Breaking bread together can easily help bridge any cultural divide. There is no bigger honor than to be invited to a cozy intimate family dinner, or to a meal amongst close friends, which might happen to you on your trip to Kenya!
It is normal to wonder about the culinary scene of your next destination. When it comes to Kenya, and particularly Nairobi, this is what you should know to get a deeper appreciation for the culture as well as enhance your experience:
TABLES AND SEATING
In Kenyan restaurants and homes, you find western-style tables and chairs, unless you are trying out an oriental restaurant where you might have to sit on cushions surrounding low tables on the floor.
You can request to sit on any table anywhere you want in the restaurant even the ones with more chairs than your party. And If it is an outdoors set-up on a chilly night, it is totally okay to request some burning coal to keep warm. You might want to spray on some mosquito repellent beforehand.
EATING SCHEDULE
Breakfast is generally skipped, or grabbed running through the door, due to very congested traffic during the morning hours.
Dinner is given more time and attention, and joyously shared with friends and family typically after a beautiful sundowner.
And if you get hungry in between, it is common to grab a coffee or chai (tea with milk) and Mandazi (deep fried dough) at work or school around 10am, and a snack at 4-5 pm.
Even during the weekend, breakfast is commonly a quick meal. In family settings, there might be more of an effort with an addition of delicacies such as samosas and garlic bread to their usual chai and mandazi. Brunch is becoming very trendy although it is not necessarily the norm.
RESERVATIONS
Reservations are not a must in Kenya. There is not a single restaurant that is that high in demand, as most restaurants in the same category have very similar menus so you always have multiple options to choose from. And Kenyans generally prefer to eat at home, or order take out.
However, in instances where you have a big celebration and you are a big party, it would be best to make reservations or at least call reception first.
ORDERING NYAMA CHOMA
Kenya does not have a big vegetarian culture as their cuisine is centered around meats but also vegetables such as kale, spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, and avocados.
Beef, pork, and goat are commonly preferred because they are more affordable than fish, chicken and mutton.
Nyama choma which translates to roasted meat, is the preferred way of eating meat across the entire country. Feel free to order the entire leg of a goat, they will cut it into smaller pieces for you.
Nyama choma is available at your local bar, and some renowned restaurants for it include Nyama Mama and Carnivore. And the famous Brazilian steakhouse, Faugo gaucho.
WHAT TO DRINK
While the local beer Tusker is the most popular option, everyone on the table might order a different drink from beer to wine and fruit juice. Always order bottled water, not tap water.
And feel free to choose from the varied wine section, usually ranging from Chilean, French, Spanish, Italian, South African and Kenyan wines. Wine is the more expensive option, usually at around $5 a glass! While beer and juice can range anywhere from $1- $2.
Kenyans are big fans of fresh fruit juice and you will find insane amounts of juice stores and stands in all busy areas.
Beer, usually at around $2, remains the top option throughout the country, and it pairs perfectly with Nyama choma so it is a win-win.
If you prefer cocktails, Happy Hour is a very popular trend in Nairobi, and is the perfect sundowner from 4 to 8pm. Try creating your own cocktail from scratch at Mulberry Project at The Alchemist bar.
ETIQUETTE AND TABLE MANNERS
In Kenya it is completely fine to share and eat from the same plate and friends can pick food from each other’s plates.
You will notice a lot of Kenyans eating with their hands. “Ugali is eaten with your hands” is a phrase you might hear often. Although other food such as chicken and fries are also commonly eaten with hands.
In restaurants, you will be given a fork and knife. However, it is not necessary to eat with a fork and knife, and many people will prefer to use spoons to eat rice dishes.
You do not have to finish your food if you are full. And it is acceptable to leave it or at least pack it to go.
TIPPING
Tipping is not common in Kenya, and neither is it expected. The staff at the restaurants make a full wage and tipping them is not recommended by any means! The service charge (tip) is already included in the price of your food. However, most people do leave a little extra for good service. Ksh 100 or $1 is generally appreciated!
FOOD FESTIVALS
There are so many festivals that are held annually in Nairobi. Some celebrate art, literature and fashion, and others food.
Some of the major food festivals include:
Burger fest Nairobi, a weeklong discount on burgers at all participating restaurants.
Pizza fest Nairobi, a weeklong discount on pizza in all participating Pizzerias and restaurants.
Wine fest Nairobi, a 2-day wine tasting event, and wine discounts and other offers at participating restaurants.
Nairobi Restaurant Week, a 10-day long dining experience at some of Nairobi’s best restaurants at highly discounted prices in January/February.
Cake Festival, a chance for different Professional and home-bakers to showcase their skills and network to grow the industry.
Nairobi Food Festival, an authentic experience of local and International culinary pleasures.
The Nairobi Japanese Food Festival, hosted by Nyama Mama Delta, it introduces a Kenyan-Japanese fusion cuisine.
Nairobi Black Food festival, an event that brings together Nairobi’s most innovative and inventive culinary minds in a challenge to use natural regular food to create black dishes.
EATING ON THE GO
In Kenya, and typically in smaller towns, fast foods and eating on the go are still very foreign concepts. In Nairobi, however, there is a big French fries and street food culture that encourages you to eat on the go in the bustling city.
Some typical examples of the food sold by vendors on the streets include:
Samosas, a deep-fried Asian inspired delicacy of meat or vegetables wrapped in dough.
Chapo smokie, a small, boiled sausage wrapped in chapati (Indian inspired flat bread)
Boiled eggs, which are usually split down the middle to add a tomato and onion salsa.
Viyazi, a sort of deep-fried potato which is a very popular snack on the coast of Kenya
Mutura, a roasted sausage made from internal organ meats such as intestines and stomach of the cow.
So many variations of fries have been developed because of their convenience and affordability. These also end up becoming the most popular items on most restaurant menus. They are commonly eaten alone or with fried chicken on the side.
The different types of french fries dishes include:
Masala chips, fries seasoned with masala spice and coated with a red sauce
Poussin chips or garlic chips, fries seasoned with different spices and sometimes garlic
Zhege, French fries cooked with an omelet.
Beef chips, fries mixed with beef cubes and some gravy
Cheesy chips, fries topped with a lot of cheese, typically cheddar or gouda cheese
SHOPPING FOR PRODUCE
It is rare for a middle-class Kenyan to buy produce such as meat, fruit, and vegetables from the supermarket because it is significantly more expensive. The popular supermarkets in Nairobi are Carrefour, Foodplus, Naivas, Quickmart, Shoprite and Uchumi.
But you should try getting your meats from the local butchery available in your neighborhoods, like the locals. And you should also buy your vegetables and fruit from the farmers market, or at your neighborhood fresh produce vendor at very cheap prices.
FOOD DELIVERY
Nairobians are big fans of ordering take out, or as they call it “takeaway.” Recently there has been an increase in food delivery apps that have made life easier for Kenyans throughout the country. And has incited a new trend of cloud kitchens which do not have seating spaces and have no overhead costs like employees’ salaries or rent.
When you feel too tired to prepare a meal, or simply lazy to even go out for dinner, you can count on 24hrs food delivery companies such as Yum Delivery Nairobi for bigger restaurants in Kenya, Domino’s Pizza Delivery or the Good Food Company, for affordable family dinners.
The most popular food delivery apps now are Yum, Deliveroo, Chakula, JumiaFood and most recently, UberEats. Yum and JumiaFood also operate outside Nairobi.
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