Best New Restaurants in Cape Town

Family-owned and operated, Seoul Pocha offers diners the experience of a traditional yet elevated Korean Pojangmacha, a street stall that serves quick and comforting traditional Korean bites, without having to catch a flight to the East Asian region.

Located in Rondebosch, the food ethos of this restaurant highlights the culinary principles of traditional and comforting Korean dishes, similar to those served at a Pojang-macha.

What's on the menu?

Seoul Pocha's menu features Korean classics such as tteokbokki, pan-fried rice cakes basted in a signature sweet and spicy sauce, and bibimbap, a flavorful rice dish with vegetables, protein, egg, and gochujang sauce (a spicy, sweet and fermented traditional Korean sauce, known to pack a punch of flavour). 

If you are in the mood to try a Korean staple, opt for the bibimbap, and if you are feeling a bit more adventurous, we recommend the Korean-style Yakiniku Don, pan-grilled beef slices glazed in-house sauce, served over steamed rice and topped with sesame seeds

With only one dessert option on the menu, the Bungeo-ppang, a fish-shaped pastry with a crispy yet soft shell and stuffed with melted chocolate paired with vanilla ice cream, it is not to be missed. The melted chocolate and warm pastry envelope your taste buds, ending off your meal perfectly.

Located on Harrington Street in the heart of the bustling CBD, Tambourine offers a curated range of small plates that aim to tell a story. Inspired by the rich tapestry of cultures and flavours of South Africa, diners can expect dishes that showcase a layered and thoughtful approach to culinary artistry.

What's on the menu?

Dishes on the menu include smoked hay butter risotto, a hearty dish with Jerusalem artichoke and pistachio, alongside other delicious bites such as chicken wings stuffed with sticky bacon jam and glazed in bourbon and peri peri for that spicy kick. For drinks, the cocktail menu features a range of innovative drinks inspired by local flavours and seasonality, such as the Mari's Tea Garden, an infusion of Marigolds from the farm and  Rooibos. 

Thought cabbage was bland? Think again. Once you have tried the charred baby cabbage with chestnut, date and chive breadcrumbs, it will have you rethinking the humble stereotypes associated with this cruciferous vegetable. For meat lovers, the chicken wings stuffed with bacon jam are a winner. Staying true to their local approach, and as a homage to braai culture, the Fat Boy cocktail, made with biltong fat wash and brandy base, is a must.

The idyllic and one-stop destination of the winelands in Stellenbosch Spier Wine Estate is now home to Veld, a restaurant that showcases the flavours of South African cuisine through timeless cooking methods and seasonal ingredients. 

Nods to South African flavour can be seen through the menu, from the springbok loin with rainbow carrots and citrus jus to the rooibos ice cream with honeycomb served with shortbread.

What's on the menu?

With all the dishes made from scratch, diners are spoilt for choice. The grilled Karoo lamb cutlets are served with a vibrant and fresh salsa verde alongside braised fennel and confit tomatoes, creating a dish that envelopes your taste buds in flavour.

For meat-free eaters, the Kashmiri masala cauliflower steak, served with hummus, toasted almonds, and coriander yoghurt to balance out the spicy kick, is a stellar option.

Adjacent to the restaurant is the Wine Library, allowing diners to peruse Spier's award-winning wines.

Embodying the true spirit of South African food culture, Veldt in Hout Bay sets flavour alight as a braai eatery and smokehouse. With the art of fire cooking at the helm of the restaurant's food philosophy, Veldt's menu features a range of wood-fired and smoke-infused dishes prepared with grass-fed and premium cuts of meat.

What's on the menu?

Ideal for sharing, the Veldt Meat Platter includes honey and orange chicken, 28-day aged beef fillet, smoked beef short rib, pork belly ribs, rocket salad, coleslaw and chips. 

If sharing isn't your forte, the 60/40 aged beef dripping burger made with 38-day aged beef & Wagyu fat, topped with smoked tomato relish, Veldt applewood cheddar, pickles and baby gem lettuce is a winner.

For those craving a sweet treat, the malva pudding served with ice cream is a delight.

Dashi Poké, known for its hearty and wholesome poké bowls that infuse Hawaiian, Japanese and Vietnamese flavours, and The Mussel Monger & Oyster Bar, a seafood concept that is loved for its live oysters and mussels, have opened a branch under a shared space at Riverlands Mall in Observatory.

What's on the menu?

Pairing mussels with amagwinya never sounded better, and Mussel Monger and Oyster Bar's game changer, tempura mussels topped with a sweet soy sauce reduction, torogashi dressing and lime alongside fresh and warm amagwinya proves just that.

An explosion of flavour awaits with Dashi Poké's crispy hoisin chicken wontons served with a peanut chilli crunch, spring onions and garnished with coriander.

Green-tea lovers will be thrilled to know that Dashi Poké has a matcha cheesecake on offer.