What to eat Zimbabwe? culinary specialties and gastronomy

The opening hours of the restaurants are quite variable. Some are open only for lunch and dinner, while others may be open continuously from morning (serving breakfast) until late afternoon. They are usually open every day.

In Zimbabwe, as in many countries around the world, there is a wide range of prices between 2 USD and 30 USD for a dish. The first price range is for small restaurants where you can find the local maize paste, sadza, with a piece of meat and/or vegetables. At the second rate, you can find fine cuisine at the a la carte restaurants or at the buffet meals of hotels and some lodges. In between, you can find an intermediate fare in the multitude of small restaurants, fast-food joints and high-end traditional restaurants.

It is customary to leave atip in the restaurant, in the order of 5 to 10% of the bill, although it is important to check that the service is not already included in the bill. Some restaurants automatically include a tip of up to 10%.

In addition to sadza, which is made from corn, one can also eat pasta made from millet or sorghum. Different sauces accompany these pastas. They can be made with tomatoes, onions or peanuts. Corn on the cob can be eaten grilled on the street corner. In terms of animal protein, in addition to the traditional chicken, beef, mutton or goat and various fish, one can try mopane worms, grilled grasshoppers or kapentas (small fried fish from Lake Kariba).

Most tea shops are open every day on weekdays from early morning to mid or late afternoon, as well as on Saturday mornings. Many are closed on Sundays. Many bars and cafes are open every day from morning to midnight, sometimes much later on weekends.

In a tea shop, you should count around 1.50 USD for coffee or tea, 2 USD for a pastry and from 5 USD for breakfast. You will have to add a few dollars in Victoria Falls. The bars of the big hotels and tourist sites are also expensive. If a can of beer sells for about 2 USD in a supermarket, it will cost 5 USD in these establishments. An imported beer will usually be 1 USD more expensive.

Zimbabwe produces different brands of beer: blond beers such as Zambezi or Boelinger or brown beers such as Castle. There are also some craft beers, but also some wines produced east of the capital, which are quite mediocre.

In the Eastern Highlands, quality tea and coffee are produced. Cafés and restaurants offer coffee, but it is often rather bland. The same applies to hot chocolate. It is better to opt for tea, especially since the so British tea time (black tea with a pastry) is still a very popular event.