Bill Amount at South African-Inspired Restaurant in Manchester Shocks Mzansi

• A Reddit post about a bill from a South African-inspired restaurant in Manchester quickly caught attention online
• The £142.50 total included traditional favourites like bunny chow, boerewors, and milk tart, sparking mixed reactions
• South Africans reflected on how local dishes become expensive novelties abroad compared to their everyday affordability at home

South Africans were left reflecting after a viral Reddit post showed just how pricey familiar dishes can become when served overseas.

A post on Reddit recently stirred conversations among South Africans after a user shared a picture of a restaurant bill from a South African-inspired spot in Manchester, UK. The image was uploaded on 22 August 2025 by Reddit user lilJuiceBoxZAR, and within five days, it had already drawn over 748 reactions and more than 170 comments. What caught people’s attention was not just the bill itself, but the idea that traditional South African-style food was being served at a hefty price tag abroad.

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The receipt, from a place called Chakalaka Bar, showed a total of £142.50 for a table of two. The order included familiar favourites such as boerewors, bunny chow, milk tart, and a few drinks. For many South Africans, seeing these items listed brought a sense of nostalgia, but the numbers next to them left jaws on the floor. At current exchange rates, the meal worked out to R3,407.45 of rands, an amount that could easily cover groceries for weeks back home.

Restaurant bill shocks Mzansi

What really drove discussion online was the contrast between local affordability and international pricing. South Africans are used to grabbing bunny chow from street vendors at a fraction of the cost, or enjoying milk tart at family gatherings without breaking the bank. Seeing these everyday items turned into luxury dining in the UK made many reflect on how culture gets packaged differently once it leaves home.

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The comments section was filled with laughter, disbelief, and a touch of sadness. Some saw it as a reminder of how much they miss local food, while others felt that their culture was being sold at an inflated rate overseas.

Mzansi reacted to the Reddit post

Academic-Register860 said:

"We are paying R25 for a boerewors roll. Damn, I'm feeling rich right now, yes, if it's a top-notch gourmet boerewors, it will cost about R50."

DoubleDot7 said:

"Cape Malay Bunny Chow? The Durbanite in me is confused. That's putting the 'How?' in bunny chow."

Xavdin said:

"The prices were not a surprise, but this needs an intervention!"

ZyronZA asked:

"At minimum wage in the UK, you'd have to work for 11 hours and 50 minutes to pay for that. Does anyone know what the equivalent cost in South Africa would be?"

Lycan_CLG said:

"Prices like that, it’s hard to tell which country’s really robbing you."

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JoMammasWitness said:

"I did a working holiday there. Once you get paid in pounds, you don't mind paying R80 for a beer. When you come home, you're rich for a month, and then you turn back into a poor child."

AndyMush_Actual said:

"This is highway robbery, oh my God."

Bigboat24 said:

"Is 20% tax standard in the UK?"

A colourful mess said:

"I'm in the US, and a local coffee shop here has a South African dinner once a month. The prices are about the same as these. $15 for any kind of meat, $20 for bunny chow."

Tastex said:

"I've been here! Chakalaka in Manchester. Tbh their menu is super good and very diverse (I love their moroho). Their food is decently priced too for UK restaurant standards, but the real issue is the drinks."

Check out the Reddit post below:

3 Briefly News stories about restaurant bills

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• Nasty C posted a restaurant bill that he racked up in Nigeria, with netizens mocking the weaker currency compared to South Africa.
• A couple's dining experience took an unexpected turn when the boyfriend realised he didn't have enough money to cover the bill.
• A DJ and his friend went out to a restaurant and ran up a R2 million bill to the point where South Africans were gagged.

Source: Briefly News