Mzansi Restaurant - African Restaurant Cape Town, South African Township Food — Restaurant in Langa

This is a MUST-VISIT on your Cape Town and South African Trip, regardless of how long you’re visiting or the purpose of your trip.

We simply can’t say enough about how much we loved spending Christmas Day/Dinner at Mzansi. If you like getting to know the actual people and culture of your trips, then joining Mama Nomonde and her family for dinner is an absolute must. They treat you like family, and bring to life the history of Cape Town, the country and the people of South Africa. Given they are #1 on TripAdvisor, there is much to read and see from the thousands of people that have made Mzansi part of their trips, so here are a few top things to know about this truly unique find:

1. Don’t listen to your concierge, Uber driver, etc. about being scared to go to the Langa Township for this dinner. They will try to talk you out of going there, but it’s unlikely that they have even been to any of the Townships, which means that they haven’t experienced the joy and warmth of Mzansi. Let’s be clear: you’re probably not going to want to walk around the restaurant or neighborhood, as this is not the shiny, protected area of Cape Town that is made for Tourists.
2. The residents of Langa have not had a fair shake, but they are resilient, hopeful people who are trying to make their community a better place. Unemployment is close to 30%, so supporting this restaurant helps to raise up the entire community. We were there on Christmas Day and they welcomed us into their home with open arms, big smiles and love. The entire neighborhood was celebrating, singing and enjoying life.
3. Reserve your place ahead of time, and please, if anything comes up, be sure to let them know as soon as possible if you need to cancel or postpone. They make all of the food to order in anticipation of the reservations for that night (there are no walk-ups), so if something comes up, let them know so that they don’t waste any food. (We had some folks that were running late, so don’t be ashamed to come late - it’s way better to be late than to stiff them!)

The food was fantastic. It was real, it was really tasty and there’s no chance that anyone went home hungry. (I’m still dreaming of the chicken and the dessert pudding!)

The families, band and service are unreal - they make you feel at home right from the start, and they will do anything to make your visit and night better. It’s a fun night and it will not be just another dinner on your trip.

There was NEVER a moment where we felt unsafe. The restaurant isn’t too deep into the Township and they make sure that everyone feels like a welcomed and special guest to the entire neighborhood. Plan your visit around when you can get a table here, and get ready for an...

I came across Msanzi on Google when I went looking for what I hoped to be an authentic South African dining experience for my family and I during our trip to Cape Town. I am very glad I arranged our dining there and the experience was absolutely terrific. The owner and hostess of the restaurant goes to great lengths to make everyone feel welcomed and personally attended to, and it is worth noting that this establishment is also her home. She has a fascinating story to tell visitors about her life under apartheid and Mandela, and how she came to own both her home and the restaurant she now operates. The night of dining includes fantastic live music by a group of local musicians.

So how was the food? It was in a word, incredibly good. Everything tasted homemade, and I say that knowing it is a cliche, but that is the best way I can put it. Its like eating at your favorite grandmother's house. The food is served buffet style and includes a variety of dishes, including some local to South Africa and Cape Town. Everything we tried was delicious. Dessert was malva pudding (Google it) and was scrumptious.

It is important to make a reservation before arriving here.

There are a few things you should know before you go so you are not surprised by them when you arrive:

1. The restaurant is located in the Langa township. There are a lot stories about how the township is incredibly dangerous and crime-ridden. It may look alarming to some when they first see it. Avoid rushing to judgement here and give this place a chance. We drove a rented SUV to the Msanzi and parked it on the street outside, where it was watched by attendants associated with the business. Nothing was lost and our car was fine, and we all returned alive. The rumors of the dangers of Langa are extremely overblown and while should always exercise common sense any time you travel, this is no more dangerous a place to visit than any other part of Cape Town.

2. Msanzi is not a conventional restaurant. It is operated in the owner's home, and the seating is communal. You will get a lot more out of the experience if you make the effort to talk to the other guests whom will probably be visiting from all around the globe.

3. This is more of an experience than just a place to eat. The hostess will tell you her story after the meal, which is really worth a listen. There will also be a lot of time for music. I would recommend you expect the evening to run 2-3 hours.

4. I strongly advise you consider leaving a tip for the musicians, restaurant employees and the people watching your car. While this isn't required it really helps them out.

You really should not pass up the opportunity to try this place if you are...

I've been to Cape Town twice, and I'm so glad I found out about Mzansi Restaurant this time. I don't even know where to begin, but let me assure you this is the best restaurant experience I've had anywhere in my travels around the world, because the food is THE BEST, then ambiance is authentic, and the owner and staff are so genuine and welcoming.

Let's begin with the food. I'm a VERY picky eater and am known amongst my family and friends as being an extremely tough food critic. When we got out our tour van and walked across the street in the Langa district, you could smell the food and spice emanating from the restaurant. Once inside, you can see a vast array of different local and traditional African fare. Each dish has it's own style, colors, and flavor which compliment each other so well. You can see what I'm talking about from the pictures below. But hands down, the food here is so amazing because you can tell not a single dish was made from frozen ingredients. Everything was completely fresh. Even the woman in our group who barely ate anything on her plates at other restaurants, completely cleaned her plate at Mzansi.

If you want REALLY FANTASTIC and FRESH, AUTHENTIC, TRADITIONALLY AFRICAN food, in a cozy down to earth atmosphere that's not on the tourist path, then MZANSI is a must!!!!

Secondly, let's discuss the ambiance and service, which are equally phenomenal and heart-warming. As you can see from the video below, Nomonde is the graceful and honorable owner of the establishment. In my video, she is introducing the very talented Marimba band. She took the time to explain how the Mzansi restaurant started from humble beginnings as an idea to make a difference in her community and obtain more financial freedom, whilst providing a service that allows tourists to experience the true local culture and give back to the community while indulging in the what I can only call foodie perfection.

Anyway, if you really want to experience South Africa in it's purest and most delicious form, then Mzansi is truly what you seek. It's off the beaten path, and going there to eat truly supports the community there by giving locals jobs that they need to support their families.

Ms. Nomonde, we LOVE your spirit and hope you have much...