The best restaurants in Johannesburg

Over the course of 150 years, Johannesburg – reverentially known as Egoli, or the place of gold, in Zulu – has attracted migrants from neighbouring Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, as well as those from farther afield: Nigeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Ethiopia. Layered into this eclectic mix are long-established Chinese, Indian, Jewish, Dutch, Mozambican, Portuguese, French and Italian communities, each adding their own page to the city’s culinary story. The spicy sting of jollof rice and the nourishing hug of injera bread, among many others, have emerged from historic neighbourhoods shaped by their distinctive cultural identities and have made their way into the city’s mainstream. Here’s a taste of the pan-African, pan-global and unmistakably cosmopolitan cuisine only found at the best restaurants in Johannesburg.

1. Épicure at One

At this fine dining restaurant in Rosebank , Chef Coco Reinarhz blends modern European techniques with age-old African ingredients to create elegant plates. His menu, inspired by his travels across the continent, is divided by region and designed for communal dining. Highlights include Namibian oysters with smoked salt and Kalahari truffle, creamy piri-piri lobster, oxtail stew, goat pilau, coconut chicken curry with mango atchar and flame-grilled beef fillet on the bone. Naturally, the wine list champions top South African vintages.

2. Hombaze

For African dishes that showcase the region’s nose-to-tail culinary traditions, Hombaze in Sandton isiewu, a chopped goat’s head dish from Nigeria’s east; peppered chicken gizzards with ripe plantain; cow-heel pepper soup; tripe and pounded yam; and masonja, consisting of dried mopane worms (an edible caterpillar) soaked in oil and tossed with tomato and onion sauce.

3. Kwa Mai Mai Traditional Market

Surrounded by a thriving migrant community and known for its traditional beaded jewellery, clothing, musical instruments and medicines, this local market used to be frequented by residents looking for a bargain. Then the city’s hipsters caught on, turning it into a weekend party place. With that came an explosion of food options: shisha lounges, barbecue joints and street food vendors selling more traditional fare, such as tripe or sheep and cow heads, slow-cooked and served with salt, fresh chilli, mopane worms and other delicacies. A local guide is recommended but not essential.

4. Bersufekad Bar and Restaurant

Many Johannesburg restaurants have warmly embraced Ethiopian cuisine, with Little Addis Cafe leading the way. For the more adventurous, Bersufekad , in the city’s Ethiopian quarter, is a must-visit. The raw beef with awaze – a chilli and mustard sauce – is bold and flavourful. Pair it with a crisp St George’s beer and large platters of spongy injera topped with mounds of kitfo (spiced minced meat), vegetables, homemade cheese and dollops of shiro (powdered broad bean or chickpea-based stew).

5. Marble

“Salads”, as Springbok rugby player Ox Nché once quipped, “don’t win scrums”. And while there are excellent steak houses throughout the city – such as The Grill House in Rosebank and Gaucho in Muldersdrift – the finest ingredients are found at Marble . Chef David Higgs sources responsibly reared local beef, including wagyu, as well as prime gold beef from the US. Indeed, there’s a cut for every carnivore in this impeccably decorated restaurant, complemented by an extensive drinks list. In addition to the headline beef dishes, the menu includes excellent fish and risotto options and a delicious dessert selection.

6. The Troyeville Restaurant

The grand dame of Johannesburg’s Mozambican Portuguese gastronomic heritage has been around since 1939 for three simple reasons: ice-cold draught beer, a fiery homemade piri-piri sauce and excellent preparation of some of the freshest seafood in the city. The trinchado steaks and piri-piri chicken are top-notch, the prawn rissoles are excellent, and you can also catch live sports in the pub area. Back to the food: be sure to try the classic Portuguese dishes such as feijoada (black bean and pork stew) and dobrada (bean and tripe stew).

7. Yeoville Dinner Club

Sanza Sandile blends African flavours with storytelling at his restaurant on Rockey Street , in the pan-African suburb of Yeoville. Dinner is a long-table affair in a quirky, vibrantly local setting, with dishes like Congolese-style saka-madesu (a stew with cassava leaves, ground nuts, black-eyed beans and kidney beans), Northeast African falafel with peanut sauce and Nigerian-style egusi soup, as well as Congolese pan-fried fish in tomato sauce, with fried okra, chickpeas and capers. Endorsed by renowned US chef and TV presenter Anthony Bourdain, this restaurant is a bucket list dining experience. To book, contact Sandile on Instagram or on +27 83 385 2707 via WhatsApp.