Zanzibari Food: 7 Must-Try Dishes

Zanzibar has been an intersection point for cultures all over the world for centuries. Food has long been at the center of this melting pot, largely thanks to the spice trade, and has drawn people from all corners of the world to this tropical archipelago off the coast of East Africa.

Arab traders, Portuguese colonists, Indian immigrants, and much more – so many groups of people have arrived on the shores of these strategic Indian Ocean islands and have all left their unique impact on this land, particularly on the food culture. 

With spices from the Middle East and India and the fresh natural ingredients from the land and the sea, travelers are really spoiled for choice here. Here are a few must-try foods for your visit to Zanzibar:

Biryani is made up of rice cooked with a variety of spices, which is usually served with some kind of meat. This is one of the most popular dishes in Zanzibar, but it originates from India and incorporates flavors of the Middle East.

A dish popular in many parts of the world, Zanzibar’s local-style pilau has heavy influence from Indian cuisine. Pilau is a staple dish in Zanzibar. The meat and rice are cooked together in the same pot to evenly soak in the flavors of Zanzibar’s heavenly spices.

One of Zanzibar’s most unique culinary creations, the “Zanzibar pizza”, is not quite the type of pizza you might expect. 

Zanzibar’s take on the popular Italian dish is quite different. Ingredients like ground beef, onion, tomato, cream cheese, mayonnaise, and spices, are piled on to a thin dough and then an egg is cracked on top of that. The dough is then folded to wrap up the ingredients, and the “pizza” is fried.

Seafood is abundant in this archipelago, and octopus is a local favorite. 

Mchuzi wa pweza is a famous local delicacy. The octopus is cooked in a blend of rich spices, then simmered in a luxurious creamy coconut sauce. 

Urojo is basically a soup full of crispy fritters. You can find any selection of bhajis, fried potatoes, fried noodles, and more, all mingled together in a curry soup and topped with a chutney and more crispy goodies. 

It is locally known as urojo, but you can also find it under the name ‘Zanzibar mix’, and the dish does represent the mix of cultural influences on Zanzibar.

Mishkakis are skewers of meat, marinated in classic Zanzibari spices and flavors, and grilled to a perfect char on the outside. 

Find them at street food vendors all over Zanzibar! The smell usually wafts through the streets in the late afternoon as they start up their grills. Buy them straight off the grill and enjoy them while you’re exploring the city streets.

Mandazi are made of fluffy deep-fried dough, similar to doughnuts, which are lightly sweetened and served as anything from a snack with a cup of hot tea to a side dish at dinner. They are one of the principal dishes of this region of Africa, and you can find them everywhere, from restaurants to street food stalls.

Spice cake is a sweet-but-not-too-sweet dessert that really celebrates the aromatic spices that Zanzibar has long been famous for. A typical spice cake will include cinnamon, cloves, cocoa, and nutmeg, but everyone has their own recipe, so why not seek out the best on the island!

There are plenty of other tasty sweets that make liberal use of Zanzibar’s rich flavors, so be sure to do some exploring and try new things!

With all of the delicious dishes Zanzibar has on offer, both sweet and savory, it can be easy to forget that this part of the world is home to some of the best tropical fruits in the world. With the perfect growing conditions, fruits are an important part of Zanzibari cuisine and the local diet. 

You can’t leave without trying some of the archipelago’s fresh, mouthwatering mangoes, bananas, citruses, avocados, guavas, and much more!