), 9:00 am-10:00 pm (Sat-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $13
Web site: thetalismanrestaurant.com

5. Sukuma Wiki (Collard Greens or Kale)

Except for nyama choma and Kenyan stew, ugali is usually accompanied by sukuma wiki (much like kale). This vegetable dish, which interprets to “push the week,” is reasonably priced and customary in lots of Kenyan households.

Getting ready sukuma wiki entails washing the inexperienced leaves, slicing them into small items after which frying them with onions. In some instances, tomatoes and spices are added to deepen the flavour.

In addition to sukuma wiki, there are different inexperienced greens generally utilized in Kenya. These embrace spinach, mrenda (jute mallow), marenge (pumpkin leaves), and thabai (stinging nettle leaves).

Sukuma wiki is out there in nearly all eating places throughout Kenya – together with the small eateries within the countryside. There are additionally some nice locations to do this dish in Nairobi, with my favourite being Cultiva Farm, a terrific farm-to-table restaurant in Karen.

Cultiva Farm Kenya Data

Tackle: Pofu Road, Karen, Nairobi
Cellphone: +254 701 579902
Working Hours: 8:00 am-11:00 pm (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $5
Web site: cultivakenya.com

6. Kachumbari (Salsa or Salad)

Kachumbari, a contemporary vegetable salad, is Kenya’s hottest facet dish. The salad/salsa includes sliced contemporary tomatoes, onions, inexperienced/purple pepper, coriander, and generally avocado.

The refreshing salsa/salad is synonymous with nyama choma. It additionally goes effectively with pilau, mutura (road meals), boiled eggs, and fried fish.

If you wish to attempt Kenya’s most scrumptious salad, go to a nyama choma restaurant or a road meals vendor. For first-time guests, I like to recommend Road House Grill in Nairobi or Char-Choma Restaurant in Mombasa. They’ve among the greatest barbecue and kachumbari within the nation.

Char-Choma Restaurant Data

Tackle: Off Mombasa-Malindi Road, just before Whitesands Hotel
Cellphone: +254 794 673598
Working Hours: 6:00 am-12:00 am (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $15 (served with nyama choma)
Web site: facebook.com

7. Rooster Tikka Masala (Spiced Rooster)

Kenya is a multicultural nation with a sizeable inhabitants of locals of Indian descent. This has led to the introduction of scrumptious Asian meals, together with rooster tikka masala.

The dish is made by tossing items of rooster (clay oven cooked) right into a spicy sauce. This sauce often includes contemporary tomatoes, onion gravy, and a wide range of unimaginable Indian spices.

There are a number of locations the place you may attempt rooster tikka masala in Kenya. My favourite is The Mayura Restaurant on the Nairobi SGR Terminus, which serves this tasty dish, amongst others. The restaurant additionally has branches in Karen and Westlands.

The Mayura Restaurant Data

Tackle: Nairobi SGR Terminus, Syokimau
Cellphone: +254 737 224422
Working Hours: 11:00 am-11:00 pm (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $11
Web site: themayura.com

8. Biryani (Spiced Rice) – My Favourite Swahili Meals in Kenya

Biryani is a standard meals in Kenya common amongst communities alongside the coast. To make this dish, rice is often cooked with meat (rooster or beef) and totally different spices. These spices embrace cardamom, coriander, cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, and cloves.

One other spiced rice and a well-known dish in Kenya is pilau. It’s cooked with fragrant spices and both beef or rooster and is served with greens and kachumbari.

The principle distinction between biryani and pilau is that with biryani, rice and different substances (meat, sauce, and spices) are cooked collectively. However, pilau rice (and spices) are cooked in a separate pot from the sauce and meat.

I’ve had biryani rooster and pilau in lots of locations, however my favourite eatery is Jahazi Espresso Home. The small restaurant is situated in Mombasa Old Town and serves essentially the most scrumptious Swahili dishes within the metropolis.

With its outdated furnishings, ground mats, and Arabic-style doorways, Jahazi is a real image of the traditional city.

