Typical food in Tanzania: What and where to eat?

The diversity that Tanzania offers in all its aspects (landscape and culture, among others) is also reflected in its gastronomy. However, the typical food of Tanzania is known for its clear oriental influence within the classic African food, in addition to having a delicious variety of raw ingredients, fresh fish and seafood. This way in the Tanzanian cuisine we find the mark of the African continent together with that of all the traders who have visited it: Chinese, Indians, and Arabs.

In this post we will discuss what are the star dishes and the most delicious desserts of the typical food of Tanzania, the ones you should definitely try. We will also give you many interesting tips about the restaurants where you should taste this delicious gastronomy. If you are going to travel to this African country, trust Passporter and do not miss all the recommendations and tips that await you below. And above all, enjoy your wonderful trip to Tanzania!

What are the typical dishes of Tanzania?

1. Ndizi na nyama

Ndizi na nyama is a kind of stew having unripe green plantains as the main ingredient. Green bananas are a typical fruit of the area around Kilimanjaro. For that reason this fruit enjoys a great prominence within all the typical food of Tanzania. To this stew they add other ingredients, such as beef, tomatoes, garlic and onion.

You can imagine that this is quite a hearty dish and you will be more than satiated. Other spices such as cumin, turmeric, cinnamon and coconut milk are usually added, giving it a lot of flavor. You will be surprised how delicious this dish is. We should mention that usually before eating it, fresh coriander is sprinkled and served with ugali. This results in a dish with a very appetizing presentation. Take the opportunity to eat it and take some pictures!

2. Ugali

Ugali is also one of the typical foods of Tanzania and usually accompanies most of the dishes we will mention below. It goes with everything: stews, meat, fish…. Ugali is a kind of scrambled corn porridge. To cook it, the corn kernels are crushed with salt and water. After mixing everything well, they cook it for about half an hour. It is very common, so you will find ugali in every restaurant.

3. Nyama choma

This is the name they use to refer to any type of meat that is cooked over charcoal, whether it is beef, goat, lamb, or chicken. In short, it is a hit for Western palates. In addition, this typical Tanzanian food is usually marinated with salt, pepper and lemon. The nyama choma, as we had indicated, is served with ugali, tomato sauce or cabbage salad. It is super hearty and delicious, do not leave without trying it!

4. Pilau ya nyama ya ng ombe

This is undoubtedly a typical Tanzanian food where the influence that the East has had on its cuisine is especially noticeable. It is an oriental rice with beef. But, as you can imagine, this rice came to Tanzania thanks to traders in the area of the Swahili coast, so it is the most typical dish of that part of the country. In this dish the pilau is cooked with lots of spices, such as pepper, paprika, cumin, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. In addition, it has many other ingredients that usually accompany it, such as peas, carrots, potatoes and coconut milk. The pilau ya nyama ya ng ombe is also usually accompanied by a type of local salad called kachumbari.

5. Kachumbari

This is a very fresh salad that always has the same ingredients: chopped tomato, red onion, cucumber and cilantro. The kachumbari is dressed with salt, pepper, lemon and olive oil. It should be noted that it is a typical Tanzanian meal that can be served as a single dish or accompanying others, as in the previous case of pilau ya nyama ya ng ombe. We recommend you try kachumbari when it’s very hot and you feel like something lighter.

6. Wali na maharage

This delicious dish basically consists of white rice cooked with coconut milk and red or black beans. It seems basic, but it is usually accompanied by a spicy sauce that is very good. This sauce is made with tomato, onion, chili and cilantro. Therefore, the Wali na maharage is the typical Tanzanian food ideal for vegetarian or vegan travelers. But even if you are not, we recommend you try it because it is a very rich and nutritious delicacy for long days of sightseeing.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What are the typical sweet dishes of Tanzania?

1. Maandazi

Maandazi is the star dessert of Tanzania and is usually served at breakfast time, but you can also find it at any time of the day at street stalls in the big cities. It is a kind of doughnut with the dough made of flour, coconut milk, egg and yeast. Sometimes they add cardamom and turmeric to give them a more special touch of flavor. They can also be sprinkled with powdered sugar or cinnamon, or filled with jam or chocolate.

Where to eat in Tanzania

In the country’s most populous city, Dar es Salaam, we recommend you try all this typical Tanzanian food at:

• Samaki samaki: This is a restaurant with a very nice atmosphere. In this place they specialize mainly in local seafood cooked in the local style, you can not leave without trying it! Don’t worry though, you will also find many other options on their menu, including vegetarian dishes and international cuisine.
• Mamboz Restaurant: If you want to try the most delicious Tanzanian-style barbecue you can’t miss Mamboz Restaurant during your stay in Dar es Salaam. In addition, you will eat luxuriously at a very affordable price, for less than 15€.
• The Waterfront Sunset Restaurant & Beach Bar: This is undoubtedly the perfect restaurant if you’re looking to eat in an exclusive space with a nice view. In this luxurious seafood restaurant you will eat very well in a unique atmosphere for less than 30€. We recommend you take advantage of the panoramic view of the city to take lots of photos.

If you visit the Lake Tanganyika area, you should go to the following restaurants:

• Metro Pub: It is located in Kigoma and stands out as one of the best restaurants to try Tanzanian cuisine. We particularly recommend that you try the grilled recipes there, as it is the specialty of Metro Pub.
• Kigoma Hilltop Hotel: This hotel has a beautiful restaurant on its terrace. You can eat local food while enjoying stunning views of the lake. At the Kigoma Hilltop Hotel you’ll find both local and international dishes.
• Unique Kitchen: This is a place located right on Bangwe beach. This restaurant is a perfect choice if you want to enjoying typical Tanzanian food. In addition, in the Unique Kitchen all dishes are plentiful, although we recommend that you do not miss the opportunity to try the fish barbecue.

We should mention that in other areas more oriented to nature tourism, such as Serengeti National Park, there are not many restaurants or bars where you can eat. You will usually have all your meals at your camp inside the park.

Travel tips to Tanzania

• In Tanzania, the official languages are Swahili and English
• A visa and passport are required to enter Tanzania.
• The official currency of Tanzania is the Tanzanian shilling.
• Although in the more touristy areas it is possible to find places that accept credit cards, it is advisable to take cash for some restaurants.
• Tanzania has a tropical climate with pleasant temperatures throughout the year. However, you should be prepared for possible climatic variations depending on the region you are visiting and the time of year you visit.
• Drink only bottled water and avoid consuming raw foods from unreliable sources to avoid stomach problems.
• Hedge against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
• Tanzania is a safe destination, but we recommend that you take care with your belongings and avoid going out alone at night.
• Don’t forget the sunscreen.
• The best time to travel to Tanzania is during the dry season.

How to prepare what to see on your trip and discover the typical food of Tanzania

Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
• Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicate in this post as a reference).
• Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes presented in the post)
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend to other travelers the typical food in Tanzania.

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.

Frequently asked questions about typical food in Tanzania