12 Best Cheap Eats in Johannesburg
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You don’t need a big food budget in Johannesburg. A shisa nyama plate of grilled meat with pap and chakalaka runs a fraction of what a Sandton steakhouse charges, the Saturday Neighbourgoods Market feeds you well for well under R200, and even the sit-down places below are mid-range by international standards. Johannesburg has real crime risk, so it’s worth eating with a few practical habits rather than paranoia: Uber or Bolt to and from restaurants after dark, nothing visible on the table or in a parked car, and township food like the Soweto shisa nyama braais done on a guided food tour rather than wandering in alone (check your own government’s current travel advisory before you go). Here are 12 places and dishes worth building a meal plan around.
What should I actually eat in Johannesburg?
Start with the braai culture: boerewors rolls, biltong, and shisa nyama (township-style grilled meat) are cheap, everywhere, and genuinely South African. Pair with pap and chakalaka, and save one night for Nando’s, the peri-peri chicken chain that was born in Johannesburg.
1. Shisa nyama in Soweto. Township braai spots that grill meat to order and serve it with pap and chakalaka, best visited as part of a guided Soweto day rather than solo. Sakhumzi on Vilakazi Street is a well-known, tour-friendly option.
2. Neighbourgoods Market (Braamfontein). Saturdays 9am-3pm, free entry. Artisan bread, craft beer, and dozens of food stalls covering everything from wood-fired pizza to local dishes. Budget R100-R200 for a full lunch here.
3. Boerewors rolls. A spiced sausage in a bread roll, sold at markets, braai stands, and street vendors across the city. One of the cheapest hot meals you’ll find, often under R50.
4. Biltong and droëwors. Dried, cured meat and sausage, sold by weight at butcheries and markets. A good, non-perishable snack to carry between sights.
5. Bunny chow. A hollowed loaf filled with curry, a Durban import that’s become a Johannesburg staple at markets and casual eateries. Cheap, filling, and easy to find.
6. Maboneng Precinct food stalls. The arts district has a cluster of cafes and street-food vendors selling everything from burgers to local plates. Fine to eat here by day; Uber out rather than lingering after dark.
7. Pap and chakalaka. Maize porridge with a spicy vegetable relish, the standard side to any braai plate and one of the best-value fillers on any menu.
8. Nando’s. The peri-peri chicken chain was born in Johannesburg and is everywhere, reliably cheap, and a genuinely local pick rather than a tourist trap.
9. Koeksisters and malva pudding. A syrup-soaked plaited doughnut and a warm sponge pudding, the two desserts worth saving room for at any casual South African restaurant.
10. Rosebank food markets. Weekend markets near the Rosebank Gautrain stop mix crafts with food stalls, a safe, walkable option with a station right there.
11. Sandton casual dining. More expensive than a market plate but still reasonable by international standards, and the safest, easiest place to eat an evening meal without a transport plan.
12. Melville and 44 Stanley cafes. A bohemian strip of cafes and small restaurants, walkable by day, good for a relaxed lunch between sights.
What does a day of eating actually cost?
| Meal or snack | Approx cost (ZAR) | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Boerewors roll | Under R50 | Street vendors, markets |
| Shisa nyama plate | R80-R150 | Soweto, guided tour |
| Neighbourgoods Market lunch | R100-R200 | Braamfontein, Saturdays |
| Nando’s meal | R80-R130 | Citywide |
| Sit-down dinner, Sandton | R200-R400 | Sandton, Rosebank |
For a plan that pairs a Soweto shisa nyama day with the sights, see the things to do guide or the 2-day itinerary . If you’re heading out to the Cradle of Humankind, check the day trips guide for food options along the way.
To book a Soweto food tour that covers shisa nyama properly: Johannesburg Soweto tour on GetYourGuide . For Soweto and the inner city, book a guided tour and use trusted transport rather than going solo. If you want a Sandton base near the restaurants and the Gautrain, see Sandton hotels on Booking.com .
Before you go, check the current advisory from your own government: the US State Department South Africa page or the UK FCDO South Africa advice . For general trip planning, South African Tourism and Gauteng Tourism both list current market hours and events.
The verdict: skip the pricier tourist-menu restaurants and spend your food budget on a guided shisa nyama meal in Soweto and a Saturday at the Neighbourgoods Market. That’s the real Johannesburg food scene, and it costs a fraction of a hotel restaurant tab.