Jahazi Espresso Home Data

Tackle: Thika Street, Off Ndia Kuu Rd, Mombasa
Cellphone: +254 742 917263
Working Hours: 9:00 am-6:00 pm (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $8
Web site: N/A

9. Wali wa Nazi (Coconut Rice)

One in every of my favourite dishes in Kenya is Wali. This dish can be common among the many communities dwelling alongside the Kenyan coast. It’s usually product of white rice and numerous substances and is often loved with rooster, beef, or fish curry.

The preferred wali dishes are wali wa kukaanga and wali wa nazi. The latter includes rice boiled in coconut milk, whereas the previous include boiled rice that’s fried with substances like onions, carrots, peas, turmeric, and greens.

One of the best locations I get pleasure from wali wa nazi are in Swahili eating places, and also you’ll discover them in nearly each city alongside the Kenyan coast. Whereas in Mombasa, check out Mombasa Dishes or Barka Restaurant in Mombasa Previous City. Kilimanjaro Jamia in Nairobi can be top-of-the-line locations to attempt wali.

Barka Restaurant Data

Tackle: Mji wa Kale, Makadara Road, Mvita
Cellphone: +254 722 881009
Working Hours: 7:30 am-10:30 pm (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $4
Web site: N/A

10. Matoke (Plantain Banana Stew)

Matoke, a staple meals among the many Kisii folks of the western area, ought to positively be in your listing of must-try dishes in Kenya. The meal is ready by frying plantains and is greatest loved with rice, chapati, or beef stew.

It’s widespread to search out totally different variations of matoke in several elements of the nation. In central Kenya, for instance, the dish consists of plantains, potatoes, arrowroots, pumpkins, and generally candy potatoes.

Matoke is out there in native eating places countrywide. Whether or not in Kisii, Mombasa, Nairobi, Nanyuki, or Nakuru, you’re certain to discover a place serving this superb dish. Whereas in Nairobi, take a look at Bridges Natural Restaurant.

Bridges Natural Restaurant Data

Tackle: Along Tubman Road, Nairobi
Cellphone: +254 711 575756
Working Hours: 6:00 am-6:00pm (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $4
Web site: bridges-organics-shop.web.app

11. Irio (Mashed Peas)

Additionally indigenous to communities residing within the central area just like the Kikuyu, irio (which means meals) is my favourite conventional meals in Kenya. This wholesome dish is product of mashed potatoes, beans, peas, and conventional greens (like pumpkin leaves) and served with beef stew or nyama choma.

It’s price noting that, in contrast to mukimo, irio doesn’t comprise githeri (corn and kidney beans).

The most effective locations to style irio is at a nyama choma restaurant (though they primarily promote mukimo). When you’re visiting the central area (the realm round Mount Kenya), drop by any native restaurant and also you’ll discover essentially the most genuine irio, githeri, and mukimo round.

My favourite place to eat the native dish is Betty’s Place in Nyeri; a country restaurant that serves tasty nyama choma accompanied by scrumptious irio or mukimo.

Betty’s Place Restaurant Data

Tackle: Kimathi Way, Nyeri
Cellphone: +254 711 666792
Working Hours: 7:30 am-12:00 am (Mon-Sat), 9:00 am-12:00 am (Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $5
Web site: N/A

12. Githeri (Corn/Maize and Beans)

Githeri is among the greatest conventional dishes in Kenya. Initially, the dish was unique to communities dwelling round central Kenya, however now it’s widespread throughout the nation. This straightforward meal is made by mixing maize (corn) with beans and boiling them in a clay pot or sufuria.

As soon as it’s cooked, githeri is served alone or fried with onions, tomatoes, inexperienced greens, and potatoes. Generally, the dish is mashed with potatoes, and pumpkin leaves to make mukimo – one other typical meals in Kenya.

Githeri is out there in most eating places in Kenya. When you’d prefer to get pleasure from this meal in Nairobi, I reccomend you go to the Sizzling Dishes Restaurant.

