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

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.

Anka’s menu

I love how the menu at Anka’s shows you exactly what you’ll be eating.

Ankas counter

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.

Anka’s lunch

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).

Wisaal and Anka

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 counter

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 street

Anka’s Kitchen winds down on a Friday afternoon.

Stay tuned for more 2Summers/Wiscellaneous restaurant reviews.