Get your hands messy in one of South Africa's best bunny chows, this National Bunny Chow Day
Durban, South Africa, the city with the largest Indian population outside of India and home to the origin of the famous Bunny Chow.
In the 1940s, Gujarati speaking people living in Durban, created a dish which is now synonymous with the South African Indian culture, and has become one of the country's most popular eatables, with many variations.
But where did the name come from?
Most Indians who arrived in Durban in the late 1800s after the indentured labourers, came as merchants.
Part of the Indian caste system or rather directly translated from Sanskrit, the word Bania meant merchant in English.
The word Bania obviously lost in translation became Bunny, and the South African slang for food is Chow, hence the name Bunny Chow.
That's the history lesson behind it, but what is it, and where can we find a good Bunny Chow in South Africa?
As mentioned a Bunny Chow is a term to describe a type of South African cuisine.
It involves a loaf of bread, either cut in half, or quarter, horizontally.
The inside of the cut loaf is then scooped out to create a hollowed box effect.
Thereafter a curry is poured into the hollowed loaf with the scooped out part, known as the lid, sitting next to it (to enjoy when you eat the bunny chow).
A Bunny Chow is best enjoyed by eating it with your hands to taste all the flavours. If it is a slightly bigger portion it is also usually shared amongst friends. A Bunny Chow is almost always paired with an ice cold beverage.
The popularity of the cuisine has grown so much over the years that South African retailers have also made Bunny Chow flavoured products, like crisps (chips) from Willards and Woolworths.
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Willards Crinkle Cut Bunny Chow Flavoured Potato Chips and Woolworths Chicken Curry Bunny Chow Flavoured Potato Crisps
Photo Credits Ziyaad Plaatjes
We have listed a few Bunny Chow's which we have tried around South Africa.
Let us know in the comments your favourite Bunny Chow spot.
Sharjah Indian Arabic Cuisine
Bunny Chow at Sharjah Indian Arabic Cuisine, Woodmead, Johannesburg
Photo Credits Ziyaad Plaatjes
Dosa Hut
Bunny Chow at Dosa Hut, Fourways, Johannesburg
Photo Credits Ziyaad Plaatjes
Al-Hamra Restaurant
Bunny Chow at Al-Hamra Restaurant, Sandton, Johannesburg
Photo Credits Nabihah Plaatjes
Copper Chimney
Bunny Chow at Copper Chimney, Buccleuch, Johannesburg
Photo Credits Ziyaad Plaatjes
Billal Cuisine Windermere
Bunny Chow at Billal Cuisine Windermere, Morningside, Durban
Photo Credits Zaine Plaatjes
CaneCutters
Bunny Chow at CaneCutters, Glenwood, Durban
Photo Credits Ziyaad Plaatjes
Gooderson Monks Cowl
Bunny Chow at Gooderson Monks Cowl Golf & Spa Resort, Champagne Valley, Central Drakensberg
Photo Credits Ziyaad Plaatjes
NB: No rabbits were harmed in the publishing of this article.
Ziyaad Plaatjes is the Co-Founder of iloveza.com & Let's Torque ZA, the Founder of the After Fajr Grind Academy, a Radio Host for the longest running award-winning Motoring show in South Africa - Bumper2Bumper on Cii Radio, and a Brand South Africa Play Your Part Ambassador, who was named one of Mail & Guardian's Top 200 Young South Africans in the Arts, Entertainment, Film & Media Category.
He is a Bachelor of Commerce Honours graduate and has been running businesses since the age of 13. Ziyaad is a social media fundi and content creator, but has taken on many roles in various industries over the years. With his entrepreneurial skills and vast knowledge he assists individuals and businesses to grow and achieve their goals.
Find him at: Instagram: @ziyaad_86 / @ilovezacom / @letstorqueza / @b2bcii X: @ziyaad86 / @ilovezacom / @letstorqueza / @b2bcii Facebook: iloveza.com / Let's Torque ZA LinkedIn: Ziyaad Plaatjes / iloveza.com YouTube: iloveza.com SoundCloud: iloveza.com TikTok: @ilovezacom / @b2bcii Threads: @ilovezacom iono.fm: Bumper2Bumper Hashtags: #AfterFajrGrind #iloveza❤️🇿🇦 #LetsTorqueZA #B2BCii #WheresDaddyZA E-mail: ziyaad@iloveza.com
