Kenya Restaurants

Kenya is inhabited by more than 40 tribes, whose influence is visible in the native cuisine. Besides, the cooking method in Kenya is influenced by several cultures, such as European, Indian and Arabic.

As most of the Kenyan population comprises tribal people living in rural areas, the food in the country is simple and inexpensive. The widely grown corn, maize, potatoes and beans are the staple food. Meat is an important ingredient of Kenyan meal. Beef and goat meat is popular, besides which fish, chicken and mutton are also served.

Every tribe has a local speciality, which is influenced by the topography as well as their history. Ugali is one of the most popular dishes, which is mainly eaten in the inland regions. Prepared using maize or corn flour, it is a type of porridge.

Generally prepared on special occasions in Kenyan homes, Nyama Choma is the most popular Kenyan delicacy. It is basically roasted beef or goat meat that is served with a spicy tomato relish.

The local speciality of the Kikuyu tribe that resides in central Kenya is Githeri. It is a mixture of corn and kidney beans that is served with chapattis or ugali. Irio is another famous dish of Kikuyu and Gikuyu that is prepared by rolling mashed vegetables and dipping them in meat stew.

Game meat is a special dish served in most of the game parks in the country. Furthermore, areas resided by the Masai tribe are famous for the traditional meat served with cattle milk mixed with its blood. In the coastal regions of the country fish delicacies are popular. Some of the other famous Kenyan dishes are Kachumbari, Mandaazi and Sukuma Wiki.

In Nairobi, a restaurant named the Carnivore serves world famous game meat. This restaurant is one of its kind in entire Africa. One can taste meals prepared from antelope, crocodile, gazelle and other wild meat at this popular restaurant.

National as well as local specialities can be tasted in the speciality restaurants in the major cities, like Nairobi and Mombasa. Roadside eateries in the open-air markets also serve local delicacies as well as street food.

The most popular street food is sambusas, which are fried pastry triangles with spiced minced meat filling. Another popular street food is roasted corn on the cob and mkate mayai, which is bread and egg.

Kenya is dotted with fast food restaurants, cafés and hotels serving international cuisines, along with Kenyan dishes. Restaurants across Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu serve cuisines like Italian, European, American, French, Chinese and Lebanese. Apart from these, one can also taste Indian, Thai, Japanese, Mexican and Korean food in the Kenyan restaurants.

In beverages, coffee is the Kenyan speciality. Several cafes can be found serving different varieties of coffee. Apart from coffee, the local beer is also popular among tourists and is often served with food. Tusker and White Cap are the famous locally brewed beers. Another commonly taken drink is Maziwa Lala, which is a beverage made from fermented milk.