Whereas stunning sunsets, enchanting wildlife, fascinating landscapes, and pleasant individuals are its main sights, the meals in Kenya can be worthy of a visit to this East African nation.
The nation contains over 44 ethnic teams, and nearly each neighborhood has its personal distinctive conventional dish. While you mix that truth with worldwide cuisines and culinary variations, each traveler is certain to have an unforgettable expertise.
So, if you happen to’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 conventional meals from the Mount Kenya area.
Beneath, are a few of my favourite dishes to attempt throughout your journey to Kenya.
15 Meals To Attempt in Kenya
As a Kenyan native, I’ve traveled to many components of the nation, sampling totally different meals. To offer you an concept of what to anticipate, I’ve ready this information on 15 must-try dishes in Kenya. It contains common meals, important dishes, snacks, pastries, and avenue meals.
1. Ugali (Cornmeal) – The Most Common Meals in Kenya General
We start this listing with ugali, undeniably the preferred meals in Kenya and plenty 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 common meal is accessible in nearly each native restaurant. In the event you’re in Nairobi, Ok’Osewe Ranalo Meals is a good possibility and a spot I’ve loved brown ugali (fabricated from millet flour) many occasions. 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 Avenue, 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 probably the most well-known dish in Kenya. This traditional barbecue is made by slowly roasting meat (goat, beef, or hen) over sizzling 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 buddies. It additionally goes effectively with ice-cold beers or espresso.
You could find nyama choma on many sit-down restaurant menus throughout the county. It’s additionally obtainable from roadside eateries (“choma zones”) and native meat outlets.
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 Data
Tackle: Off Langata Highway, Nairobi (close to 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 without doubt one of 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). Aside 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.
Top-of-the-line 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 contemporary sukuma wiki (kale).
Trout Tree Restaurant Data
Tackle: Alongside Highway 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 simple to organize utilizing totally different meats and different elements 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 Ok’Osewe Ranalo Meals. The eatery serves scrumptious beef stew, which I take pleasure in with ugali (millet flour) and managu (indigenous inexperienced greens).
The Talisman Restaurant could have a distinct identify for the stew, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly well-known for making a few of the greatest.
The Talisman Restaurant Data
Tackle: Off Ngong Highway, 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 inexpensive 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 circumstances, 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 accessible 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 excellent farm-to-table restaurant in Karen.
Cultiva Farm Kenya Data
Tackle: Pofu Highway, 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 aspect dish. The salad/salsa contains sliced contemporary tomatoes, onions, inexperienced/pink pepper, coriander, and typically avocado.
The refreshing salsa/salad is synonymous with nyama choma. It additionally goes effectively with pilau, mutura (avenue meals), boiled eggs, and fried fish.
If you wish to attempt Kenya’s most scrumptious salad, go to a nyama choma restaurant or a avenue meals vendor. For first-time guests, I like to recommend Highway Home Grill in Nairobi or Char-Choma Restaurant in Mombasa. They’ve a few of the greatest barbecue and kachumbari within the nation.
Char-Choma Restaurant Data
Tackle: Off Mombasa-Malindi Highway, simply earlier than Whitesands Resort
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: 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 hen tikka masala.
The dish is made by tossing items of hen (clay oven cooked) right into a spicy sauce. This sauce often contains contemporary tomatoes, onion gravy, and a wide range of unimaginable Indian spices.
There are a number of locations the place you possibly can attempt hen 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 conventional meals in Kenya common amongst communities alongside the coast. To make this dish, rice is often cooked with meat (hen 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 hen and is served with greens and kachumbari.
The principle distinction between biryani and pilau is that with biryani, rice and different elements (meat, sauce, and spices) are cooked collectively. Then again, pilau rice (and spices) are cooked in a separate pot from the sauce and meat.
I’ve had biryani hen and pilau in lots of locations, however my favourite eatery is Jahazi Espresso Home. The small restaurant is situated in Mombasa Previous City and serves probably the most scrumptious Swahili dishes within the metropolis.
