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Kenyan culinary revolution has come of age with its vibrant street food culture going global and captivating food lovers and travel enthusiasts who have a long list of to try upon landing in the country.
Behind this revolution are local and international content creators who share their experiences across social media platforms, backed by skilled street food vendors whose expertise in producing culinary marvels that surpass expectations is on another level.
Thanks to this revolution, the list that nyama choma which has been a popular Kenyan cuisine has new additions that are readily available and prepared in a way that only Kenyan experts skilled in the art of street food can.
There is something for everyone with a diverse range of flavours and options that define the Kenya’s street food culture.
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READ: Creativity at its best! How Zimmerman vendor makes 700 chapatis each day [Video]
It is where affordability meets convenience with mouth-watering meals served hot and fresh at an affordable price.
This influential partnership between content creators and street food vendors behind the culinary magic is not just selling food, but an experience that can also inform one’s eating habits.
It is a symbiotic partnership in which both the creators and the street food vendors benefit with money trickling in.
Embracing innovation
The street food vendors have embraced innovation to bring the flavours of Kenya to where locals and visitors alike can sample them.
From trolleys to modified wheelbarrows that are mobile and fitted with source of heat to keep the cuisines hot or prepare them on site, enterprising Kenyans are hard at work and shaping how stories of Kenyan foods are told with each meal having cultural significance.
Hygiene is not left out in this thriving enterprise with many vendors providing hand-washing points and packaging the food in a way that it does not come into contact with hands as one enjoys a well-deserved bite.
Here are some mouth-watering street foods that are part of the vibrant street food culture in the country, and which have found their way to international audiences with outstanding reviews from those who have sampled them.
Roasted maize
This is readily available on Kenyan streets, hot from the jiko and popularly served with a touch of chilli, lemon juice and salt to one’s taste.
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Smokies
This has been a constant in Kenya’s streets and haw witnessed the whole revolution with vendors coming up with creative combinations that go down great with smokies.
The smokie is split in the middle and filled with kachumbari (a mix of sliced tomatoes, onions, pepper and dania to taste).
READ: 8 grave mistakes you are making when preparing chapatis
It can also be served wrapped in chapati and baptised smocha along with the kachumbari.
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Fried Cassava
Deep-fried cassava served with kachumbari and salted to taste with pepper also available is among the latest additions to grace the streets.
Its cousin, sweet potatoes has also made it to the streets where it is served grilled or boiled.
Mutura
This delightful snack is made from well-cleaned cleaned goat or cow intestines stuffed with minced/small pieces of cow or goat meat, tripe, and cooled blood that's flavoured with onions, salt, pepper, and chilli.
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Well-cooked, grilled over a flame to give it a rich smoky effect and aroma, African sausage is commonly served with kachumbari.
Boiled eggs
This is another regular on Kenyan street foods, served with Kachumbari and salted to taste.
It can also be wrapped inside a chapati to make a delightful combination.
Variety has its place in this thriving street food economy with a long list of options such as mshikaki, samosa, mandazi, chips (mwitu) that are also readily available.