Sizzling Dishes Restaurant Data

Tackle: Old Mutual Building along Kimathi Street, Nairobi
Cellphone: +254 782 333444
Working Hours: 6:00 am-9:00 pm (Mon-Fri), 6:00 am-8:00 pm (Sat-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $3
Web site: hotdishes.co.ke

13. Samosas (Triangular Pastry)

No journey to Kenya can be full with out making an attempt a minimum of one samosa, a yummy triangular-shaped snack.

This common snack might be loved any time of the day, particularly with a cup of chai. It’s made by filling cooked minced meat or peas in small triangular dough pockets which might be deep fried. Elements like onions, garlic, pepper, and coriander are generally added to provide them further taste.

I wasn’t a giant fan of samosas till a pal advised I attempt T Tot Restaurant in Machakos city. The restaurant is common with locals, and their scorching samosas will depart you craving extra.

When you’re in Nairobi, take a look at Cafe Deli Restaurant alongside Moi Avenue. It serves beef and rooster samosas which go effectively with Kenyan chai.

Café Deli Restaurant Data

Tackle: Moi Avenue, Nairobi
Cellphone: +254 707 712287
Working Hours: 6:30 am-10:00 pm (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $3 (with tea)
Web site: cafedeli.co.ke

14. Mutura (Kenyan Sausage) – Finest Road Meals in Kenya

Along with the standard dishes in Kenya, road meals is widespread, particularly in markets, neighborhoods, and alongside alleys. A number of the common choices embrace mahindi choma (roasted maize), mayai pasua (boiled eggs), and mutura (Kenyan sausage).

Mutura is essentially the most well-known of all Kenyan road meals. The sausage-like snack is scrumptious and wealthy in protein. It includes a mixture of various items of cow or goat meat and cooled blood encased in a wrapper (often goat intestines).

To organize mutura, items of meat are initially cooked with totally different substances (like onions and spices) after which stuffed in small intestines. The sausage is then roasted on a charcoal grill to provide it a smoky taste. As soon as cooked, mutura is reduce into small ring-like items and loved alone or accompanied by kachumbari.

When you’re in search of a spot to style this glorious and distinctive Kenyan road meals, take a night stroll in any small city or huge metropolis within the nation, and maintain a eager eye out for it. You may also go to a restaurant resembling Betty’s Place in Nyeri or Ankole Grill in Nairobi.

Ankole Grill, Kilimani Data

Tackle: Senteu Plaza, Galana Road, Nairobi
Cellphone: +254 710 202020
Working Hours: 7:30 am-11:00 pm (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $7 (for a small plate)
Web site: ankole.co.ke

15. Tusker (Kenyan Beer)

Though this text is about meals in Kenya, it could be incomplete with out a drink to scrub down the meal. A chilly Tusker (the most well-liked native beer) goes completely effectively with nyama choma or fried fish. You may also get pleasure from scorching drinks like chai (Kenyan tea) and kahawa (espresso).

Tusker (for round $4) is out there in nearly any bar and restaurant within the nation. When you’re in Mombasa, go to Maasai Seashore Bar and Restaurant. It overlooks the magnificent Mombasa Seashore and serves scrumptious roasted meat and numerous drinks.

Downtown is my favourite place to hang around in Nanyuki, whereas K1 Klub House is among the greatest nightlife spots in Nairobi.

The most effective locations for espresso and tea in Kenya is Java Home. I frequent the Kimathi Street department for a full breakfast, which incorporates Kenyan chai, omelets, and bread.

Maasai Seashore Bar and Restaurant

Tackle: Mount Kenya Road, Mombasa
Cellphone: +254 717 310902
Working Hours: 6:00 am-2:00 am (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $4 (for native beers)
Web site: N/A

Bonus (Different Should-Strive Dishes in Kenya)

Beneath are different dishes in Kenya that it’s best to attempt.

Ingoho: A stewed rooster widespread among the many Luhya neighborhood of Kenya. It’s often served with ugali (created from millet, cassava, or whole-milled maize flour).

