CaneCutters

If you want to try bunny chow, the dish Durban gave the world, CaneCutters is one of the most reliable places to start. This casual curry house puts the dish at the centre of everything it does, and its own history of the dish credits Durban's indentured Indian workers and Gujarati takeaway traditions with the idea of serving curry inside a hollowed-out loaf of bread. According to the restaurant, the earliest bunnies were vegetarian, and meat versions such as mutton became popular later.

The menu centres on bunnies. The mutton bunny is described by the restaurant as the traditional favourite, and it is the natural choice for first-timers. Vegetarians are well looked after with sugar-bean bunnies, green bean and potato curry, and a broad-bean and sugar-bean combination offered on certain weekdays at a special price. The restaurant says it has won a best-bunny award. Ask staff how hot each curry is if you are not used to Durban spice levels, and ask about portion sizes before you order.

Eating a bunny is a skill in itself. Traditionally you eat with your hands, using the bread scooped out of the loaf to mop up the gravy before tearing into the curry-soaked walls of the loaf. Cutlery is available, but locals will tell you the fingers are part of the experience. Expect to make a mess and grab plenty of serviettes.

CaneCutters suits budget travellers, families and anyone curious about Durban's food culture, and it is quick enough for a casual lunch between sightseeing stops. The main restaurant is in Umhlanga Ridge, at Horizon Views on Centenary Boulevard, with ample free parking. It offers dine-in, takeaway and delivery. The dining room opens from 10:00 daily, closing in the early evening; the takeaway counter keeps longer hours, opening at 08:00 on weekdays and staying open until late on Fridays and Saturdays. There is no need to book for a casual lunch.

A second branch on Solomon Mahlangu Drive in Clairwood, south of the city centre, keeps daytime hours and is handy if you are near the harbour or the south of the city. The Umhlanga Ridge restaurant is a short drive from the Umhlanga Rocks seafront, and it is easy to reach by ride-hailing app from the beachfront hotels.