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If you’re looking for an authentic Zanzibar food experience, you need to try some of the local food. The food in Zanzibar includes the freshest seafood, tropical fruits, and spices (it is called the Spice Island!) through to the more famous local cuisine like octopus coconut curry, Zanzibar pizza, and even simple meat skewers cooked by street vendors throughout the island.
We will look at the Zanzibar food culture, from street food and tropical fruits to a list of must-try foods in Zanzibar and where to find them.
Related: Zanzibar Travel Guide – Everything You Need to Know
Zanzibar Island
Zanzibar is a unique archipelago located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Tanzania. It is called “Spice Island” due to its rich abundance of spice-producing plants.
Much of Zanzibar’s economy centers around marine activities and the production of spices, from nutmeg and cinnamon to black pepper and ginger.
This gives Zanzibar food a unique flavor profile distinct from the rest of Tanzania.
The white sand beaches and clear blue waters make for ideal Zanzibar beach holidays, while its lush forests and spice gardens provide visitors with ample opportunity for exploration during their stay.
The island is also home to many fascinating historical attractions, such as the ancient town Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its Swahili roots visible in its architecture and culture.
Related: Zanzibar Spices and Spice Tour
Zanzibar Food
If you’re looking for a unique culinary experience, the intricate flavors of Zanzibar cuisine are just what you need.
Whether it’s seafood dishes such as a fish curry full of tropical spice served on the sands of Nungwi beach or a simple beef soup for breakfast in the main market in Stone Town, the food of Zanzibar will take your taste buds on a journey through Swahili culture and East African food.
Indian cooking is prevalent, with samosas, chapatis, and masala tea being a frequent part of local Zanzibari food offerings, while the local population has adopted middle Eastern delicacies such as kebabs.
Goat meat is seasoned with nutmeg, cumin, cardamom, and cinnamon to produce tempting aromas that make it hard to resist.
You can even add some zing with tamarind and lime juice marinating on succulent kingfish or prawns.
Street food is a welcome addition to the Zanzibar landscape, and local restaurants compete with western-style eateries.
15 Zanzibar Food Dishes to Try
The variety of Zanzibar food is a little deeper than I first imagined. These local dishes are a must-try to get a feel for the island’s flavors, although the list could run a lot longer.
With a little searching, you can find each of these Zanzibar dishes in Stone Town fairly easily and in the beach towns.
Biryani
A staple at most local restaurants is rice; biryani is usually one of the rice dishes on offer. This Indian-originated dish is prevalent in Zanzibar, and its enticing blend of spices pairs perfectly with Zanzibari chicken, beef, fish, or vegetables to create a delicious combination.
Pilau
Pilau is another rice dish often appearing on menus at local Zanzibar restaurants. It is made from fragrant basmati rice, which has been cooked with aromatic flavors such as cardamom, cumin, cloves, and cinnamon.
Served with various proteins such as beef, goat, or chicken, along with fresh vegetables like peas and carrots and stir-fried finely diced onions to give the pilau its signature range of colors and textures.
Zanzibar Pizza
A walk along the foreshore of Stone Town in the early evening will bring you to Forodhani Gardens, the location of the famous Forodhani night market, where street food stalls are set up serving grilled seafood of dubious quality (disclaimer – I never tried the seafood but a lot of it was pre-cooked and/or didn’t look too fresh), middle east style meats, and-holders have set up for the evening trade.
One of the popular items is Zanzibar Pizza, a treat originating from the island. The pizza starts as a thinned-out dough, with a combination of ingredients added such as egg, peppers, chicken or beef, onion, happy cow cheese (yep), and mayonnaise and/or chili sauce.
Rather than read my description of this strange combination, Mark Wiens sums it up best in his video.
Spice Cake
Zanzibar spice cake is a popular treat that combines cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and cloves to create a unique flavor profile. The soft texture combined with the warmth from the spices creates a wonderful accompaniment to a Zanzibar coffee or a special Zanzibar tea.
Octopus Curry
Zanzibar is renowned for its culinary heritage, and octopus curry is just one of its famous dishes. This specialty combines tender octopus (marinated in lime juice) with a blend of spices such as cumin and chili powder and a blend of garlic, onions, and tomatoes that give it a deep flavor.
