Food & Drink

The multicultural heritage of Kenya is the basis for a wide range of gourmet foods. Traditional African dishes are supplemented by English and Indian fare. Kenya offers an assortment of quality beef and seafood dishes, supplemented by an array of tropical fruits and vegetables. Portions tend to be generous, and elaborate buffets are common at hotels and lodges. Even the more expensive restaurants are reasonable by American and European standards.

The majority of quality restaurants are located in Nairobi and Mombasa. Outside of these metropolitan areas you may be limited to hotel or lodge meals. Fortunately at the better accommodations the food is often exceptional. One restaurant of note is the Carnivore in Nairobi. A popular tourist location, the Carnivore features a large barbecue pit with meats available from zebra to warthog. For those reluctant to try the local game, vegetarian meals are also available. Indian restaurants in the larger towns are also known for serving excellent dishes.

For those interested in the local beverages, sodas and beer are widely available. It’s difficult to miss the saturation of advertisements for Coca Cola on brightly painted buildings. Be prepared to ask for a cold drink, as the sodas are typically served warm. Fresh fruit juices are readily available, with passion fruit being commonly served at breakfast.

Two lagers are offered in most locations, Tusker and White Cap. Premium and Export versions are also available. Even at the remote lodges, prices are usually reasonable, and often cheaper than bottled water. Rural bars also serve the local beers known as muratina. Drink these at your own risk. Kenya is not known for its wine and liqours, and prices can be high on those imported due to import tariffs. Coffee and chai (tea) are excellent thanks to the ideal growing climate. Most coffee lovers are familiar with the quality of Kenyan coffees, one the country’s major exports. Ironically instant coffee is served in many hotels.

Potatoes and rice eaten with chicken or beef are staples at most meals. A typical festive meal includes large amounts of nyama choma, roasted meat. Vegetarians should be able to get by since fruit and vegetables are abundant at the quality hotels. Indian restaurants usually serve vegatable based meals as well. Bananas, pineapples, and papaya are available year round, and citrus fruits seasonally. In some of the agricultural areas its not unsual to see corn being roasted along the roadways for sale. Snacks may include mandaazi, a sweet deep fried dough cake, and egg-bread, a wheatflour pancake wrapped around fried eggs and minced meat.

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