Angola • Food guide for travelers
Best Angola Foods: What food is Angola known for?
Angolan cuisine blends coastal seafood, inland stews, and Portuguese heritage. Most meals pair a hearty base like funje (fúnge) with a flavorful sauce or stew—often using palm oil, okra, leafy greens, peanuts, or dried fish.
Signature dishes to try in Angola
If you only try a few foods, start with the dishes below. They represent the most common “home-style” flavors and the ingredients you’ll see across the country.
Funje (Fúnge)
A staple starch made from cassava flour (or sometimes maize). Soft and smooth, it’s used to scoop up sauces, stews, and grilled fish. Think “polenta-like” in texture, but more elastic.
Muamba de Galinha
Chicken stew with palm oil, okra, garlic, and spices. Often served with funje. Rich, comforting, and one of the most recognizable Angolan meals.
Calulu
A hearty stew that can include fish or meat, okra, onions, tomatoes, and leafy greens (cassava leaves or sweet potato leaves). Usually served with rice or funje.
Kizaca (Kisaca)
Cassava leaves cooked with ground peanuts into a thick, nutty sauce. Vegetarian versions are common, and fish variations are also popular.
Top Angola foods (quick guide)
Use this list to spot dishes on menus and markets.
1) Cabidela
Rice and poultry/game cooked with blood (often balanced with vinegar or wine). A legacy dish with Portuguese influence, also found in Angola.
2) Funje (Fúnge)
Cassava porridge staple paired with sauces and stews. Mild flavor, made for spicy and savory toppings.
3) Calulu
Stew with fish/meat, okra, tomatoes, onion, and greens. Commonly served with rice or funje.
4) Muamba de Galinha
Palm-oil chicken stew with okra and aromatics. You’ll often find it as a “must-try” traditional meal.
5) Kizaca (Kisaca / Quizaca)
Cassava leaves and peanuts cooked into a thick sauce. Some versions include fish, tomatoes, and onions.
6) Leite Azedo
Traditional fermented sour milk prepared in some communities, sometimes used in local specialties with funje and dried meat.
7) Cocada Amarela
A custard-like dessert made with coconut and lots of egg yolks for a deep yellow color—sweet and rich.
8) Chikwanga (Kwanga)
Cassava bread/cakes wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. Often served with stews and spicy sauces.
9) Mufete
Grilled fish meal with sides such as cassava, vegetables, and sauces. A great choice in coastal areas.
10) Doce de Ginguba
Peanut-based sweet (ginguba = peanuts). You may find brittle-like candies and other peanut treats.
Where to try Angolan food
- Local markets: best for fruit (mango, banana, papaya, pineapple) and snacks.
- Home-style restaurants: look for daily stews served with funje and rice.
- Coastal areas: prioritize grilled fish meals like mufete and seafood stews.