Chapati: This can be a mushy flatbread that’s usually served with different meals like sukuma wiki, beef stew, and matoke.

Chips Mwitu: Translating to “wild French fries”, chips mwitu is one other well-known and must-try road meals in Kenya. It’s merely fried potato chips offered by the roadside. Related meals embrace viazi karai (potato wedges – boiled after which deep-fried) and bhajias (potato fritters).

Smokie Pasua: That is often a smoked sausage. Identical to mayai pasua (boiled eggs), smokie pasua is a road meals that goes completely effectively with kachumbari.

Mahindi Choma: Also referred to as makai, mahindi choma (grilled maize) is one among my favourite road meals in Kenya. It has a crunchy texture and a candy style (bitter should you spice it with lemon or chili).

Meals Excursions in Kenya

With quite a few eating places in Kenya to select from, it takes a number of work to know the place to eat native meals. Nevertheless, by becoming a member of a guided tour, your native host will take you to well-known locations in addition to some considerably secret spots the place you may eat and drink like a neighborhood.

Try the next meals excursions in Kenya for an genuine native culinary expertise.

Nairobi Metropolis Meals Tour

When you’re able to style the very best meals in Kenya, be a part of this thrilling tour. Your native information will take you to the very best spots to get pleasure from conventional dishes alongside different Kenyans.

You’ll get to pattern well-known Kenyan delicacies, together with ugali, chapati, mukimo, nyama choma, kachumbari, fish, indigenous greens, and Swahili dishes.

The Carnivore Eating Expertise

To style various kinds of nyama choma, be a part of this native eating expertise. It takes you to Carnivore Restaurant – one of the crucial well-known locations for roasted meat.

The eating expertise features a mouth-watering starter (soup), a tasty dessert, and an all-you-can-eat meat choice. After dinner, you’ll wash down the nyama choma with espresso or a chilly Tusker beer.

Mombasa Road Meals Expertise

The Kenyan Swahili delicacies is an exquisite mixture of substances from totally different communities that dwell alongside the Indian Ocean shoreline. It combines native, European, Arabic, and Indian influences to provide among the most scrumptious dishes within the nation.

When visiting Mombasa, be sure to be a part of this street food tour to pattern totally different native delicacies. These embrace rooster biryani (my favourite), pilau (spiced rice), wali wa nazi (coconut rice), and mabuyu (baobab seeds coated with sugar and coloured flavors).

Make Kenyan Cuisines With a Native

The most effective methods to understand the native meals scene is by studying tips on how to put together and cook dinner conventional meals. On this tour, you’ll go to a neighborhood farmers’ market to purchase substances after which learn to cook dinner them with a neighborhood information.

The journey to and from the market consists of using in a matatu (a neighborhood minibus), the place you may work together with native Kenyans alongside the trip.

Study All the things About Espresso and Tea

Kenya isn’t solely well-known for its dishes but additionally for its nice tea and low. Be a part of this tour to study every little thing about espresso (from farm to cup).

When you’re extra fascinated with tea, this experience is ideal for you. It features a scrumptious native meal created from contemporary farm produce.

Kenyan Meals: FAQs

Beneath are some solutions to generally requested questions on meals in Kenya.

To Summarize

Huge restaurant chains, native eateries, and road distributors depend on countryside farms for contemporary produce, greens, and substances. In addition they supply the very best fish, meat, and rooster to be able to put together scrumptious dishes.

So, whenever you go to this lovely and hospitable nation, don’t confine your self solely to nationwide parks, seashores, and mountains. Head over to a restaurant and indulge your digestive juices with Kenyan delicacies.

In addition to the favored meals like ugali, nyama choma, and kachumbari, be sure to additionally attempt road meals like mutura and smokie pasua. I’m certain you’ll depart the nation with an exquisite meals expertise and lots of blissful recollections.

☞ SEE ALSO: 15 Best Restaurants in Nairobi, Kenya

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