Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Hotels and City Guide

Dar Es Salaam - Eating Out

Local Cuisine and Customs

Tanzania does not have a national dish due to the many ethnic groups who have their own traditional cuisines, so Asian, Middle Eastern and Indian dishes are found on most menus. However, the staple diet of Tanzanians is a thick nutritious porridge (ugali) made from cassava or maize. Meat is not a staple as it is too expensive for the average Tanzanian, although nyama choma, usually grilled beef, is popular. Goat and chicken are favourite barbecued dishes served with grilled bananas or ugali. Their diet is supplemented with a stew of meat and vegetables.

Seafood dishes served with rice are eaten along the coast, including fish curries and shellfish often cooked in coconut milk and flavoured with exotic spices. Freshwater fish are a staple in the lake areas.

Local tropical fruits are available all year round as are cashew nuts in the south of the country where they are grown. Coconuts are extremely nutritious.

Indian snacks include samoosas, chapatis, mini meat kebabs. The hotels, lodges and camps all serve westernised foods, including fresh seafood from the Indian Ocean.

Liquor is not served in small Muslim restaurants in Zanzibar.

Tipping Advice

As this is a poor country, a tip of 15% will be appreciated by waiters in restaurants and bars even if there is a service charge. Also tip taxi drivers and hotel /lodge staff.

Hotels in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania