12 BEST STREET FOODS EVERYONE NEEDS TO TRY IN TANZANIA
A young boy carrying fruits on a large plate. Spiced and seasoned foods are an important way of life to the people of Tanzania / Image: @victor_ajiss33
Tanzania gets a lot of attention for its wildlife and national parks, but its street food scene might just be its best-kept secret. Heavily influenced by Indian and Arabic flavors, the cuisine here is a delight for the palette. Much of the dishes are centered around two main components: spices and coconut, but it's by no means limited to that.
Often, tourists like to frequent fancy restaurants where they can enjoy their beloved Western-style dishes. However, little do they know Tanzania's street food culture is alive and thriving. From roadside barbecues cooking up whole chickens to bustling markets where the crowds huddle together to savor hearty servings of chipsi mayai, dining al fresco here is a big deal.
When you first arrive in Tanzania, knowing what street foods to try can be tricky. Instead of having you play the guessing game, we've put together our favorite dishes for you to check out.
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A chef making Chipsi Mayai on the streets of Tanzania. Street food is Tanzania’s best kept secret / Image: @mkumbwajr
Chipsi Mayai
Chipsi mayai is a staple food in Tanzania, as this egg and potato omelet is a hit with locals in every corner of the country. In most instances, the potatoes are chopped and deep-fried to form French fries, which are then added to an egg mixture and cooked on low heat. You'll usually find chipsi mayai prepared with kachumbari, a refreshing and zesty mix of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and cilantro.
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania's capital, is said to be the birthplace of chipsi mayai. Street stalls serving this beloved snack are scattered across the city, meaning you'll never have to go too far to get your fix when traveling to Africa.
Nyama Choma
If you're a fan of barbecued meats, nyama choma is a must-try. It's up there with the simplest and most flavorful street foods, generally consisting of grilled goat meat that's been doused in a marinade of herbs and spices. Some prefer to use beef or lamb, but goat tends to be the preferred choice with Tanzanians.
Nyama choma is a widely famous food from Tanzania, but also particularly enjoyed by Kenya's Maasai tribe. For centuries, the Maasai people hunted and roasted meat over open fires, and this tradition gradually became standard throughout the country. These days, delicious nyama choma is easy to find throughout the country, including at street food hubs like the Kwa Morombo Market in Arusha.
Tanzania isnt all about game drives and safaris. Visit their local markets vibrant with colorful materials and of course, delicious street food / Image: @ceycode
Mandazi
Soft, spongy, and slightly sweet, mandazi is a type of fried bread comprised of flour, yeast, milk, sugar, and eggs. For added flavor, spices like cardamom and cinnamon are sometimes added. In a nutshell, mandazi are akin to doughnuts, though they're usually a tad less sweet! They can be enjoyed at any time of day but are a favorite for those looking for a quick and saccharine breakfast.
Mandazi originated along the Swahili Coast, so you'll be able to find the best mandazi near the seafront where street food vendors gather. The markets of Stone Town in Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam are some of the top spots to sample this revered snack.
Mshikaki
Another Tanzanian food for meat lovers is mshikaki. These smokey, marinated meat skewers are essentially East Africa's take on a kebab! They can feature anything from beef to goat chunks and are sometimes interspersed with grilled veggies. Although mshikaki tastes great on its own, it works just as well with flatbreads and dips like tamarind sauce.
Dar es Salaam is the go-to place for quality mshikaki, as it's often credited as the home of these mouthwatering skewers. It makes for a perfect snack as you explore the city's bustling streets and markets.
Samosas
Samosas might be best known as an Indian treat, but they're also treasured fast foods in Tanzania. Much like traditional samosas, the Tanzanian take on these quick, deep-fried bites consist of potato, onions, peas, and spices wrapped in a thick pastry. That said, in Tanzania, it's not uncommon to find versions packed with beef or chicken.
Select pockets of the country are famed for their samosas, particularly those along the coast or on the island of Zanzibar. These areas have sizable populations of Indian ancestry and are the top places to secure quality samosas.
Plantains are a food you will find in many Tanzanian dishes. Eat them sweet or savory - its your choice / Image: @anildesign
Urojo Soup
Urojo soup, which is also called the Zanzibar mix, is among the heartiest Tanzanian street foods. Although it's a soup, this dish feels like an entire meal! At the heart of urojo soup is a helping of smooth potatoes. They are then combined with various chutneys, cassava, and bhajias, which are deep-fried morsels of potatoes and vegetables.
