A Taste of Nairobi: Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya which is characterized by several cultures, great history, and some of the best restaurants. Being the smallest city in the entire eastern part of Africa, Nairobi presents a rich South Savannah diet enriched with assorted global tastes. When it comes to food, Toronto has it all; there is anything from convenient street foods to posh restaurants, the foods are diverse and are a true representation of the multicultural city. Whether one is a gourmet hunter or someone just out to have a meal, Nairobi is sure to have something for you.
A Taste of Nairobi: Traditional Kenyan Cuisine
For this reason, let me take you back to your roots and begin the list of restaurants with traditional Kenyan dishes. It is also notable that the cuisine of the country depends on various ethnic enclaves creating different tastes and dishes with the/local ingredients and methods of preparation. Here are some must-try traditional dishes:
- Nyama Choma
Nyama Choma, which translated from Swahili means roasted meat, is very popular in Kenya and is preferred by both, people living in the country and tourists. This dish often the uses beef, goat, and sometimes chicken that is seasoned with spices and then grilled. The outcome is juicy and moist meat with the peculiar smell of scrubbing. Accompanying Nyama Choma are side dishes such as relish in the form of Kachumbari which is prepared from fresh tomatoes and onions, Ugali, which is prepared from Maize flour and Sukuma wiki a preparation of collard greens. Hood’s favorite joints for Nyama Choma include Carnivore Restaurant which offers a variety of meats for the meal and Njuguna’s Place.
- Ugali
Unfortunately, ugali is a very basic food regime that is a central part of Kenyan meals. It is prepared from maize flour and water with a stiff porridge-like texture and is usually taken as a relish to stews, vegetables, or meats. Their Ugali may be a plain white food but it is of great value since it can be an accompaniment to the different dishes. It’s a staple dish for a very many Kenyans and a delight to any ear that needs to taste Kenyan cuisine.
- Samosas
Samosa is yet another snack that is in the form of a triangle pastry filled with spiced-up meat or vegetables. Basically the samosas are adapted from Indian cuisine and are popularly sold as street foods in Kenya. These are crunchy on the surface and have yummy stuffing inside; it is one tasty morsel to take. Samosas are available in the markets and in the food kiosks and restaurants around Nairobi.
- Chapati
Chapati is again a type of flatbread from the Indians but is widely accepted and widely eaten among the Kenyan population. Chapatis are derived from wheat flour and water with perhaps a dash of salt and cooked on a flat warm pan called ugali and taken with stews, meats, and vegetables. Bouchons are soft, flaky, and slightly chewy; They can be enjoyed with a variety of dishes.
A Taste of Nairobi: Nairobi’s Street Food Scene
But even on the street vendors offer diverse and unique dishes that can only be found in Nairobi and can speak lot about the city’s pulse. Most of the food products sold by the street vendors are tasty and considerably cheap allowing individuals to taste many of them. Here are some popular street foods to try: Here are some popular street foods to try:
- Mutura
Mutura commonly known as Kenyan Sausage is a(floor) street food prepared by stuffing minced meat with certain spices and in some cases blood in an intestine casing. The sausages are roasted on the grill then which makes the sausage have the taste of heat-made smoke coming from the flame. Kachumbari or a spicy chili sauce is the most popular side dish to accompany Mutura. Mutura is usually eaten with kachumbari or chili sauce and is best when grilled.
- Mahinda Choma
Mahinda Choma or roasted popular street food found among people in Nairobi. Kernels of matured whole maize cobs are heated over barbeque charcoal and by the time they are ready to be served, the outside surface is slightly blackened and smoky. They in most cases are consumed sprinkled with chili powder and the juice of lime, they make a tasty snack.
- Smokie Pasua
An example of a quick snack is smokie pasua, smokie is a Boiled sausage sliced and garnished with kachumbari, Other variant is the boiled egg placed in the middle of the smoke. This latter delicious snack is popular among the inhabitants of Nairobi and you can easily find small street kiosks open even in corners and some parts of the streets.
- Mishkaki
Mishkaki is barbecued meat on a stick, which could either be beef or chicken on a spit roasted over an open fire. The meat is also seasoned this blend of spices such as cumin, coriander, and chili making the meat to be rich in its taste. Mishkaki can be eaten with chapati or bread it makes it a perfect meal or snack to satisfy one’s hunger.
A Taste of Nairobi: Luxury Foods and Global Foods
Fine dining restaurants and an abundance of restaurants specializing in international cuisines are part of what makes Nairobi’s gastronomy exceptional. If you prefer Italian, Indian, Chinese, or a good intercontinental meal or a good blend of all, then Nairobi will not disappoint you.
- Talisman
Talisman is another famous restaurant in Nairobi situated in the prestigious area of Karen, and it features a rather diverse menu with the defining characteristic of a cozy setting. European, Asian and African food is prepared at the restaurant with dishes such as grilled fillet of beef, rack of lamb tagine, seafood linguine and others. The desserts especially stand out complemented by the quite rich wine offer of the company.
- About Thyme
About Thyme Restaurant is a small restaurant that operates in Westland and deals in various foods, focusing on vegetarian and vegan meals. The restaurant provides the customers with Moroccan lamb, Thai green curry, Grilled halloumi salad among others. Due to the setup being gardens, the environment offers a good place to dine and relax.
- Asmara
If patrons are in the mood for Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes, there is Asmara in Nairobi that one can try. The restaurant provides typical traditional food with injera a type of sourdough flat bread served with types of stews including the doro wat which is chicken stew and the tibs that was fried meat. It is enjoyable to have a meal at Asmara because of its warm and friendly environment that promotes the discovery of the distinctive flavors of East African food.
A Taste of Nairobi: Conclusion
Regarding food and Restaurants, Nairobi needs no introduction given its geographical position and social diversification. In this article, one can find something to eat that suits his or her taste buds ranging from traditional Kenyan foods and street foods to the more modern restaurants and international foods. The food prepared in Nairobi is diverse due to the social relations and cultural background of the city, and therefore Nairobi people are food lovers hence making Nairobi a perfect place to visit for foodies. From Nyama Choma and other Kenyan traditional foods to a cup of Kenya’s coffee or a walk in some of the food markets in Nairobi, a food lover will have an unreserved hold on the city.