Head over to your favorite mall and you will see how international restaurants have dominated the spaces. So, the call to support and revitalize local restaurants is emphasized to balance the food economy.
Local faves, local flaves
Such is what Uber Eats South Africa is doing now that it is highlighting local HDP-verified or Historically Disadvantaged People-verified restaurants on the platform. With this, people cannot only connect with meals that feel exactly like home but also support the entrepreneurs who bring them to life and reality.
The restaurants are scattered across Soweto and Nelspruit, carrying the burning flame as symbols of resilience, talent, and cultural heritage.
There are currently 43 of these restaurants in Pretoria and Johannesburg, 21 in Cape Town, eight in Durban, and one in Nelspruit.
These various restaurants serve various cuisines, whether street food or fresh takes on traditional favorites. The dishes tell amazing stories, stories of struggle, success, and flavors passed down across generations.
One of the featured restaurants is Mama Dee Fast Food in Pretoria. This eatery quickly grew into a diner with a devoted customer base.
“My customers love and prefer amagwinya made by me,” the restaurant’s founder told Ridesharing Forum. “They can somehow tell if I didn’t make them.”
Its menu includes sphatlo dishes, chips, wat wat, burgers in chicken, ribs, and more, plus several others. The way this restaurant’s menu expanded is inspired by the community of its diners.
“Uber Eats has made more people aware of my business,” the owner pointed out. “I always tell people, if you want your business to grow, register on Uber Eats.”
How to support
If a local restaurant has the badge, customers can easily support these businesses by searching for it. This way, you could already support the local restaurants.
This initiative is part of Uber Eats South Africa’s broader commitment to bring food to your table in just easy taps. Uber Eats has been actively crafting opportunities for food enthusiasts, including historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs who are using digital tools to grow their businesses, reach customers, and become part of South African food culture.
“Uber Eats is deeply rooted in South Africa — not just as a business, but as a community partner,” Uber South Africa’s communications head, Cassie Jaganyi, stated. “We’ll keep working with our merchants to build an inclusive, thriving digital economy that opens doors and puts more local stories on the map.”
Live local. Love local.
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