Wandie's Place

Wandie's Place is a long-running restaurant in Dube Village, Soweto, on Makhalemele Street in the south-west of Johannesburg, Gauteng. It began life as a shebeen, the informal township tavern, and grew into one of the best-known places in Soweto to eat traditional South African food. It is a fixture on township tour itineraries, and it also draws local families and groups celebrating occasions. The cooking is home-style township fare served as a generous buffet. Typical dishes include pap, the stiff maize porridge that anchors the meal, served with morogo, the leafy wild greens, along with oxtail, beef stew and braaied meats. Side dishes vary from day to day, so the exact spread is worth confirming by phone. The dining room is informal, warm and communal, decorated with memorabilia, and the atmosphere is convivial and noisy when tour groups are in. There is no dress code; casual clothes are the norm. Music and conversation often fill the room at busy lunch sittings. The restaurant is usually associated with a midday meal, and it is generally open daily from about noon until evening, although hours vary and confirmation by phone is advised. Prices are moderate by Johannesburg standards, and the buffet format keeps costs predictable. Alcoholic drinks are available, and local beer is the usual accompaniment to a heavy plate of meat and pap. Reservations are recommended and are essential for groups, since large parties can occupy much of the dining room; the number is +27 11 982 2796. Visitors travelling independently should plan transport in advance, as Dube Village is best reached with a guided tour, a pre-arranged driver or a licensed e-hailing service. Many visitors combine a meal here with visits to Vilakazi Street, the Hector Pieterson Memorial and the Apartheid Museum, so a leisurely lunch fits well into a full day exploring Soweto and its history.