Phala's Kitchen Stories

A diner at Phala's Kitchen sitting behind plates of pap and meat, with a thought bubble saying Re Tlaja Mara!
Phala's Eating House Menu: What to Order on Your First Visit
First time at Phala's Eating House? A quick guide to our menu: what each dish is, what it costs, and what to order if you're new to tripe, trotters or... Read more...
Phala's Kitchen poster on a red background reading Mogodu Monday ko Phala mos
Mogodu Monday at Phala's: Where to Get Cooked Mala Mogodu in Mabopane
"Mogodu Monday ko Phala mos." Looking for cooked mala mogodu near you in Mabopane or Soshanguve? Where to find it, what it costs and how to get it delivered hot. Read more...
Maize meal being poured from a bag into a big black pot of boiling pap, stirred with a long wooden stick at Phala's Kitchen in Mabopane
How We Cook Pap the Traditional Way: Stirred by Hand in a Big Pot
Every plate at Phala's comes with pap. Here's how it's cooked the traditional way, in a big pot stirred with a long wooden stick, plus the difference between stiff pap,... Read more...
Phala's Kitchen African Cuisine sign lit up at dusk outside Phala's Eating House in Block S, Mabopane
Phala's Eating House Photos: Inside Our Kitchen in Block S, Mabopane
Photos of Phala's Eating House (Phala's Kitchen) in Block S, Mabopane: our sign at dusk, pap going into the big pot, Mogodu Monday, marapo and full plates. Here's what to... Read more...
Big pot of slow-cooked food on an open flame
How to Store and Reheat Pap and Slow-Cooked Meat Safely
Leftover mogodu, oxtail or pap? How long it keeps, how to store it, why the gravy sets like jelly in the fridge, and how to reheat pap so it stays... Read more...
Slow-cooked hardbody (village) chicken at Phala's Eating House
What is Hardbody Chicken? A Guide to South Africa's Village Chicken
If you grew up visiting grandparents in the village, you probably know the taste of hardbody chicken. Firmer and more flavourful than supermarket chicken, it is a dish many South... Read more...
Eisbein (pork knuckle) plate at Phala's Eating House
What is Eisbein? From German Pork Knuckle to South African Favourite
Eisbein is a South African favourite with a German name. Crispy or tender, salty and rich, it is one of the most satisfying pork dishes you can order. Here's where... Read more...
Oxtail in thick gravy with pap at Phala's Eating House
Oxtail and Pap: Why This Slow-Cooked Classic Is Worth the Wait
Few dishes say "Sunday lunch" in South Africa quite like oxtail. Rich, sticky and falling off the bone, it is the kind of meal people plan their weekend around. Here's... Read more...
Sliced beestong (ox tongue) in brown sauce at Phala's Eating House
Beestong (Ox Tongue): How It's Cooked and Why It's Worth Trying
Ox tongue, or beestong in Afrikaans, has a reputation for being an "adventurous" food. Once people taste a properly cooked one, they usually wonder why they waited so long. Here's... Read more...
Nama tlhogo (sheep's head) served at Phala's Eating House, Mabopane
Nama Tlhogo (Sheep's Head): A First-Timer's Guide to Smiley
Nama tlhogo is the dish that separates the curious from the committed. Sheep's head, nicknamed "smiley" in many townships because of the way the lips pull back when it's cooked,... Read more...
Marapo, slow-cooked beef bones with pap, at Phala's Eating House
What is Marapo? Why South Africans Love Slow-Cooked Beef Bones
Ask a South African where to find real comfort food and someone will mention marapo. A plate of slow-cooked beef bones might sound simple, but it is one of the... Read more...
Tlhakhwana (pork trotters) in rich brown gravy at Phala's Eating House, Mabopane
What is Tlhakhwana? A Guide to South African Pork Trotters
Tlhakhwana is one of those dishes people either grew up loving or have never dared to try. At Phala's Eating House it is one of our most-ordered plates. This guide... Read more...
How to Order from Phala's Kitchen Safely (and Catch Our Specials)
How to Order from Phala's Kitchen Safely (and Catch Our Specials)
How to order from Phala's Kitchen safely: our official ordering channels, our own delivery service Spaceman Deliveries, delivery fees, and how to spot fake delivery operators. Read more...
Phala's Hang Out: Sundays, Soul Sessions and Good Food in Mabopane
Phala's Hang Out: Sundays, Soul Sessions and Good Food in Mabopane
Phala's Kitchen started as a place to eat, but people kept staying. Somewhere between the first plate of mogodu and the last cold drink, our yard in Block S, Mabopane... Read more...
hot-pot
What is Mala Mogodu? A Guide to South Africa's Favourite Tripe Dish
Mala Mogodu is a beloved South African dish of slow-cooked tripe and intestines in a rich, spiced broth. Discover its origins, how it's prepared, and where to enjoy it the... Read more...

Order your way: Delivery in Mabopane, collection, or dine-in at Phala's Eating House.