Bo-Kaap Kombuis — Restaurant in Bo-Kaap

This restaurant is overpriced and a rip off for what is provided. I was really looking forward to taking my husband to this restaurant because he is not from South Africa and had never tasted babootie. When we arrived, they said two of their three chefs were ill so they could only offer the buffet. We had to ask how much the buffet was and they said R320 each so we ordered the buffet for two and 2 faluda drinks. Each drink was R48 on the menu so the bill should have totalled R736. However, they billed me R825. I only noticed this when I got home. I don't appreciate being cheated. Conveniently for the restaurant, the lady at the till didn't give me an itemised receipt as one normally receives in a restaurant. Also, when we arrived at the restaurant, the price of the buffet was not written anywhere so my advice to anyone even thinking of going to this restaurant is to avoid it and if you do go there make sure they don't cheat you!!! I would advise the restaurant to be clear about pricing and don't cheat the customers. Another thing, the lady at the till was wearing a hijab. If you wear religious clothes and represent Muslims, please don't cheat people. This gives people a bad impression of Muslims. If you dress holy, please act it. In terms of food, the starter was brought to us and the starter pieces were fresh and high quality. The main course buffet offered several dishes. The fish was very nice but the babootie was bland. It really had no spice in it whatsoever. It was like plain mince so that was very disappointing. The dessert which was also brought to us was only a ball of ice-cream each with a small chocolate cake square. The quality was fine for what it was but really this is not a traditional dessert and for a buffet price of R320 each plus being scammed an additional R89 without explanation, I felt that was super disappointing. The restaurant does have nice views from the balcony but the interior decor is pleasant but nothing super special. Overall, this restaurant is overpriced, a rip off and disappointing. We came to visit Cape Town from Johannesburg and on our last evening we went to this restaurant. No restaurant in Johannesbueg has ever ripped us off like this one...

Authentic Malay Cuisine with a Stunning View!

As someone who loves exploring traditional Malay cuisine, I decided to visit Bo-Kaap Kombuis, a restaurant known for its authentic Malay food. I walked nearly two hours (about 1.5–1.8 km) from my apartment so I could enjoy the beautiful Bo-Kaap neighborhood and its colorful houses along the way.

I arrived around 2:30 pm, and even though the restaurant was quite busy, I was warmly welcomed. An elderly gentleman (possibly the owner) kindly offered me a seat at a four-person table and explained the menu in detail. His hospitality immediately made me feel at home.

They had both à la carte and buffet options, and I chose the buffet to try as many dishes as possible. It included starters like samosas, kachoris, and fritters; main courses with bread, two kinds of rice, dal, vegetable curries, chicken curry, pickles, veggies, and the Bo-Kaap special bobotie. Everything was flavorful, but the bobotie was truly exceptional — rich, perfectly spiced, and absolutely delicious! A must-try dish. 😋

For dessert, they served Malva pudding, which was heavenly — soft, warm, and sweet in all the right ways.

The restaurant offers a beautiful view of Table Mountain and the colorful Bo-Kaap houses, with interiors that reflect the same vibrant charm. The total bill came to 396 ZAR, which I felt was worth every cent for the quality, hospitality, and atmosphere.

Highly recommended for anyone wanting to experience authentic Cape Malay cuisine in a warm,...

The venue had stunning views and the food was fair. The salad was awful, dry and some of the greens were browning. What made the experience bad was the pricing. We were a table of eight and we called in advance to find out if we could order off the menu. When we arrived at the venue, the members of our party who arrived there were given starters and drinks while they waited. When we arrived we were seated and told that only the buffet was available and that we could not order off the menu. The buffet was VERY overpriced. The selection was also very limited. For the price we were charged we at least expected one option of a roast (chicken or meat). The service staff were friendly enough but were rarely visible or on hand, when asked for ice they were apologetic, but there was no ice. The dessert when served was tiny, tasty but alas once again no choices. It was the smallest block of ‘browny’ with a tiny scoop of ice cream. Only when we were ready for the bill, we were informed that drinks were not included in the bill and in addition without being informed, we were charged a hefty service fee. It was a very disappointing experience. We all left feeling a bit cheated. Very sad about this experience as it was a Friday night and we expected to have the options we were promised when we...