Bunny chow, main dish from South Africa: what it is and how it is eaten

Bunny chow is a South African fast food dish from Durban, made by filling a hollowed-out loaf of white bread with curry. Created by Indian South Africans, it is eaten hot and often comes with a side salad or pickles. It is popular for lunch, dinner, or as a snack, and is enjoyed by many communities across South Africa.

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Invented by Indian South Africans in Durban in the 1940s
Made by filling hollowed white bread with curry
Eaten hot, usually with the fingers
Comes in quarter, half, or full loaves
Annual Bunny Chow Barometer competition held in Durban

What is Bunny chow?

Bunny chow is a dish where a loaf of white bread is hollowed out and packed with curry. The bread acts as an edible bowl, soaking up the spicy, often rich curry inside. Fillings can be mutton, chicken, beans, or mixed vegetables, and it is usually served with a side salad of grated carrot, onion, and chilli, or with pickles. The bread absorbs the curry’s sauce, making the inside soft and flavorful, while the outside stays firm enough to hold in your hands.

Where does Bunny chow come from?

Bunny chow was created in Durban, South Africa, by Indian South Africans, likely in the 1940s. Its exact origin is debated, but stories link it to Indian laborers working on sugar cane plantations who needed a quick, portable meal. The use of white bread replaced traditional roti, which was less sturdy for takeaways. The name may come from the Banias, an Indian caste, or from South African slang for food. Originally vegetarian, meat fillings became common later.

How is Bunny chow made?

To make bunny chow, a loaf of white bread is cut and the soft center is removed, creating a hollow space. This cavity is filled with hot curry, which can be made from mutton, chicken, beans, or other ingredients. The removed bread is placed on top as a lid. It is served hot, often with a side of salad made from carrot, onion, and chilli, or with Indian pickles. The bread soaks up the curry, making it easy to eat by hand.

How and when is Bunny chow eaten?

Bunny chow is eaten hot, usually with the fingers, and is rarely served with utensils. It is popular for lunch, dinner, or as a snack, and is often shared. It is sold in takeaways and restaurants, especially in Durban, but found across South Africa. The dish comes in different sizes, from a quarter to a full loaf. It is commonly enjoyed with a side salad or pickles, and is a favorite for picnics and beach outings.

Kinds of Bunny chow

The original bunny chow was vegetarian, but now fillings include mutton, chicken, beans, or even chips with curry gravy, sausage, cheese, eggs, and polony. Across South Africa, names like kota, skhambane, and shibobo refer to similar bread-and-filling dishes, sometimes with less traditional ingredients. The size of the bread can vary, and the salad or pickles on the side may change with the season or region.

What Bunny chow means

Bunny chow is a symbol of Durban’s Indian community and has become a beloved street food across South Africa. It is featured at the annual Bunny Chow Barometer competition in Durban, where cooks compete for the best version. Once wrapped in newspaper, it is now usually sold in special boxes. The dish is known for being affordable, filling, and easy to eat on the go, making it a favorite for gatherings and casual meals.

Questions people ask about Bunny chow

What is bunny chow made of?

Bunny chow is made by hollowing out a loaf of white bread and filling it with hot curry. The curry can be mutton, chicken, beans, or vegetables, and it is often served with a side salad or pickles.

Where does bunny chow come from?

Bunny chow was created in Durban, South Africa, by Indian South Africans. It dates back to the 1940s and has since become popular across South Africa.

How is bunny chow eaten?

Bunny chow is usually eaten hot and with the fingers, not utensils. The bread absorbs the curry, making it easy to pick up and eat, often shared among friends or family.

Are there vegetarian versions of bunny chow?

Yes, the original bunny chow was vegetarian, filled with bean or vegetable curry. Today, both vegetarian and meat versions are common.

What are common fillings for bunny chow?

Common fillings include mutton curry, chicken curry, bean curry, and sometimes chips with curry gravy, sausage, cheese, or eggs.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Bunny chow", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Bunny chow