What to eat Democratic Republic Of The Congo? culinary specialties and gastronomy

Meals are still modelled on Belgian habits: breakfast in the morning, lunch at noon and dinner in the evening. But it is possible to eat at any time in the establishments and street terraces. The restaurants are generally open from noon to 3pm and from 6pm to 10pm.

You can eat at any price, depending on the type of establishment. In town, a meal on a street terrace(malewa or nganda) is very inexpensive and made up of local produce. As for restaurants, on the whole, the less local produce on the menu, the higher the bill. In the major cities, European, Asian and Indian cuisine is readily available. Rarely is everything on the à la carte menu available. Waiting times for service can be very long. Find out more to avoid starvation. Except in the major chains, payment is made in cash, in dollars or francs.

The bill is global and therefore includes taxes and tips, although as everywhere a small bill is never refused. Only well established restaurants take credit cards.

Fufu, bukari, chikwangue. Fried, boiled, in fermented buns or mixed with corn, cassava is an essential accompaniment to fish, poultry, bushmeat and kebabs. Even its leaves can be prepared like spinach (pondu). Chillies are served at discretion.

Bar à cabri is a culinary classic in the city. The goat is killed, skinned, prepared and grilled on the spot. Eaten by several people on the brown paper used as a container during grilling, it may seem a little wild as it is, but accompanied by chikwangue and a fresh Primus, it's absolutely delicious.

Malewas, the very common street canteens run by mothers, and ngandas, the drinking and eating establishments with decibels all around, generally serve a more or less extensive menu of non-imported specialties. Best eaten without cutlery, from plate to mouth.

Except in classy restaurants, rare meat should be avoided.

On the street, you can quench your thirst and eat at any time of day. On every street corner, a mother tends her little makala to grill a fish or a piece of goat, warm bananas or chikwangue. In town, tea and pastry shops are open from 7am to 6pm.

All purchases can be made in Congolese francs, but most major expenditures are made in dollars, by bank card or in cash. To change money, prefer street traders to bank counters.

Depending on the place, beer is served by the glass or by the bottle, in 67 or 33 cl sizes, the latter being nicknamed "the little one in the neighborhood". You can drink it anywhere, at any time of day or night. Blonde, brown or very dark, with roasted peanuts, it's even better. For some years now, if you order a 33cl beer, you'll be served two bottles, the idea being that 33cl is little more than half the size of 67, so you owe it to yourself to do the honors. If you still only want one, just say so.

The Congolese are not very fond of smoking and except in public places, there is no prohibition to indulge in this slight vice.