In short: food in Dar mixes Swahili coast, Arab, Indian and inland Tanzanian cooking. A lot of it is cheap and cooked right in front of you. To taste it with a local guide, join our Dar es Salaam Food Tour.
Dishes to know
- Chipsi mayai: chips cooked into an omelette.
- Nyama choma: grilled goat or beef.
- Pilau and biryani: spiced rice dishes.
- Wali na maharage: rice and beans.
- Ugali na samaki: stiff maize porridge served with fish.
- Mandazi with chai: lightly sweet fried dough with spiced tea.
- Sambusa and kachori: fried snacks with Indian roots.
- Miwa: fresh sugarcane juice.
Street coffee: kahawa
Kahawa is strong black coffee that street sellers pour into tiny cups, often eaten with kashata, a peanut or coconut sweet. Street coffee spots, where people meet to talk, are a common sight around Dar.
Eating street food well
- Choose busy stalls where food is cooked fresh.
- Drink bottled or treated water.
- Eat with your right hand where people eat by hand.
- During Ramadan, be discreet about eating in public in the daytime.
- Peanuts and coconut are common, so mention any allergy.
Planning a full day? Pair food with our Dar es Salaam City Tour, or read one day in Dar before your Zanzibar ferry.
Frequently asked questions
Is street food in Dar es Salaam safe?
Busy stalls with freshly cooked food are the usual choice. Take care with water and raw salads.
What should I try first?
Chipsi mayai and nyama choma are easy dishes to start with.
What is kahawa?
Strong black coffee sold by street sellers in tiny cups, often with kashata, a peanut or coconut sweet.