Where to Eat in Kampala
Many aspects of Kampala can be overwhelming to visitors, and the dining experience is no exception. With food from just about every continent around City Square alone, it can be hard to choose just one.
1000 Cups, located on Buganda Road, offers a quick and delicious caffeine boost of Uganda’s finest coffee. Ruarri Serpa.
All the options means that it’s easy to avoid the fall-back choices – American, Chinese, and Indian, and opt for more exotic tastes, like Greek, Turkish, Korean, or Cuban.
The prices vary as much as the styles – Antonio’s Grille, by City Square on Kampala Road, has quick meals for under USH6,000.
Upscale Fang Fang, however, will send you back to the ATM.
I arrived in Kampala with one clear goal that relieved me of all those choices – coffee. 1,000 Cups was
the place for my fix, and that gave me a place to sit and think (Plot 18, Buganda Road, if you’re in the
need).
Each visit is like a trip to America – switching between my iced mocha latte and the day’s New York Times, I noticed they were playing “ Born in the U.S.A.” over the radio.
My coffee cost USH5,000, so I chose to pass on the carrot and coconut cakes for USH3,000. Located a
little too close to the craft shops, 1,000 Cups might not be the best option for those who want to avoid
looking like a tourist, but it’s a quiet and relaxing place to work, nevertheless.
As dinnertime approached, I weighed my options. Joanna, a waitress at 1,000 Cups, recommended Chong Qing, in nearby Nakasero for dinner. “ The fish brings me there every time,” she said. “ I’m a rice and fish girl.”
You might enjoy eating pork sticks at Faze 2, an oasis of calm in bustling Kampala. Ruarri Serpa.
But if she’d been away from Uganda for months and was just returning, she would choose Faze 2 (10 Nakasero Road, Nakasero). Faze 2 captures the diverse food choices within Kampala, with a full menu of Western, Asian, and African entrees.
Plates at Faze 2 start at USH12,000, but I learned the hard way that drinks cost almost twice what they would at other places.
Beneath a canopy of trees, the largely outdoor restaurant was another quiet retreat from Kampala’s busy downtown. The dining area was less than half full by late evening, and it was mostly a local business
crowd.
I was surprised to see “ Roasted Pork Fridays” was in full swing, and two or three people could eat for USH30,000. “ The pork was good, but a little skinny,” said a man who had just finished a corporate
dinner there.
Despite how skimpy the pork sticks actually werea, it was a popular choice, especially for the mixed local/foreigner parties. Ugandan, American, and Chinese were all options on the menu, but
roasted pork won the night.
1000 Cups’ convenient location makes it an easy place to get work done. Ruarri Serpa.
The atmosphere was relaxing, but the prices of the drinks means I’d be quick to choose another bar if I was to stay and lounge. The service was quick and attentive, and I was on a boda-boda headed for the Taxi Park by sundown.
Attempting to navigate the evening Kampala traffic was a good reminder at how surprisingly easy my restaurant cruise had been – especially in a city with hundreds of choices.
