Food in Kampala has a near-spiritual power to uplift a normal day to the realm of make-believe. And while you’re elevated, you find yourself reinvented as an expression of a joy that’s as Ugandan as beef Luwombo.
Where to eat in Kampala
Ugandans love to eat, and eat well.
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Now the economy is opening up again, we offer a guide to some places where you may experience that joy:
Old Timers: As the name suggests: it's a trip down memory lane. Here, in the heart of one of Kampala’s busiest suburbs, Ntinda, lies a bar & restaurant that is the perfect culinary destination for all pork lovers. We’re talking about a classy establishment nestled next to the Minister’s Village, which was once home to all the top leaders in Uganda. So it retained its name even though those leaders moved on and were replaced by ministerial pork. If you’re looking for executive pork, with no grease and even less fat, then look no further.
Go Fish: In Kiganda (Buganda) culture, a name which has the prefix ‘na’ denotes a lady. So we have Nalule, Namutebi. So, if a guru was to be a Ugandan woman, she would be Naguru. Stale jokes aside, Naguru is also the name of the place where Go Fish is found. Here, grilled or fried fish is served whole as a richly daily fare. Go Fish restaurant will give you a chance to eat there or take away fish that you have fished from an aquarium! You are hereby assured of a freshness which climbs to the top of your culinary tastes like a fish swimming upstream to give birth to your endless satisfaction.
Kabira Country Club (Mongolian night): It’s an “All you can eat buffet” in which meats of all treats are chosen by you across many dishes comprising pork, fish, goat’s meat, beef, chicken and liver. These are raw. What you do is select the meat of your choice and then take it to the chef across the room. The chef will then, after you’ve added all the condiments and vegetables you want, stir-fry it before your eyes. Then, minutes later, it will be served on a plate for you to eat. And it doesn’t matter if your plate is a Rwenzori-high with food, you can go back for more and more and more!
Cafesserie: In upscale Kisementi, you will find Acacia Mall. This is home to the rich, classy and, most importantly, to ice cream. It comes in a number of flavors in this Italian restaurant that is primarily a coffee shop. However, the ice cream serves to counterbalance the tropical sun with a richness in flavour that will leave you with a sunny disposition edged by an ice-cool demeanor.
Café Javas: Although also known as CJ’s, its class cannot be abbreviated. With outlets all over Kampala, you can always be assured of sitting down with Kampala’s professional and middle class to enjoy some top-drawer breakfast. CJ’s opens early to cater to those who are constantly on the go or who have had a very long night. As you know, we Kampalans we love our long nights. So our mornings are very important to us. CJ’s rolls out the red carpet in terms of the best pastries and beverages in Kampala. Beyond that, they mix quantity with quality to make you feel that you are at a banquet whenever you dine at CJ’s.
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