Braai at Mzolis
Though the influx of tourists to this informal butchery and eatery in Cape Town’s Gugulethu township means it’s far from the authentic window into local culture that many outsiders claim it to be, there are still plenty of reasons for foodies to visit. Firstly, you get to pick out your raw meat from the display fridge at the entrance. Staff then baste it with a special sauce and send it to the back, where a team cooks it to perfection over open flames. While doing so, you’re free to drink your own alcoholic beverages on the covered courtyard. When the meat eventually arrives, most people just get stuck in without knifes, forks, and little more than a side serving of pap, a local dish made out of grounded maize. It’s a high intensity experience from start to finish, and though many are quick to point out it lacks authenticity, meat-eating foodies will revel in the simplistic charm.
Ny 115, Guguletu, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 (0)21 638 1355

Behind the scenes at Mzoli’s Place | © Jonathan Khoo / Flickr