Meals in Kenya: 15 Should-Strive Dishes in Kenya

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

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

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

Under, 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 components of the nation, sampling completely different meals. To present you an thought of what to anticipate, I’ve ready this information on 15 must-try dishes in Kenya. It contains standard meals, foremost dishes, snacks, pastries, and road meals.

1. Ugali (Cornmeal) – The Most Standard Meals in Kenya General

We start this checklist with ugali, undeniably the preferred meals in Kenya and lots of components 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 beneath!).

This standard meal is out there in nearly each native restaurant. In the event you’re in Nairobi, Okay’Osewe Ranalo Meals is a superb choice 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.

Okay’Osewe Ranalo Meals Info

Handle: Kimathi Road, Nairobi
Telephone: +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 probably 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 wood board and chopped into items, and served with ugali, greens, and kachumbari. In Kenya, we often benefit from the well-known dish with associates. It additionally goes properly with ice-cold beers or espresso.

Yow will discover nyama choma on many sit-down restaurant menus throughout the county. It’s additionally obtainable from roadside eateries (“choma zones”) and native meat retailers.

In the event 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 set worth. Char-Choma Restaurant is my favourite spot for the dish in Mombasa.

The Carnivore Restaurant Info

Handle: Off Langata Highway, Nairobi (close to Wilson Airport)
Telephone: +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 likely one of the most scrumptious and standard meals in Kenya. The fish (often tilapia or Nile perch) is deep-fried and served with ugali alongside kachumbari (often recent 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.

Among the best locations to eat fish in Kenya is Mama Oliech Restaurant in Nairobi’s Kilimani space. In the event 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 recent sukuma wiki (kale).

Trout Tree Restaurant Info

Handle: Alongside Highway A2 between Naro Moru and Nanyuki
Telephone: +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 (an area stew) is a typical meal in Kenya and a favourite for many individuals. The dish is straightforward to arrange utilizing completely 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 finest loved with ugali, chapati, or rice.

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

The Talisman Restaurant could have a distinct title for the stew, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly well-known for making among the finest.

The Talisman Restaurant Info

Handle: Off Ngong Highway, Karen, Nairobi
Telephone: +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)

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

Making 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.

Apart from 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 that dish in Nairobi, with my favourite being Cultiva Farm, an amazing farm-to-table restaurant in Karen.

Cultiva Farm Kenya Info

Handle: Pofu Highway, Karen, Nairobi
Telephone: +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 recent vegetable salad, is Kenya’s hottest facet dish. The salad/salsa includes sliced recent tomatoes, onions, inexperienced/pink pepper, coriander, and generally avocado.

The refreshing salsa/salad is synonymous with nyama choma. It additionally goes properly 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 Highway Home Grill in Nairobi or Char-Choma Restaurant in Mombasa. They’ve among the finest barbecue and kachumbari within the nation.

Char-Choma Restaurant Info

Handle: Off Mombasa-Malindi Highway, simply earlier than Whitesands Resort
Telephone: +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: fb.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 recent tomatoes, onion gravy, and a wide range of unbelievable Indian spices.

There are a number of locations the place you’ll be able to 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 Info

Handle: Nairobi SGR Terminus, Syokimau
Telephone: +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 standard amongst communities alongside the coast. To make this dish, rice is often cooked with meat (rooster or beef) and completely 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. Alternatively, 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 positioned in Mombasa Outdated City and serves probably the most scrumptious Swahili dishes within the metropolis.

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

Jahazi Espresso Home Info

Handle: Thika Road, Off Ndia Kuu Rd, Mombasa
Telephone: +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)

Certainly one of my favourite dishes in Kenya is Wali. This dish can also be standard among the many communities dwelling alongside the Kenyan coast. It’s sometimes product of white rice and varied 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.

The perfect 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 Outdated City. Kilimanjaro Jamia in Nairobi can also be top-of-the-line locations to attempt wali.

Barka Restaurant Info

Handle: Mji wa Kale, Makadara Highway, Mvita
Telephone: +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 individuals of the western area, ought to undoubtedly be in your checklist of must-try dishes in Kenya. The meal is ready by frying plantains and is finest loved with rice, chapati, or beef stew.

It’s frequent to seek out completely different variations of matoke in several components 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 positive to discover a place serving this superb dish. Whereas in Nairobi, try Bridges Natural Restaurant.

Bridges Natural Restaurant Info

Handle: Alongside Tubman Highway, Nairobi
Telephone: +254 711 575756
Working Hours: 6:00 am-6:00pm (Mon-Solar)
Common Price of the dish: $4
Web site: bridges-organics-shop.internet.app

11. Irio (Mashed Peas)

Additionally indigenous to communities residing within the central area just like the Kikuyu, irio (that 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 value noting that, in contrast to mukimo, irio doesn’t include githeri (corn and kidney beans).