We first enjoyed this curry and Lukmann restaurant, and I was surprised at the tenderness of the octopus.
Urojo – Zanzibar Mix
One of my favorite Zanzibar dishes was Urojo Soup – better known as Zanzibar mix.! This unique and flavorful soup has its roots in India, but it can be found sizzling away on the streets of Stone Town.
Ingredients to the soup can include beans, rice, coconut, chili, and herbs and spices depending on the vendor.
The fun part of this soup is the toppings, such as bhajis, mashed potato, and red and coconut chutney, served with chapati bread or plantains.
The ‘mix’ of ingredients makes for a unique and tasty meal, and I’d suggest trying the soup once for a first-hand experience of Zanzibari food culture.
Coconut Bean Soup
One simple yet delicious Zanzibari food is coconut bean soup, a creamy yet flavorful soup made with simmered beans, onions, garlic, and spices that are cooked in a rich coconut milk broth. This hearty dish can be found in Zanzibar’s street markets and restaurants as a side dish.
Ugali
Ugali is a Zanzibar food staple, originating from the Swahili people of East Africa. It is a thick porridge-like dish made primarily from maize flour and is typically eaten with hands by molding a small mound of the dough and using it to scoop up accompanying sauces, vegetables, and stews.
It complements many Zanzibari meals, such as dishes with a sauce or stew element.
Wali Na Maharage
Zanzibar is renowned for its unique cuisine and a popular dish served in Zanzibar is Wali na Maharage. This delicious food consists of a combination of its two main ingredients, spicy coconut milk, and boiled rice.
It’s immensely versatile as it can be served with various sides such as chapatti or chipsi mayai (fried potatoes). The flavor combination is subtle yet sensational when tasted, with the creamy boldness of the coconut milk making a great match to the starchy comfort of boiled rice.
Mandazi
Mandazi is a Zanzibar food of fried dough, similar to donuts, that can be eaten plain or with accompanying sweet treats. For the Zanzibari people, mandazi is often part of their morning routine and is sold hot in street markets.
Most (provided) breakfasts we enjoyed would include mandazi as an option, and we met a couple who worked in Tanzania and would often have mandazi as a breakfast item.
I enjoyed manzadi with my morning coffee and sometimes the odd ginger tea.
Mishkaki
Mishkaki is a Zanzibar food consisting of skewered pieces of beef cubes, marinated overnight in Zanzibar’s own blend of spices like chili, garlic and onion then served hot off the grill. The beef is then grilled over a charcoal fire until slightly charred on the outside while moist and succulent on the inside.
A popular location to try Mishkaki is the Fodora Food gardens in Stone Town.
Octopus Pieces with Fried Cassava.
One popular Zanzibar food item is octopus pieces with fried cassava. The succulent octopus chunks are cooked in various aromatic spices like paprika, cumin, and chili powder.
These flavors combine with the crispy texture of the freshly fried cassava to create a combination that is as delicious as it is delightful.
Whether served as a main course or enjoyed as a snack, Zanzibar’s octopus pieces with fried cassava continue to provide unforgettable culinary experiences!
Chips Mayai
Chips Mayai is a Zanzibar food found around the streets of Zanzibar’s port city of Stone Town, and frequently other parts of the island.
It consists of french fries piled on a chapati or omelet and served with chopped onions and chilli sauce or tomato sauce.
It is inexpensive, savory, and delicious, making it a popular Zanzibari snack. It can be eaten as an appetizer or a main meal, and is often served with local cold beer.
Vitumbua – Coconut Donuts
One Zanzibar food treat that grew on me the longer I spent in Zanzibar was Vitumbua – coconut donuts. I found myself automatically ordering these whenever I saw them on a menu.
These sweet treats consist of fried cubes of doughnut-like dough infused with coconut milk.
The dough cubes are then covered in a cinnamon and sugar syrup drizzle before being served. Vitumbua makes for an incredibly delicious snack or even dessert after a wonderful Zanzibari meal!
Zanzibar Chocolate – Sweet and Savory Nougat Bar
Zanzibar Chocolate is not chocolate but deliciously delectable sesame seed nougat bars. A harmonious blend of sweet and savory, each bar is crafted from a mix of lightly-toasted sesame seeds blended in thick delicious honey.
