Swallows Inn

The oldest Chinese restaurant in South Africa

According to the present owner who took over in 1976, the restaurant has been there in some shape or form since at least the 1930's. It is even rumoured that Nelson Mandela frequented this restaurant as a young lawyer and it still sells the Shanghai steak that the waiters swear was his favourite.

This restaurant may seem like your regular Chinese restaurant with its chow meins and chop suey, but what's interesting to note is that the cuisine here is actually Afro-Cantonese, a fusion food genre that emerged after the arrival of Cantonese mineworkers in Johannesburg.

This food genre is characterised by a higher ratio of red meat to vegetables and a much gentler spicing than in classic Cantonese cuisine.

The restaurant itself is rather dated and probably could use a facelift, but if you are someone who wants to experience a taste of the past, Swallows Inn will certainly amaze you.

This restaurant in Old China Town offers the real taste of Afro-Cantonese fusion cuisine, renowned for its delicious flavours and immense portion sizes!

Address: 6 Commissioner St, Midrand, Johannesburg

Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday 11am - 3pm and 5pm - 9pm