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The Difference Between Kota and Bunny Chow

South Africa is home to some of the most creative, hearty street foods in the world. Two dishes that often get mixed up, especially by visitors, are the Kota and the Bunny Chow. Both are delicious, carb-filled meals served in bread, but they come from very different places and tell very different cultural stories.


At first glance, they might look like cousins: both start with a loaf of bread and both are designed to keep you full till tomorrow. But their histories, flavours and vibes couldn’t be more different.


What is a Bunny Chow?

The Bunny Chow (often just called “bunny”) comes from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. It was created in the Indian community during apartheid, when people of color were not allowed in restaurants. To serve curry to workers on the go, restaurant owners hollowed out a loaf of bread, filled it with curry, and wrapped it up for takeaway.

  • Origin: Durban, Indian community

  • Bread style: Usually a half or quarter loaf of white bread, hollowed out

  • Filling: Authentic spicy curries (mutton, chicken, beans, or veg)

  • Cultural roots: Indian-South African food heritage

The Bunny Chow is iconic in Durban and represents resilience, innovation, and the blending of Indian and African food culture.





What is a Kota?

The Kota (short for “quarter”) is a township street food favorite, especially in Gauteng. It’s made from a quarter loaf of bread that’s cut open and stuffed with a wild mix of fillings, mainly slap chips and atchar. Unlike the bunny chow, which is strictly curry, the kota is more of a customizable “everything in one” sandwich.

  • Origin: Gauteng townships (Soweto and beyond)

  • Bread style: A quarter loaf of white bread, not hollowed but cut open

  • Filling: French fries (“slap chips”), atchar, polony, Russian sausages, cheese, eggs, viennas, burger patties, and sometimes even fried chicken, all layered together

  • Cultural roots: Township fast food culture, affordable, filling, and designed to share

The Kota is not just food; it’s township culture in edible form, vibrant, busy, and full of flavour.


Key Differences

  • Origin: Bunny Chow = Durban (Indian roots). Kota = Gauteng (township roots).

  • Filling: Bunny Chow = curry. Kota = chips + processed meats + atchar + anything goes.

  • Purpose: Bunny = portable curry meal. Kota = indulgent street snack/meal.

  • Style: Bunny is hollowed bread with curry. Kota is a stacked quarter loaf stuffed with layers.





Why People Confuse Them

Both are made using a loaf of bread as the base and both are very much “comfort street food.” But once you take a bite, the difference is obvious: one is a fiery curry explosion, the other is a township-style, carb-loaded food adventure.


Hungry to try both? Join one of our Soweto or Johannesburg food experiences and taste the difference for yourself. Book at book@braambybike.africa.

 
 
 

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