Feel-Good Food in Downtown Jozi
I’ve always loved the Joburg Central Business District (CBD). But until recently most of the time I spent in the CBD was on weekends, which means I missed out on the hustle and bustle of the downtown Jozi workweek.
Lately I’ve been going into the CBD more often during business hours, and I’m discovering tons of great new hangouts. I’ve realized that working hours are the funnest time to be downtown.
My favorite lunch place so far is Anka’s Kitchen, a small restaurant serving home-style South African food at the corner of Loveday and Frederick Streets in Marshalltown.
Anka’s Kitchen and Anka herself.
I knew Anka’s was special the first time I drove past it, when I was headed to a meeting around the corner at the Reef Hotel. The place has an aura about it. I made a mental note to try Anka’s out.
A couple of weeks later I finally went to Anka’s for lunch with my new friend Wisaal, author of the awesome Jozi lifestyle blog Wiscellaneous.
Anka is an incredible woman, and there is a great story behind how her restaurant came to be. But I can’t tell the story any better than Wisaal already has on her blog. So please go over to Wiscellaneous and read more about Anka. I’ll keep it short and show you some pictures.
I love how the menu at Anka’s shows you exactly what you’ll be eating.
The Anka’s counter is packed every day at lunch time. It was actually relatively quiet at the moment that I took this pic. Check out Wisaal in the thick of things, documenting the scene. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy hanging out with other bloggers.
Interesting fun fact about Anka’s: The staff is all-female.
My lunch: Lamb curry over samp (samp is a kind of corn porridge – read about it here), with sides of spinach and pumpkin. And Tab. (That’s right, Americans. People still drink Tab in South Africa. I quite like it.)
Interesting fun fact about Anka’s food: The real specialties on the menu are lamb trotters (a polite term for lamb’s feet) and tripe (animal stomach lining). Neither Wisaal nor I were brave enough to try one of these dishes. (Wisaal has an excuse because she only eats halaal meat. I’m just chicken – pardon the pun.)
My curry was delicious and Wisaal also enjoyed her hake (a popular South African fish).
Anka rocked up while we were eating, looking fab. She sat down for a chat. Anka seems to know all of her customers.
Anka behind the counter.
Anka’s Kitchen is awesome and I will definitely go back: 1) Because the food is delicious; 2) Because I love Anka; and 3) Because the Jozi CBD rocks.
Maybe I’ll work up the courage to try the trotters someday. The tripe? Probably not. (Okay never.)
Anka’s Kitchen winds down on a Friday afternoon.
Stay tuned for more 2Summers/Wiscellaneous restaurant reviews.
Comments
Oh I just love how you love this city.
Thanks :)
You’re just chicken. I LOL’d.
It would’ve been better if I actually ate chicken for lunch. Oh well.
So, when are you making the move to the CBD?? haha (only half joking, it seems like it would be your cup of tea). Thoughts? Or is the Lucky 5 Star too good to leave?
I actually do love the CBD and would move there in a second if I didn’t love Melville so much. Also the Melville Cat would never agree to it :)
Incidentally, Wisaal lives in the CBD with her husband and they love it!
Ok, so next time I am in Jozi- Anka’s it is! I love that part of JHB- it is so much the old JHB I grew up in!
Cool. It’s such a great neighborhood these days.
The Lamb Curry over Samp looks delicious. I’ll have to try it someday!
Yes, you must.
I grew up on a diet of tripe and onions, also sweetbreads (calf brains), walkie/talkies (chicken feet and heads), marong (wild African spinach) and of course vetkoek and koeksusters. I must say that I did enjoy everything. Tripe is really good as long as it has been cleaned properly, although usually curried, I prefer it with plenty onions. It has a similar consistency and taste to calamari. You should really give it try. You will be pleasantly surprised. Another little restaurant in the Maboneng precinct you should really try is Crisp African Foods. Its owed by Marc Crisp who coincidently happens to be a makeup artist in the film industry. Also specializes in traditional african food but with a western twist. Tell Marc I sent you.
Animal entrails and sheep’s feet?
Sounds like Tuesday.
Hahaha. Delicacies in SA!
I am so glad I found your blog. I will be traveling to South Africa for a 3 week stay for the first time next month.
Anka’s Kitchen has recently opened up a new branch in Maclaren Street (between Fox and Main, between Pixley Seme and Ntemi Piliso).
https://www.google.co.za/maps/place/11+Maclaren+St,+Johannesburg,+2107/@-26.2069,28.0350513,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x1e950ea3937b107f:0x3ce25eed687a2cfb?hl=en
If you like traditional food you should also try the new restaurant that is opening at the corner of Kort and Commissioner.
https://www.google.co.za/maps/place/Commissioner+St+%26+Kort+St,+Johannesburg,+2001/@-26.2060585,28.0348129,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x1e950ea3e56dad9f:0x8cce1583ee797212?hl=en
They’re still putting up the signage so I don’t know what it is called. But you can try Inhloko (bull’s head) and Mogodu (cow’s intestines). I used to have to walk up to TJ Meats on Bree for this type of food. Now it’s right on my doorstep.
Thank you so much for these helpful updates! I’m not on that side of town as often as I used to be so this is really helpful. Do you know if Anka’s has completely moved, or is the Loveday Street location still open as well?
The Loveday restaurant is still open. But there seems to be no external signage? There’s also the original Anka’s kitchen in Spruitview.