What to eat at Fourways Farmers Market

more than a year ago

No matter the season, the gardens and surrounding nature reserve of Fourways Farmers Market are always enticing and whether it's a morning, afternoon or evening, perusing the stalls, diving into the delicious food and sprawling on the lawns overlooking the lake is a beautiful way to spend your time.

We went for a morning visit, and while the hikers and cyclists were energetically enjoying the trails, we unashamedly were there to eat. Fourways Farmers Market has made a name for itself for its exciting mix of street food and we weren't left disappointed. Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian, meat-eater or just a non-conformist without any other label you are sure to find a dish to please. The prices are also budget-friendly and portions range in size, so you can please picky eaters or feed a big appetite.

Here's some of our favourites that you should seek out on your next visit.

The market is open on Friday 15:00–22:00, Sat, Sun 09:00–18:00. Please note that there are limiyed vendors on Friday, but all listed vendors are at the market Saturday and Sunday.

Sumting Fresh

One of the stalwarts of Fourways Farmers market, it is easy to see why Sumting Fresh remain a crowd favourite. Their crispy chicken boats with fresh watermelon and mountains of cheese remain an excellent fresh combination eight years after they were established. It's always our first stop – for the food and the super friendly service. The team here are consummate performers and will call out your order and celebrate it with you.

Gursha Authentic Ethiopian

As fans of Ethiopian cuisine – with its signature injera "bread" and tasty vegetable and meat stews, we love eating Gursha Authentic Ethiopian dishes. Their fresh smoothie type thick layered juices are also a unique treat. Try the avocado, mango and strawberry combo for a creamy fruitful drink, which will take you right back to memories of visiting Addis Ababa, or make you want to book that ticket.

Gourmet Gimba – Bao Chicka Wowa

Gourmet Gimba brings one of Joburg's tastiest baos to Fourways Farmers Market.

Soft springy bao (we love these steamed buns), crunchy oyster mushrooms, creamy mayo and spicy pickled ginger makes this one of the yummiest baos around. The pork belly and Texas beef are also really good, so options for all tastes.

Lebanese Street Food Shawarma

You'll want a few serviettes after polishing off Lebanese Shawarma's saucy options.

For the very hungry, a large shawarma with a protein of your choice served mild or extra spicy is very satisfying. Crispy brinjals, hummus, tahini and cucumber come standard as they should – the makings of a great shawarma.

Jozi Dim Sum

For a lighter option dim sum is sure to hit the spot. You can mix and match a couple of flavours. We tried the spinach cream cheese, pork and chicken. Super tasty, and we really enjoyed the potstickers, crispy on the outside and tender inside, dipped in soy sauce.

The Crazy Italians

It’s rare to find authentic cannoli in Johannesburg and this is the real deal. Light sweetened fresh ricotta on a perfectly crispy cannoli biscuit casing dipped in pistachios on either end. What a treat. Our only regret was not buying a box of six.

Che Argentinian Grill

For the meaty lovers you can’t go wrong with Che Argentinian Grill who bring their excellence with fire to the market. Never turn down the chimichurri sauce.

Seated at a picnic bench overlooking the lake and licking our fingers, it was hard to narrow down our top picks above, as there really is something for everyone. If we had to put down our ultimate three-course Fourways Famers Market feast, we would start with a Gourmet Gimba bao, followed by classic Sumting Fresh crispy chicken delight and end with a pistachio cannoli.

The Fourways Farmers Market is open all weekend from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. See all the details here.