As you've likely guessed from the dish's nickname, 'the Zanzibar mix,' urojo soup is synonymous with Zanzibar. Want to have some for yourself? Head out into the streets of the Stone Town area, where the finest cooks serve it up.
Fried Cassava
Cassava is a hugely important crop in Tanzania, and a popular way to enjoy this nutty root vegetable is in fried form. A simple but delectable snack, fried cassava is relatively mild on its own. For this reason, it's sometimes teamed with kachumbari, as the zingy flavors from the tomatoes and onions add depth to the dish.
In Dar Es Salaam, fried cassava is a staple breakfast. While you might spot it at some of the street food stalls later in the day, it's best to make your way to the street-side stands early to enjoy cassava like a local.
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Vitumbua
Vitumbua is among the sweeter additions to Tanzania's street food scene. These bite-sized goodies are somewhere between a doughnut and a pancake and are made from a handful of ingredients: rice, coconut milk, yeast, and sugar. More often than not, vitumbua also contains extras like cardamom or salt for added flavor. Despite being a breakfast classic, they're just as good later in the day, alongside tea or coffee.
No matter where you go along the Tanzanian section of the Swahili Coast, you'll likely come across vitumbua at street food stalls. Zanzibar and Dar Es Salaam, in particular, are some of the top seaside spots for foodies looking for authentic vitumbua.
Fried Plantains ready for eating! Spots like Arusha, Dar Es Salaam, and Mwanza are all excellent places to try these crispy goodies. / Image: @victorkg
Fried Plantains
If it wasn't already clear, it's safe to say that fried goods play a starring role when it comes to street food in Tanzania. This time, we're looking at plantains. Fried varieties of these starchy fruits are famed around the globe, and in this East African nation, they're typically sprinkled with salt, lemon juice, and a pinch of nutmeg before getting fried in butter. For sweeter varieties, you might find brown sugar included in the recipe.
There are few places in Tanzania where fried plantains aren't readily available, as they're a famous food from the largest cities to the smallest villages. Spots like Arusha, Dar Es Salaam, and Mwanza are all excellent places to try these crispy goodies.
Bhajiya wa Kundé
Bhajiya wa kundé might not have been born from a traditional Tanzanian food recipe. But this iconic Arab and Indian-influenced treat is an undeniable street food favorite in much of the country. In short, these deep-fried dumplings are a mish-mash of falafel from Northern Africa and Indian bhajias. They contain black-eyed peas, onions, and a medley of fiery spices.
Zanzibar is known for having some of the finest bhajiya wa kundé around, but a lot of towns and cities near or along the coast will serve them, too.
Katlesi
Katlesi is one of those local delicacies that doesn't stick to a specific recipe. On the outside is a crunchy layer of fluffy mashed potato, while the inside is made from a mix of meat or fish with herbs. More often than not, the center is stuffed with minced meat, lamb, tuna, or chicken. The mix is then fried and dished up with anything from tamarind sauce to sour or spicy chutneys.
Islands like Zanzibar and Pemba are both hotspots for these savory nibbles. It's by no means limited to these locations, though; a good few food markets around the country will have at least a few katlesi spots.
Street food chefs take their cooking seriously in Tanzania. Why not sample their traditional food on your next adventure here? / Image: @mkumbwajr
Zanzibar Pizza
Traditional pizza might not be the most popular food in Tanzania, but Zanzibar's take on this renowned dish certainly is. It's important to note that the name is slightly misleading, as it's more reminiscent of a savory crepe than a conventional pizza. The pancake-style mixture is fried on a pan and can be teamed with a seemingly endless slew of toppings like meat, cheese, vegetables, and everything in between.
Zanzibar pizza is a relatively new addition to the street food landscape, having only emerged on its namesake island around 30 years back. This fusion of East African, European, and Indian culinary flavors is found all over Zanzibar. However, Stone Town is perhaps the best place you’ll be able to sample it.
Prepare Your Tastebuds for the Delights of Street Food in Tanzania!
Some of the best food in Tanzania can be found along the country's lively streets, where local chefs cook up a storm and serve up everything from sweet mandazi to juicy mshikaki. If you're eager to sample traditional Tanzanian food while here for your Serengeti safari, don't be afraid to branch out from the typical eateries and eat the local way. You'd be surprised what you can find.
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