With its previous furnishings, flooring mats, and Arabic-style doorways, Jahazi is a real image of the traditional city.
Jahazi Espresso Home Data
Tackle: Thika Avenue, 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 among my favourite dishes in Kenya is Wali. This dish can be common among the many communities dwelling alongside the Kenyan coast. It’s sometimes fabricated from white rice and numerous elements and is often loved with hen, beef, or fish curry.
The most well-liked wali dishes are wali wa kukaanga and wali wa nazi. The latter contains rice boiled in coconut milk, whereas the previous include boiled rice that’s fried with elements like onions, carrots, peas, turmeric, and greens.
The very best locations I take pleasure in 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 the most effective locations to attempt wali.
Barka Restaurant Data
Tackle: Mji wa Kale, Makadara Highway, 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 undoubtedly 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 seek out totally different variations of matoke in several components of the nation. In central Kenya, for instance, the dish consists of plantains, potatoes, arrowroots, pumpkins, and typically candy potatoes.
Matoke is accessible 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, take a look at Bridges Natural Restaurant.
Bridges Natural Restaurant Data
Tackle: Alongside Tubman Highway, 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.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 fabricated from mashed potatoes, beans, peas, and conventional greens (like pumpkin leaves) and served with beef stew or nyama choma.
It’s value noting that, not like mukimo, irio doesn’t include githeri (corn and kidney beans).
Top-of-the-line 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 world 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 Data
Tackle: Kimathi Approach, 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 without doubt one of 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 easy 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 accessible in most eating places in Kenya. In the event you’d wish to take pleasure in this meal in Nairobi, I reccomend you go to the Sizzling Dishes Restaurant.
Sizzling Dishes Restaurant Data
Tackle: Previous Mutual Constructing alongside Kimathi Avenue, 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 no less than one samosa, a yummy triangular-shaped snack.
This common snack may 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. Components like onions, garlic, pepper, and coriander are typically added to provide them further taste.
I wasn’t a giant fan of samosas till a buddy recommended I attempt T Tot Restaurant in Machakos city. The restaurant is common with locals, and their sizzling samosas will go away you craving extra.
In the event you’re in Nairobi, take a look at Cafe Deli Restaurant alongside Moi Avenue. It serves beef and hen 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 Avenue Meals in Kenya
Along with the standard dishes in Kenya, avenue 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 probably the most well-known of all Kenyan avenue meals. The sausage-like snack is scrumptious and wealthy in protein. It contains a mix of various items of cow or goat meat and cooled blood encased in a wrapper (often goat intestines).
To arrange mutura, items of meat are initially cooked with totally different elements (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 lower into small ring-like items and loved alone or accompanied by kachumbari.
In the event you’re searching for a spot to style this glorious and distinctive Kenyan avenue meals, take a night stroll in any small city or large metropolis within the nation, and maintain a eager eye out for it. You can too go to a restaurant corresponding to Betty’s Place in Nyeri or Ankole Grill in Nairobi.
Ankole Grill, Kilimani Data
Tackle: Senteu Plaza, Galana Highway, 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 will be incomplete and not using a drink to scrub down the meal. A chilly Tusker (the preferred native beer) goes completely effectively with nyama choma or fried fish. You can too take pleasure in sizzling drinks like chai (Kenyan tea) and kahawa (espresso).
Tusker (for round $4) is accessible 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 numerous drinks.
Downtown is my favourite place to hang around in Nanyuki, whereas K1 Klub Home is without doubt one of the greatest nightlife spots in Nairobi.
Top-of-the-line locations for espresso and tea in Kenya is Java Home. I frequent the Kimathi Avenue department for a full breakfast, which incorporates Kenyan chai, omelets, and bread.
