Forodhani: The king of street food in East Africa
I grew up in Dar but chased the Island sunsets for one taste: The Forodhani street food market in Zanzibar; where smoke and spice meet the sea.
Growing up in Dar es Salaam, weekends meant ferry rides to Zanzibar, and every trip had one rule – we had to eat at Forodhani.
Even now, I can close my eyes and smell the smoky seafood and sweet sugarcane juice mixing with the ocean air. It wasn’t just food, it was magic. The laughter, the sizzle, the waves tapping against the wall nearby.
If you’re visiting Zanzibar, skipping the Forodhani market would be like missing the soul of the island. It’s not just dinner, it’s a celebration – of spice, stories, and people who know how to feed joy to strangers.
Here are some must-try dishes, what they taste like, and what people say:
1. Zanzibar pizza
Imagine a thin, fried dough stuffed with minced meat or seafood, egg, veggies, even Nutella for dessert. Crunchy outside, soft inside. It’s unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere.
2. Urojo
This is a soupy blend of chutney, mango, spices, potatoes, bhajias. Tangy, spicy, comforting. I recommend it as a signature Stone Town flavour – just one of those things you won’t find anywhere else.
3. Grilled seafood skewers
Fresh octopus, lobster, prawns, fish, all flame-kissed, seasoned with garlic, lime and local masalas. You’ll find vendors lay them over charcoal, so pick one and reignite your tastebuds.
4. Samosas & mandazi
These are savoury triangles filled with spiced meat or veggies. Mandazis are sweet doughnuts fried crisp. These common local bites are sure to make you feel you belong in Tanzania.
5. Sugarcane juice
There’d simply nothing quite like it. Pressed fresh, sometimes with lime or ginger. This drink is a cooling counter to spicy dishes. Whatever you drink at Forodhani, make sure you get the sugarcane juice.
Most dishes cost between Tsh 2 000 to Tsh 10 000 (roughly USD 0.80 to 4).
Why is Forodhani so special?
What sets Forodhani apart is its setting and history. Stone Town’s narrow alleys, ancient walls, and sea breeze all frame your meal.
The fusion of Arab, Indian, African flavours here is deeper because Zanzibar was a trade hub.
In many East African towns you’ll find grilled meat, chapati, samosas, but you won’t find Zanzibar pizza laid out by lantern light in front of the sea, or mango-spiced soup served as dusk falls.
Forodhani is where food meets the island’s identity.
So, when your feet land in Stone Town and the evening light softens over the sea, head straight to Forodhani, savour that pizza, sip sugarcane, taste Urojo, and let Zanzibar feed your soul.