Lack of variety is not something you are likely to complain about while eating out in Dar es Salaam. Restaurants and roadside eateries are both equally popular. With the size of the native South East Asian population being quite big, the cuisines of these countries are available abundantly.

Good restaurants can be found all over the city but some of the best are centred around Zanaki Street.

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This Dar es Salaam Restaurant Guide gives details of some of the cuisines available, as well as some recommended places to eat. Information about Tanzanian cuisine can be found by visiting our Tanzania Restaurant Guide.

Dar es Salaam - Restaurant Guide

Indian

For excellent vegetarian food, The Retreat is rated highly. The "thalli" here comes well recommended. The Retreat is located between Kisutu and Jamhuri Streets and is open from Tuesday to Sunday. It is very popular among both locals and expats.

For great kebabs and other Indian snacks, K Tea Shop off Libya Street is an excellent option. To try different cuisines on different days of the week, go to Istana and enjoy their buffet. Another popular vegetarian place for both Indian and Chinese food is Alcove.

Chinese, Japanese and South-East Asian

A popular roof top restaurant serving Thai food is in the New Africa Hotel. Another highly rated oriental restaurant serving Thai, Malaysian and Japanese food is in the Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotel. The hotel has been renovated recently with the restaurant on the top floor. For good Chinese food, the Golden Tulip on Toure Drive is an excellent pick. The Osaka, off of Toure, is recommended for Korean and Japanese dishes, the sushi served here is very popular. Signs to the restaurant are on the left when driving towards Sea Cliff.

Italian

Saverio's is a good place for Italian style pizza and pasta dishes. The Trattoria Jan on Kimwere is a little out of the way but it serves excellent food.

Ethiopian

The Addis on Ursino Street has a wonderful décor and ambiance and also serves excellent Ethiopian food. However, it is neither very well known nor very prominently located. Each dish costs around Tzs 7,000 here. Beef, chicken, lamb and vegetarian dishes are served on a bed of injera - injera being a moist and springy Ethiopian flatbread. The Ethiopian honey wine before the meal and the aesthetically presented coffee after the meal is recommended here.

Upscale

If you want to try more upscale restaurants, some recommended places are the Holiday Inn, the Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotel in the city centre and the Movenpick Royal Palm Hotel. On the Msasani Peninsula, try the Slipway and Sea Cliff Village. The Oyster Grill here serves wonderful steak.

Budget Eats

Chef's Pride in the Indian quarter is very affordable and caters mostly to tourists. For Indian vegetarian food, Milap is a cheap option. If you are craving for some western fare, try the Subway near the YMCA. To try a traditional Tanzanian meal for under Tzs 2,000, go to the YWCA canteen near the Cathedral.

Street Food

Street food is often the best choice, both for the price and the ambiance. The corner of Morogoro Road and Jamhuri Street and the large open space in front of the Dar Express ticket office are good places to taste street food. Chips mayai or chips in an omelette costs around 700 to 800 shillings here.

Tip

It is best to drink only bottled water. You can buy a 1.5 litre bottle for about 450 shillings. Tap water should be drunk only if you purify it with iodine tablets or boil it.

Drink

Popular local beers are Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Safari. Safari is a stronger beer with about 5.5% alcohol. Castel Lager, Heineken, Ndovu, Stella Artois and Tusker are the imported beers available in Dar.

To enjoy South African Castle (pronounced "Castel") in a nice air-conditioned atmosphere, go to the Florida Inn near the UN building by the ferry port.

A popular local gin is Konyagi and its variant is Konyagi Ice. They are similar to hard lemonade and other sweet drinks.

Krest offers Bitter Lemon drinks, Club Soda and Tonic Water. Krest is locally bottled by Coca Cola. Stoney Tangawizi is a popular ginger ale. Sodas are sold in glass bottles that are supposed to be returned. To keep the bottle, you have to pay extra but traders don't like that practice.

The New Protein Bar is the only bar in the Indian quarter. It is near the budget hotels and just down the street from Chef's Pride. Food is good and cheap here.

Restaurants List

Dar Shanghai Restaurant

A popular restaurant with a wide variety of options from which to choose.