Perfect with Zanzibar coffee.
Zanzibar Street Food
Zanzibar is a tropical paradise that boasts stunning beaches, colorful culture, and mouthwatering cuisine, including a large variety of street food.
I particularly enjoyed the street food in Zanzibar as a welcome change from the rest of Tanzania, where street food is far less prevalent.
Some of the favorite street food offerings include:
Grilled Corn
Grilled corn is a staple of Zanzibar street food from Stone Town to the beaches. You will have no trouble finding street vendors cooking cobs of corn over coal.
Grilled Seafood
From octopus, snails, and squid to even beef intestine on the same table to mix it up, grilled seafood delights are easy to find.
Beef Soup
A common Zanzibari street food, particularly for breakfast, is a simple soup made by cooking beef off-cuts for hours and serving them with the stock. The taste is a sweet beefy taste with a gelatinous texture.
Served with a mini-loaf of bread or chapati, we enjoyed this simple soup for breakfast a few times around the island.
Cakes and Bakery
Carts filled with little cakes and other bakery items are common in local markets and are particularly delicious alongside a Zanzibar spiced coffee or milky tea.
Fruit Carts
Zanzibar is filled with tropical fruit growing all over the island. Therefore there is no shortage of street food vendors offering fruits such as rambutan, mangoes, pineapple, dates, and bananas through to local delicacies and somewhat more exotic fruits such as bungo fruit and zambarau.
Fresh Sugar Cane Juice
The sugar cane juice vendors offered a twist on the original I quickly became addicted to. Inside the folded sugar cane stalks were pieces of ginger and lime that added extra heat and zing to the sweet sugar cane concoction – and at 1000 Tanzanian shillings (40 cents) for a large glass, it was hard to pass up.
Other street food vendors offer carts filled with cashew nuts, spices, and other local delicacies.
Zanzibar Fruit
Being a tropical island, there seems to be a never-ending range of fruits in Zanzibar. Apart from spending time browsing through markets in Stone Town to trying to recognize the fruits on trees on the side of the road, we discovered some new fruits and enjoyed some of our old favorites.
Zanzibar Coffee
Zanzibar is known for its unique range of food, from Zanzibar pizza to some of the dishes with Persian food influences; however, there is perhaps nothing more iconic and delicious from Zanzibar than Zanzibari coffee.
Its distinct roast flavor is just as beloved by locals as it is to tourists, with some even claiming that a cup of Zanzibari coffee allows them to understand the local culture and cuisine.
Try at Zanzibar Coffee House or one of the many coffee shops
FAQ for Zanzibar Food
Yes, Stone Town is definitely worth a visit! This Swahili-influenced town offers plenty of cultural and historical attractions to explore, from ancient Fort Jesus and the House of Wonders to lively markets, stunning mosques, and more.
The food in Zanzibar is a delicious blend of East African and Indian flavors with a hint of middle eastern influence. Popular dishes include Zanzibar pizza, urojo soup, rice dishes, octopus curry, tropical fruits, and delicious Zanzibar spiced coffee.
I suggest at least 2-3 days. The amount of time you spend in Stone Town depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for. A day trip may suffice for those who wish to scratch the surface, but two or three days are recommended to explore the town’s history and culture. With its array of attractions, restaurants, and shops, there are plenty of activities to keep you busy in Stone Town for several days.
No, Zanzibar is not alcohol-free. Alcohol is available at restaurants and some local shops. However, there is no drinking on the streets, and it is best to avoid overt drinking.
As Zanzibar is a tropical location, there is a large range of fruits available such as durian, pineapple, mango, date, baobab, banana, and papaya, to name a few.
We couldn’t get enough of the iconic ubuyu candy! Boiled and coated with a tantalizing blend of sugar, salt, black pepper, cardamom & vanilla – these dyed red baobab seeds became our staple snack during our time in Zanzibar.
Conclusion to Zanzibar Food
Zanzibar, located in East Africa, off the coast of Zanzibar, is a must-visit destination for food lovers, adventurers, and history buffs! Zanzibari cuisine offers a diverse range of delicious dishes, from succulent seafood dishes to fragrant fruits and spices.
This East African island has something to offer everyone.