Food & Drink
Street Food in Zimbabwe: What to Eat, Where to Find It
Zimbabwe's street food runs from roasted maize and vetkoek to braai meat and peanuts. This guide covers what to eat, what to pay, and where to find it.
Zimbabwean Cuisine
Food in Zimbabwe: A Complete Guide to Zimbabwean Cuisine
Zimbabwean food is built around sadza, the maize porridge that anchors nearly every meal. What makes it interesting is not sadza itself but the relishes, stews, and grilled meats served alongside it. Peanut butter (dovi) appears in stews and greens in ways that visitors rarely expect. The braai (barbecue) culture is strong, and roadside grills produce some of the best-value grilled meat in Southern Africa.
Eating well in Zimbabwe is affordable outside of safari lodge dining. A plate of sadza and nyama at a local restaurant costs $2-5. Biltong and boerewors from good butcheries are significantly cheaper than in South Africa. Harare has the widest restaurant scene, including Indian, Chinese, and modern African cuisine. Victoria Falls caters more to tourists but still has good local food if you step away from the main strip.
Food by City
Each city guide includes a dedicated food page covering must-eat dishes, local specialities, and where to eat them.
Dishes to Try in Zimbabwe
Eight foods and drinks that define the Zimbabwean table - from the daily staple to the braai classics.
Sadza
The staple of Zimbabwean cuisine - a thick, stiff porridge made from white maize meal. Sadza is eaten with nearly every main meal, shaped into balls by hand and used to scoop up relishes, stews, and grilled meats. The taste is mild; the relish pairing defines the meal. Every household and restaurant has its own approach.
Nyama (Grilled Meat)
Beef, goat, and chicken grilled over open coals, typically served with sadza and a tomato-onion relish. Braai (barbecue) culture is strong across Zimbabwe, particularly in Harare and Bulawayo. Roadside grills serve nyama choma (charcoal-grilled meat) from as little as $2-3 for a generous plate.
Boerewors
A coiled beef and spice sausage brought by Southern African farming culture, now a staple at any Zimbabwean braai. Cooked over coals and served in a roll or alongside sadza. Available at butcheries, supermarkets, and roadside vendors across the country. Quality varies - Colcom is the most widely recognised brand.
Biltong
Air-dried, cured meat (usually beef) seasoned with coriander, pepper, and vinegar. Zimbabwe produces some of Southern Africa's best biltong. Sold in strips or sliced at butcheries, petrol stations, and specialist vendors. A popular road-trip snack and pub accompaniment. Expect to pay $8-15 per kilogram.
Matemba (Kapenta)
Tiny dried sardine-like fish from Lake Kariba and Lake Tanganyika, fried crispy and served as a relish with sadza. A major protein source across Zimbabwe, particularly in rural areas. The dried fish are cooked with tomatoes, onions, and sometimes peanut butter. An acquired taste for visitors but central to the national diet.
Muriwo (Greens)
A collective term for cooked leafy greens - typically rape (collard greens), covo, or pumpkin leaves - sauteed with tomato, onion, and sometimes peanut butter. Served as a side with sadza. Muriwo unedovi (greens with peanut butter sauce) is the most distinctively Zimbabwean preparation.
Dovi (Peanut Butter Stew)
A rich stew made from peanut butter, tomatoes, onions, and usually chicken or beef. Served over sadza. Peanut butter (called dovi) is a defining ingredient in Zimbabwean cooking, used in stews, relishes, and vegetable dishes. The flavour is savoury, not sweet.
Chibuku
Zimbabwe's traditional sorghum beer, sold in distinctive green cartons. Thick, slightly sour, and low in alcohol (around 3-4%). Still brewed commercially by Delta Corporation using traditional methods. Available at bottle stores and beer halls across the country. An experience rather than a refined drink.
Best Cities for Food
Harare
Zimbabwe's most diverse food city. Beyond traditional restaurants, Harare has a growing cafe culture in Borrowdale and Avondale, good Indian food (particularly in the Eastlea area), and upscale dining at places like Amanzi and The Fishmonger. The Mbare Musika market is the raw, unfiltered food experience.
Food guide to Harare →Bulawayo
Bulawayo has a distinct food identity shaped by Ndebele cuisine and a strong braai culture. The city's butcheries produce excellent biltong and boerewors. Local restaurants serve generous portions of sadza ne nyama at prices well below Harare. The Bulawayo Club and surrounding area have a handful of more formal dining options.
Food guide to Bulawayo →Victoria Falls
The most tourist-oriented food scene in Zimbabwe. The Lookout Cafe (overlooking the gorge) and The Three Monkeys are the best-known restaurants. For local food at local prices, head to Chinotimba township. Game meat (crocodile, impala, warthog) appears on several menus here and rarely elsewhere.
Food guide to Victoria Falls →Food Guides
In-depth guides to the cuisine, restaurants, and food scene.
Food & Drink
Traditional Zimbabwean Cuisine: A Complete Food Guide
From sadza and muriwo to biltong and madora, this guide covers traditional Zimbabwean food — what to eat, where to find it, and the cultural context.
Food & Drink
Vegetarian Food in Zimbabwe: A Practical Guide for Plant-Based Travellers
Zimbabwe's cuisine is meat-heavy, but vegetarians eat well with the right knowledge. Covers vegetarian dishes, restaurants and supermarkets across Zimbabwe.
Food & Drink
Zimbabwe Food Markets: The Best Markets for Fresh Produce and Local Food
Zimbabwe's markets are where food culture comes alive — from Mbare Musika in Harare to Bulawayo's craft markets and Eastern Highlands produce stalls.
Explore the food scene city by city