Type : Chinese

Address : Luther House, Sokoine Drive

Phone : 2134397

Opening hours : 12:00 to to 23:00

Beijing Restaurant

A cosy restaurant located in Mikocheni A.

Type : Chinese

Address : Mikocheni A

Phone : 2775141

Opening hours : 12:00 to to 23:00

Dar es Salaam Chinese Restaurant

Arguably the best Chinese restaurant in Dar! It's been around for years!

Type : Chinese

Address : Samora Avenue/Mirambo Street

Phone : 2117169

Opening hours : 12:00 to to 23:00

Sichuan Restaurant

A cosy restaurant with a delicious menu. Advanced booking is recommended.

Type : Chinese

Address : Bibi Titi Mohamed Street

Phone : 2150548

Opening hours : 12:00 to to 23:00

E'pid'or

A coffee shop with a Lebanese Touch! Freshly baked bread and pastries! Located on Samora Avenue and Sea Cliff Village.

Type : Coffee Shop

Address : Samora Avenue and Sea Cliff Village

Phone : 2136006

Opening hours : 07:00 to to 17:00

Fairy Delights

Offering two locations around Dar es Salaam. Fairy Delights is famous for its fresh bread and scrumptious buffet at lunch and dinner.

Type : Coffee Shop

Address : Shoppers Plaza & Heritage Motel

Phone : 2700998

Opening hours : 07:00 to to 22:30

Bandari Grill

The Bandari Grill Restaurant situated on the first floor is open for lunch & dinner seven days a week. A daily selected international lunch buffet is served to tantalize your palate.

Delectable dinner A'la Carte menu has been designed by our Executive Chef, with a wide range of Continental and Indian dishes to be tasted in a spacious and comfortable setting. The restaurant has always been famous for having Tanzania's finest selection of fresh seafood!

Type : Continental

Address : New Africa Hotel, Azikiwe Street

Phone : 2117050

Website : http://www.newafricahotel.com

Opening hours : 12:00 to to 23:00

Sawasdee

Experience the elegance of the exotic East at the Sawasdee Restaurant located on the ninth floor. This is simply the best restaurant specialising in Thai cuisine in Dar es Salaam! A breathtaking view of the harbour and a romantic atmosphere makes it ideal for special occasions.

Type : Thai

Address : New Africa Hotel, Azikiwe Street

Phone : 2117050

Website : http://www.newafricahotel.com

Opening hours : 19:00 to to 23:00

Baraza Bar & Grill

Location: In Hotel - Ground
Serves: Lunch

Type : Continental

Address : Holiday Inn, Garden Avenue

Phone : 2137575

Fax : 2139070

Website : http://www.holiday-inn.com/daressalaam

Opening hours : 12:00 to to 23:00

Kivulini Restaurant

Location: In Hotel - Mezzanine Leval
Serves: Breakfast
Open for breakast and lunch the Kivulini has a reputation for serving the freshest food with the biggest smiles from our freindly team and affordable prices

Type : Continental

Address : Holiday Inn, Garden Avenue

Phone : 2137575

Fax : 2139070

Website : http://www.holiday-inn.com/daressalaam

Opening hours : 12:00 to to 23:00

Calabash

Famous for fine a-la-carte dining, Calabash Restaurant features a tantalizing selection of Continental cuisine and fresh-from-the-ocean sea foods.

We bring you Calabash Restaurant's continental menu, fine wine list and efficient service, enjoyed by both the locals and international tourists.

Type : Continental

Address : Sea Cliff Hotel, Toure Drive

Phone : 2601948

Website : http://www.hotelseacliff.com

Opening hours : 19:00 to to 23:00

Karambezi Cafe

Situated on the edge of a coral cliff and overlooking the Indian Ocean, the Karambezi Café is best and known for its Modern Afro-Mediterranean ambiance. Enjoy a variety of meals and the spectacular panoramic view.

Our menu ranges from our special Seafood Platters to Serengeti Steaks, Club Sandwiches, Salads, Pizzas, Cappuccino Coffee and much more.

