Create meetup in Lusakachevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
explore Lusaka Guides
bar_chart Trends in Lusaka
Best Food in Lusaka (2026)
Begin your culinary journey at the bustling Lusaka City Market, where you can sample nshima with relishes for under K30. For a sit-down introduction, try Mosi House Restaurant onβ¦ π΄ Where to Start
Begin your culinary journey at the bustling Lusaka City Market, where you can sample nshima with relishes for under K30. For a sit-down introduction, try Mosi House Restaurant on Great East Road, offering classic Zambian dishes like ifisashi and grilled tilapia from K80.
π₯ Street Food Favorites
Don't miss the samosas and grilled corn sold by vendors along Cairo Road, especially near the intercity bus terminal. For the best shawarma, head to Shawarma Express on Addis Ababa Drive, where a wrap costs around K50 and is packed with flavor.
π Local Zambian Dishes
Try nshima, the staple maize meal, served with groundnut sauce or kapenta (small dried fish) at restaurants like The Deli on Thabo Mbeki Road. For a hearty stew, order chikanda (African polony) at Manda Hill Shopping Centre's food court, priced around K60.
π International Cuisine
Lusaka offers diverse global flavors: visit Rhapsody's on Alick Nkhata Road for Italian pasta and wood-fired pizzas (mains from K120). For authentic Indian curries, try Mint Leaf on Haile Selassie Avenue, where a thali costs about K150.
π Hidden Neighborhood Gems
In the Kamwala neighborhood, look for small eateries serving buka stew and offal dishes like mubemba (cow hooves) for a true local experience. In Ibex Hill, Mama's Kitchen on Mwambula Road offers home-style meals like chicken with pumpkin leaves for K70.
π° Price Guide
Street food snacks cost K10 to K30, while a full meal at a casual restaurant runs K50 to K150. Upscale dining at places like The Marlin on Great East Road can reach K300 per person for a three-course dinner.
π Best Evening Spots
For dinner with a view, book a table at The View Restaurant on the 10th floor of the Findeco House, open until 10 PM with mains from K150. Alternatively, enjoy live music and grilled meats at The Smokehouse on Lagos Road, where platters start at K200.
πΉ Drinks and Desserts
Cool down with a fresh sugarcane juice from street vendors near the Freedom Statue for K5. For dessert, try the mango sticky rice at Thai Orchid on Church Road, priced at K80, or a classic Zambian fruit salad at Manda Hill's food court.
This is a solid guide, I've lived in Lusaka for a few years and it covers the essentials well. One thing I'd add is that for the best grilled chicken, you should find a spot called Chicken Forty One in the Northmead area near the Total filling station, a whole bird with chips is about K90 and the secret is in their spicy marinade. The guide is right about the samosas on Cairo Road, but the ones from the little shop just past the Shoprite entrance are noticeably fresher since they fry in small batches all afternoon. For anyone wanting to try ifisashi, Mosi House is fine but I think the version at The Deli uses a richer groundnut sauce that makes a difference.
the guide nails it tbh, but one spot that gets overlooked is the little malay place on freedom way called warung kopi, their beef rendang is legit the best i've had outside indonesia and it's only K85 for a plate with rice. also for a quick bite near the arcades shopping centre there's a guy who sells roasted groundnuts and cassava chips from a cart on addis ababa drive, way better than the bagged stuff and K10 for a big handful. the nshima at mosi house is solid but if you want it with real village-style chibwantu (the fermented drink) try the corner stall outside kamwala market on a saturday morning, it hits different
really good list, kudos to whoever put it together. i'd add that for a proper sunday lunch, the buffet at the protea hotel on church road is underrated, it's like K180 for all you can eat and they always have a mix of grilled meats, chinese stir fry, and local dishes like ifisashi. also if you're at manda hill, skip the main food court and go to the little spot near the game store entrance, they do a mean chicken and chips with a spicy tomato relish that's way better than the generic stuff. one more thing, the shawarma express mention is right but the one in the arcades parking lot has longer lines for a reason, the garlic sauce is creamier imo
Lusaka hidden gems? Need recs for next month
For a proper local meal, try the food market at Kamwala Trading Area on Freedom Way. It's chaotic but the grilled meat vendors there serve nshima with some of the best ifisashi in town, and a plate costs around 20 kwacha. On the quieter side, walk through Jackal's Hide at midday you'll spot monitor lizards and maybe a bushbuck if you're lucky, and it's free to enter.
honestly skip the fancy places and head to the old lusaka market on chilimbulu road around 6pm food stalls pop up serving chikanda and grilled goat skewers that are insane for like 15 kwacha. theres a tiny art gallery called 37D gallery off great east road that does impromptu jazz nights on random weekends just check their facebook before you go. also the bird hide at lilayi lodge is free to walk through and you'll see hornbills and fish eagles up close without paying for a stay there
if you're after a proper hidden spot, check out the old train station at kabwata, it's not really in use anymore but the market around it has some cool vintage stalls and the vibe is super chill. also, manda hill is worth a wander for the view over the city, just go early before the heat gets bad. for a drink, the bar at the lusaka golf club is low-key and has cheap mosi lagers, nobody bothers tourists there