Maasai Seashore Bar and Restaurant
Tackle: Mount Kenya Highway, 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-Attempt Dishes in Kenya)
Beneath are different dishes in Kenya that it is best to attempt.
Ingoho: A stewed hen widespread among the many Luhya neighborhood of Kenya. It’s often served with ugali (comprised of millet, cassava, or whole-milled maize flour).
Chapati: It is a comfortable 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 avenue 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. Similar to mayai pasua (boiled eggs), smokie pasua is a avenue meals that goes completely effectively with kachumbari.
Mahindi Choma: Also referred to as makai, mahindi choma (grilled maize) is one among my favourite avenue meals in Kenya. It has a crunchy texture and a candy style (bitter if you happen to 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. Nonetheless, 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 possibly can eat and drink like a neighborhood.
Take a look at 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 most effective meals in Kenya, be part of this thrilling tour. Your native information will take you to the most effective spots to take pleasure in 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 part of this native eating expertise. It takes you to Carnivore Restaurant – one of the vital 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 Avenue Meals Expertise
The Kenyan Swahili delicacies is a lovely mixture of elements from totally different communities that dwell alongside the Indian Ocean shoreline. It combines native, European, Arabic, and Indian influences to supply a few of the most scrumptious dishes within the nation.
When visiting Mombasa, be sure you be part of this avenue meals tour to pattern totally different native delicacies. These embrace hen 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
Top-of-the-line methods to understand the native meals scene is by studying learn how to put together and cook dinner conventional meals. On this tour, you’ll go to a neighborhood farmers’ market to purchase elements after which discover ways to cook dinner them with a neighborhood information.
The journey to and from the market contains driving in a matatu (a neighborhood minibus), the place you possibly can work together with native Kenyans alongside the trip.
Study Every part About Espresso and Tea
Kenya just isn’t solely well-known for its dishes but additionally for its nice tea and low. Be a part of this tour to be taught every part about espresso (from farm to cup).
In the event you’re extra inquisitive about tea, this expertise is ideal for you. It features a scrumptious native meal comprised of contemporary farm produce.
Kenyan Meals: FAQs
Beneath are some solutions to generally requested questions on meals in Kenya.
Ugali is the staple meals of Kenya.
Nyama choma is probably the most well-known dish in Kenya. The roasted meat is often served with ugali, sukuma wiki, and kachumbari.
The most typical meals in Kenya are nyama choma, ugali, fish, kachumbari (salad), matoke, mukimo, and mutura.
There are many conventional meals in Kenya, together with ingoho (Luhya neighborhood), irio (Kikuyu neighborhood), and matoke (Kisii neighborhood).
A number of the greatest locations to eat in Kenya are The Carnivore for nyama choma, Ok’Osewe Ranalo Meals for beef stew, and Jahazi Espresso Home for inexpensive Swahili dishes.
The standard meal time in Kenya is between 8 pm and 10 pm.
Lunch in Kenya is often from 12 pm to 2 pm, primarily based on work schedules and the day of the week. Lunch hours throughout weekends and holidays are typically versatile.
A typical breakfast in Kenya contains chai (tea) and bread. It’s additionally widespread to have espresso, candy potatoes, and arrowroots. In large eating places, it could actually include omelets, bacon, contemporary juice, fruit servings, and cornflakes.
In Kenya, breakfast is often served between 6 am and 9 am.
Though tipping just isn’t necessary in Kenya, it’s widespread so as to add 10% of the invoice as a tip primarily based on the standard of meals and the service.
To Summarize
Huge restaurant chains, native eateries, and avenue distributors depend on countryside farms for contemporary produce, greens, and elements. Additionally they supply the most effective fish, meat, and hen to be able to put together scrumptious dishes.
So, while 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 avenue meals like mutura and smokie pasua. I’m positive you’ll go away the nation with a lovely meals expertise and plenty of blissful reminiscences.
☞ SEE ALSO: 15 Finest Eating places in Nairobi, Kenya