Nyama Choma

This delicacy is convenient to have on hand and can be found in every corner, always fresh and in small portions. Nyama Choma is a grilled meat dish made mostly of lamb or beef, with some goat or chicken thrown in for good measure.

The meat is traditionally served in small pieces and left on the grill until it is juicy and tender on its own. Nyama Choma can be served as a finger food or as a small snack with ugali, a polenta-like corn porridge.

This chicken or beef dish is also heard along the safari route and in a tourist hotspot. Lamb and goat are more commonly found in snack bars in the village areas

Once on the grill, it's left to slowly cook over hot coals, resulting in a delicious smoky flavor. You'll also notice that the meat is chewy, gamey, and flavorful, in stark contrast to the soft, tender steaks they have used to in the west. The goats aren't raised on a farm, and the meat isn't aged, which is how the locals prefer it. Nyama choma is best shared among friends; a plate can take up to 45 minutes to prepare.

Nyama choma is best enjoyed with a group of friends; because a plate can take up to an hour to cook, it's common for a group to get together and have a few drinks while the goat cooks. As you'll see, sitting around a table with friends, chewing on goat and sipping beer on a sunny African afternoon is a great way to spend an afternoon.