Type : Continental

Address : Sea Cliff Hotel, Toure Drive

Phone : 2601948

Website : http://www.hotelseacliff.com

Opening hours : 00:00 to to 23:00

Coral Ridge Spur Steak Ranches

Best value steaks in town!

Type : Continental

Address : Sea Cliff Village, Toure Drive

Phone : 2600380

Website : http://www.hotelseacliff.com

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 23:00

Fish Monger

A laid back, friendly and cosy open air seafood restaurant.

Type : Seafood & Continental

Address : Sea Cliff Village, Toure Drive

Phone : 0754 304733

Website : http://www.hotelseacliff.com

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 23:00

Copper Pot

Family oriented Indian restaurant with large buffet daily.

Type : Indian

Address : Sea Cliff Village, Toure Drive

Phone : 2600380

Website : http://www.hotelseacliff.com

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 23:00

Batavia

The only Indonesian restuarant in Dar.

Type : Indonesian

Address : Sea Cliff Village, Toure Drive

Phone : 2600380

Website : http://www.hotelseacliff.com

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 23:00

Pronto Pizza

Piping hot clay-oved baked pizzas! With lots of toppings to choose from!

Type : Italian

Address : Sea Cliff Village, Toure Drive

Phone : 2600380

Website : http://www.hotelseacliff.com

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 23:00

City Garden

Popular hotel & restaurant with the residents of Dar.

Type : Continental

Address : Pamba Street

Phone : 2124211

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 23:00

The Famous Butcher's Grill

Arguably the best steak house in town.

Type : Continental

Address : New Bagamoyo Road

Phone : 2774588

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 23:00

Sizzler's Garden

An affordable restaurant in Masaki.

Type : Continental

Address : Karibu Hotel, Masaki

Phone : 2601767

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 23:00

The Palm

Casual, relaxing and surrounded by landscaped gardens, The Palm Restaurant features an eclectic mix of international cuisine. Located on the ground floor of the hotel and is open daily.

Breakfast Buffet from 06:30am to 10:30am, Lunch Buffet from 12:30 to 2:30pm, open for dinner - serving a la carte only. Open daily from 06:30am to 10:30pm.

All-day casual dining. International cuisine offering both buffet and a la carte.

Type : Continental

Address : Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotel, Kivukoni

Phone : 2131111

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 23:00

Oriental Restaurant

Featuring the finest selection of South East Asian cuisine, the Oriental is an eclectic mix of flavours and colours which represent this dynamic region.

Dressed in uniforms that represent colours of the orient, friendly staff are ready to assist with menu selections. The Oriental is open for lunch and dinner daily (closed on Mondays).

The Oriental seats a total of 80 guests and has two private dining rooms, The Lotus Room and The Siam Room which can accommodate up to 10 people in each.

Reservations are recommended. The Oriental Restaurant is located on the Mezzanine level of the hotel.

Type : Chinese/Japanese

Address : Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotel, Kivukoni

Phone : 2131111

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 23:00

Mashua Waterfront

An open air resturant located at the slipway waterfront.

Type : Continental

Address : Slipway, Msasani

Phone : 2600893

Opening hours : 11:00 to to 23:00

Traders Grill

A warm ambience accompanying a perfect steak!

Type : Continental & Steak House

Address : The Arcade, Old Bagamoyo Road

Phone : 0784 706188

Opening hours : 18:30 to to 23:00

Restaurants in Dar Es Salaam

Dar es Salaam - Restaurant Guide

Indian

Chinese, Japanese and South-East Asian

Italian

Ethiopian

Upscale

Budget Eats

Street Food

Tip

Drink

Restaurants List

Dar Shanghai Restaurant

Beijing Restaurant

Dar es Salaam Chinese Restaurant

Sichuan Restaurant

E'pid'or

Fairy Delights

Bandari Grill

Sawasdee

Baraza Bar & Grill

Kivulini Restaurant

Calabash

Karambezi Cafe

Coral Ridge Spur Steak Ranches

Fish Monger

Copper Pot

Batavia

Pronto Pizza

City Garden

The Famous Butcher's Grill

Sizzler's Garden

The Palm

Oriental Restaurant

Mashua Waterfront

Traders Grill

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