Kenyan Foods

One of the best things about Kenya dining is the relative affordability of it all. Even if you are enjoying a meal at one of the higher priced Kenyan restaurants, the price can be very attractive by Western standards. Vegetarians visiting Kenya might not appreciate the fact that meat is abundant here, often making its way into the abundance of dishes, but since an array of fruits and vegetables are grown here, you can often do quite well for yourself. Many of the top Kenya lodges and hotels offer elaborate buffet spreads, especially for lunch, so meat eaters and vegetarians alike can enjoy an array of food options should they be staying at one. The Kenyan restaurants receive the most praise in Nairobi and Mombasa, but you never know what you might find at other Kenya destinations should you keep an open mind. Kenyan foods are inspired by a range of international cuisines, and as tourism here increases, so should the diversity of Kenya dining establishments.

Nyama Choma, or roasted meat, is perhaps the most recognizable Kenyan cuisine favorite. Beef and goat are just two of the kinds of meat that are common for Nyama Choma dishes, and game meat is also sometimes prepared this way. Carnivore, which is the most renowned of all the Kenyan restaurants, is a Nairobi establishment that many tourists and tour groups choose to visit. The meat here is prepared Masai-style, which involves a spear and a fire pit. Beef, chicken, and pork are what most visitors choose to stick with, but you might try some of the game meat if you are up for something different. Ostrich, zebra, and crocodile are some of the game meats that Kenyans include in Nyama Choma meals. You can generally expect Nyama Choma to be served with Kachumbari, which is a mixture of chopped vegetables that is seasoned with parsley, pepper, and sometimes avocado. Starches are surely staples among the food of Kenya, with potatoes, Ugali, and rice among the most common. Ugali is a ground maize flour that is mixed with water and cooked into a sort of cake.

The Kenyan coast is one of the best places to enjoy Kenya dining, especially in and around such tourist destinations as Mombasa, Lamu, and Malindi. The Kenyan restaurants along the coast understandably specialize in seafood, with prawns, oysters, and plenty of fish among the bounty that the Indian Ocean offers up. International flavors and influences have been implemented into the menus of many of the top coastal restaurants, with Italian and Indian cuisine being quite prevalent. Kenya's Swahili people live mainly along the coast, and their cooking habits have been forged over centuries, employing techniques and flavors from visitors throughout history. Persian, Asian, and Arabian traders were among these past visitors, and as such, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon are prevalent seasonings. Rice and seafood dishes can sometimes be cooked in coconut milk, which you might want to try, and tamarind dips and tropical fruits are also common Swahili Kenya foods. Sweet meat, or Haluwa, is something you'll want to likely sample when visiting Lamu, and it's always fun to explore the fish market in Mombasa. Coincidentally, many of the chefs at the top Mombasa restaurants head to the Mombasa market to stock up for the day's menu.

Curries are popular in Kenyan cuisine, as many Kenyan restaurants feature Indian fare. The Indian restaurants in Kenya are great places for vegetarians to find a good selection, so if you avoid meats in your diet, you can keep that in mind while planning your Kenya vacation. As mentioned, Mombasa and Nairobi have the best Kenyan restaurants, so they are key destinations where you will want to treat yourself to a nice Kenya dining experience. Should you be staying at one of the Kenya safari lodges, you'll often get the chance to enjoy al-fresco meals prepared by competent chefs while you enjoy the surrounding views. At the nicer lodges near destinations like Mount Kenya and Lake Nakuru, for example, following dinner with a cocktail at sunset is a great way to take it all in.

Most people familiar with Kenyan cuisine already know about the quality Kenya coffee, and if you like starting the day with a nice hot cup of Joe, you'll certainly be content in Kenya. Chai tea is also abundant here, so you can also opt for a cup of that. Many Kenyans, and thus Kenya visitors, pair their coffee or tea with Mandaazi, which is a deep-fried dough cake that is often sweetened with sugar. Egg bread is one of the Kenyan foods you might try for breakfast. It consists of a sort of wheat flour pancake that is rolled around minced meats and fried eggs. Fruit salads figure among many a breakfast in Kenya since papaya, bananas, and pineapples grow here year round. Citrus fruits also grow in Kenya, though they are seasonal. Fresh fruit drinks are a big part of Kenyan cuisine, with juice from passion fruit being a breakfast favorite. Wines and liquors are not something Kenya is known for, so you will notice foreign brands in those departments. White Cap and Tusker are two lagers that beer-drinkers will notice most during their Kenya vacation, and rural bars are known to serve up their own beer variations, which are known as "muratinas".