A bunny chow looks like a loaf of bread that someone has stolen the middle from and filled with curry. Which is exactly what it is. The soft white bread soaks up the red, fiery gravy, and the piece of bread that was cut out, called the “virgin”, sits on top to be torn off and used as your spoon.
Bunny chow is Durban’s signature street food: a hollowed-out quarter or half loaf of white bread filled with curry, usually mutton, chicken or sugar beans, served with a grated carrot and chilli salad. It was created by Durban’s Indian community in the mid-20th century and is sold at curry houses and takeaways across the city. In 2026 a quarter bunny costs roughly R60–150. Durban has a large Muslim community and many halal-certified curry houses, so halal bunny chow is easy to find.
This guide covers the history, how to order and eat it, where to go, halal points, prices and Durban lingo.
Where it came from
Indian workers arrived in Natal from the 1860s to work on sugar plantations, and Durban became home to one of the largest Indian communities outside India. Bunny chow is usually traced to Durban’s Grey Street area in the 1940s, as a portable way to sell curry in bread.
The name is often linked to bania, a term for Indian traders, though nobody is quite sure. It has nothing to do with rabbits.
How to order
| Order | What you get |
|---|---|
| Quarter | A quarter loaf; enough for one hungry person |
| Half | Half a loaf; a big meal or for sharing |
| Full | A whole loaf; for groups |
| Mutton bunny | The classic |
| Chicken bunny | Popular and a little milder |
| Beans bunny | Sugar-bean curry; vegetarian |
| Sambals | Grated carrot, chilli and onion salad on the side |
How to eat it
- Use your hands. Cutlery is optional and a little frowned upon.
- Start with the “virgin” (the bread lid): tear it and dip it in the curry.
- Work your way down, tearing bread from the sides as you go.
- Eat the sambals between bites to cool down.
- Be ready for heat: Durban curry is spicy.
Halal note: Durban has a large Muslim community and many Muslim-owned, halal-certified curry houses; look for SANHA or MJC Halaal Trust certificates. Beans bunnies are vegetarian. At non-certified takeaways, ask about the meat. See our halal food travel guide.
Where to eat bunny chow in Durban
- Around Dr Yusuf Dadoo (Grey) Street – the historic Indian quarter, home of the Juma Masjid and many curry houses.
- Victoria Street Market area – spices, snacks and curry.
- Takeaways across the city and suburbs – every Durbanite has a favourite.
- Beachfront – tourist-friendly places near the Golden Mile.
Ask locals for their favourite; the debate is part of the fun. Lunchtime is best.
More Durban Indian food
- Durban curry – red, fiery and rich, cooked with a local masala.
- Roti rolls – curry wrapped in flatbread.
- Samoosas – Durban’s version of the samosa.
- Chilli bites – spiced vegetable fritters.
- Breyani – South African biryani, often with lentils.
For Cape Town’s different, milder Muslim food tradition, see Cape Malay food.
What it costs (2026)
| Order | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Quarter beans bunny | About R50–90 |
| Quarter mutton or chicken bunny | About R70–150 |
| Half bunny | About R120–250 |
| Samoosas (each) | About R8–20 |
Plan with the South Africa food budget calculator and see tipping in South Africa.
Durban lingo
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| “A quarter mutton, please” | A quarter-loaf mutton bunny |
| “The virgin” | The bread lid |
| “Is it halaal?” | Is it halal? (local spelling) |
| “Lekker” | Delicious (South African slang) |
Frequently asked questions
What is bunny chow?
A hollowed-out loaf of white bread filled with curry, from Durban, South Africa.
Is bunny chow halal?
Many Durban curry houses are Muslim-owned and halal-certified; beans bunnies are vegetarian. Check for SANHA or MJC certification.
Why is it called bunny chow?
The origin is debated; it is often linked to bania, a term for Indian traders. It contains no rabbit.
How much is a bunny chow?
About R50–150 for a quarter in 2026.
See all South Africa food guides.
Sources
- South African Tourism – official tourism site.
- Bunny chow.