Among the best locations to style irio is at a nyama choma restaurant (though they primarily promote mukimo). In the event you’re visiting the central area (the realm round Mount Kenya), drop by any native restaurant and also you’ll discover probably 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 Info

Handle: Kimathi Method, Nyeri
Telephone: +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 likely one of the finest 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. Typically, 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. In the event you’d prefer to get pleasure from this meal in Nairobi, I reccomend you go to the Sizzling Dishes Restaurant.

Sizzling Dishes Restaurant Info

Handle: Outdated Mutual Constructing alongside Kimathi Road, Nairobi
Telephone: +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 could be full with out attempting a minimum of one samosa, a yummy triangular-shaped snack.

This standard snack will 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 can be deep fried. Elements like onions, garlic, pepper, and coriander are generally added to offer them further taste.

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

In the event you’re in Nairobi, try Cafe Deli Restaurant alongside Moi Avenue. It serves beef and rooster samosas which go properly with Kenyan chai.

Café Deli Restaurant Info

Handle: Moi Avenue, Nairobi
Telephone: +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) – Greatest Road Meals in Kenya

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

Mutura is probably the most well-known of all Kenyan road meals. The sausage-like snack is scrumptious and wealthy in protein. It includes a mix 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 completely different substances (like onions and spices) after which stuffed in small intestines. The sausage is then roasted on a charcoal grill to offer it a smoky taste. As soon as cooked, mutura is minimize into small ring-like items and loved alone or accompanied by kachumbari.

In the event 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 massive metropolis within the nation, and hold a eager eye out for it. You can too go to a restaurant equivalent to Betty’s Place in Nyeri or Ankole Grill in Nairobi.

Ankole Grill, Kilimani Info

Handle: Senteu Plaza, Galana Highway, Nairobi
Telephone: +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 no drink to scrub down the meal. A chilly Tusker (the preferred native beer) goes completely properly with nyama choma or fried fish. You can too 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. In the event you’re in Mombasa, go to Maasai Seashore Bar and Restaurant. It overlooks the magnificent Mombasa Seashore and serves scrumptious roasted meat and varied drinks.

Downtown is my favourite place to hang around in Nanyuki, whereas K1 Klub Home is likely one of the finest nightlife spots in Nairobi.

Among the best locations for espresso and tea in Kenya is Java Home. I frequent the Kimathi Road department for a full breakfast, which incorporates Kenyan chai, omelets, and bread.

Maasai Seashore Bar and Restaurant

Handle: Mount Kenya Highway, Mombasa
Telephone: +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)

Under are different dishes in Kenya that you must attempt.

Ingoho: A stewed rooster frequent among the many Luhya group of Kenya. It’s often served with ugali (made out of millet, cassava, or whole-milled maize flour).

Chapati: It is a tender 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 bought by the roadside. Comparable 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 properly with kachumbari.

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

Meals Excursions in Kenya

With quite a few eating places in Kenya to select from, it takes loads 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’ll be able to eat and drink like an area.

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

Nairobi Metropolis Meals Tour

In the event you’re able to style the perfect meals in Kenya, be a part of this thrilling tour. Your native information will take you to the perfect 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 several types of nyama choma, be a part of this native eating expertise. It takes you to Carnivore Restaurant – some of the 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 a gorgeous mixture of substances from completely different communities that stay alongside the Indian Ocean shoreline. It combines native, European, Arabic, and Indian influences to supply among the most scrumptious dishes within the nation.

When visiting Mombasa, be sure you be a part of this road meals tour to pattern completely 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

Among the best methods to understand the native meals scene is by studying tips on how to put together and prepare dinner conventional meals. On this tour, you’ll go to an area farmers’ market to purchase substances after which learn to prepare dinner them with an area information.

The journey to and from the market contains driving in a matatu (an area minibus), the place you’ll be able to work together with native Kenyans alongside the journey.

Study The whole lot About Espresso and Tea

Kenya isn’t solely well-known for its dishes but in addition for its nice tea and occasional. Be a part of this tour to study the whole lot about espresso (from farm to cup).

In the event you’re extra all in favour of tea, this expertise is ideal for you. It features a scrumptious native meal made out of recent farm produce.

Kenyan Meals: FAQs

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

To Summarize

Massive restaurant chains, native eateries, and road distributors depend on countryside farms for recent produce, greens, and substances. In addition they supply the perfect fish, meat, and rooster with the intention to put together scrumptious dishes.

So, once you go to this stunning 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.

Apart from the favored meals like ugali, nyama choma, and kachumbari, be sure you additionally attempt road meals like mutura and smokie pasua. I’m positive you’ll go away the nation with a gorgeous meals expertise and lots of joyful recollections.

☞ SEE ALSO: 15 Greatest Eating places in Nairobi, Kenya

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