"The Food is Amazing": SA Woman Finds SA Cuisine in New York Restaurant, Praises Malva Pudding

• A South African woman living in New York City stumbled upon Kaia, a South African restaurant on the Upper East Side
• She called the Malva pudding the best she had ever tasted as a South African, and raved about the rest of the menu too
• South Africans in the comments shared their own experiences at Kaia, with many eager to visit

A South African woman's visit to a restaurant in New York City turned into a full-on taste of home, and her video about it is getting people talking.

@cataleyablessed posted a selfie-style clip on 16 October 2026, filmed inside Kaia, a South African restaurant located at 1446 1st Avenue on New York City's Upper East Side. She and her companion were sharing a plate of Malva pudding when she turned to the camera and could barely contain herself. Adding that the rest of the meal was just as impressive, she said:

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"This is the best Malva pudding I've ever had as a South African"

The visit was also a first for her companion James, who was trying South African food for the very first time.

A taste of home in the Upper East Side

The menu at Kaia goes well beyond dessert. In her caption, @cataleyablessed mentioned that the two also tried pap, boerewors, slap chips and a Gatsby, giving James a proper introduction to South African cuisine.

She encouraged her followers to check out her YouTube channel for a fuller look at everything they ordered throughout the meal.

View the Instagram video below:

Mzansi reacts to Kaia NYC

South Africans in the comments wasted no time sharing their own thoughts on her page:

@lerato_rose said:

"Their Malva P is thee best!!!!"

@brownnomalisa shared:

"I once had dinner there. The food is amazing."

@ingrid__tari wrote:

"Watching the whole experience on YouTube 🔥😝"

@mnqobilinda added:

"Yeah been there. It's nice having food from home in NYC. I tried their slides, it was okay, but we still need Zulu food there 😋"

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@zanele_elevated replied:

"Will check them out. Thanks! 🇿🇦"

@_swazidlamini reacted:

"Wait, really? I'm going this weekend."

For South Africans living in or visiting New York City, Kaia on the Upper East Side appears to be doing something right. From Malva pudding to a proper Gatsby, the restaurant is clearly keeping a little piece of home alive in the heart of Manhattan.

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Source: Briefly News