Polydish city guide
Best Chakalaka in San Francisco
“A spicy relish born in the gold mines, when mineworkers cooked tinned produce with chili to accompany pap.”
What the real thing tastes like
Chakalaka is a South African vegetable relish, usually spicy, that is traditionally served with bread, pap, samp, stews, or curries. Chakalaka is said to have originated in the townships of Johannesburg or in the gold mines surrounding Johannesburg, when Mozambican mineworkers leaving their shift cooked tinned produce (tomatoes, beans) with chili to produce a spicy Portuguese-style relish to accompany pap. Many variations of Chakalaka exist, depending on region and family tradition. Some versions include beans, cabbage and butternut squash. For example, canned baked beans, canned tomatoes, onion, garlic, and curry paste can be used to make the dish. It is frequently served at a braai (barbecue) or with a Sunday lunch. It can be served cold or at room temperature. It is also served at eateries and supermarket delis that have traditional South African or Botswana menu.
0 voices, one story
Chakalaka is a South African vegetable relish born in the gold mines around Johannesburg, where Mozambican workers transformed tinned tomatoes and beans with chili into something spicy and Portuguese-inflected to eat alongside pap. It's a dish of region and family variation—some versions add beans, cabbage, butternut squash, curry paste—that moves easily from braai to Sunday table to supermarket deli counter, served cold or warm, a practical relish that asks only for good bread and appetite.
Order it here when it has
- versatile across meals and occasions
- rooted in mining history and immigrant tradition
- accessible ingredient base
- widely available at traditional delis
Walk away when you see
Restaurant-level rankings for San Francisco land as the Polydish review engine processes this city's reviews. Explore the dish itself while you wait —
Chakalaka on Polydish →