Bunny Chow Day at The Zebra Crossing

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Sat 08 Feb 2025

A small taste of Africa



First and foremost, to set everyone’s mind at ease … no bunny rabbits have been harmed in the preparation of Bunny Chow. So … what exactly is Bunny Chow and how did it become one of South Africa’s traditional dishes?

Bunny Chow is a spicy curry spooned into a hollowed-out loaf of bread. It’s a dish steeped in legend, its origins a murky tribute to South Africa’s past. It’s a curry lover’s answer to a portable lunch box. It's a small taste of Africa ...



Bunny Chow originated with Durban’s immigrant Indian community, during the apartheid era. From 1948 to 1994 the apartheid laws in South Africa prohibited people of colour from entering restaurants and cafes, so the Indian migrant community took to ordering take-out meals from the back doors of restaurants. The most popular dish at the time was roti and beans, but roti (a thin wheat bread similar to a crepe), fell apart very easily, if not eaten immediately. Restaurant owners began using loaves of bread as take-out containers for curries and the Bunny Chow - one of South Africa’s most popular fast foods - was born.



The origins of Bunny Chow have another tale to tell. In this story, the famous Bunny Chow emerged as the result of hungry Indian golf caddies, who, unable to travel from the golf course to Grey Street in Durban for lunch, arranged for their friends to bring them meals. In an act of creativity and because of the shortage of appropriate containers, the restaurant owners poured the curry into a hollowed loaf of bread. Myth or legend? Who knows …



Originally, the main fillers for Bunny Chow were vegetables instead of meat, but the modern Bunny Chow is typically a spicy lamb curry with lots of gravy, served inside half a loaf of bread, usually accompanied by a pickled carrot salad. For a more authentic encounter, Bunny Chow should be a hands-only experience, using the scooped-out bread to dip.



Bunny Chow is not a meal one could describe as a ‘dish’, it’s less elegant than that and prides itself on being messy. So, where exactly does the name come from? According to those in the know, ‘Bunny’ is a variation of the word ‘Bania’, an Indian caste of merchants who sold the curries. The meal, which is served with chicken, lamb, mutton or vegetables, sits in a hollowed-out rectangular white loaf. The ‘dish’ is usually available in quarter, half, or full sizes and the hollowed-out lump of bread that sits on top of the finished dish is used as the eating utensil to dip into the meal.



Recently I wrote an article on the relocation of The Zebra Crossing, the South African Grocery and Cafe, to The Zone, 32 Wises Road in Buderim. In the event that you haven’t made it to the new location yet, The Zebra Crossing are now hosting a Bunny Chow Day on Saturday 8 February. Visitors to The Zebra Crossing will be served delicious traditional Durban curry, served in half a loaf of bread with a side of sambals and Mrs Balls Chutney. The curry options available will be lamb, chicken and vegetable.



Make sure to bookmark the date, tell your friends and family all about it, and make your way over to The Zebra Crossing for a morning of delectable and traditional Bunny Chow. And, while you’re there, make sure to stock up on all your favourites that remind you of ‘home’.

Date and times: Saturday 8 February, 9.00am to 2.00pm
Location: The Zebra Crossing, The Zone, 32 Wises Road, Buderim

All images courtesy of The Zebra Crossing South African Grocery and Cafe FB and www.zebracrossing.com , unless otherwise indicated

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#family_friendly
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#breakfast
#lunch
#takeaway
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!date 08/02/25 -- 08/02/25