South Africans didn’t just eat in 2025; they made every meal an experience. According to Uber Eats’ second annual South Africa (SA) Cravings Report, this was the year of fried chicken, poetic delivery notes, and orders that read like love letters, diary entries, and the occasional very passionate all-caps demand.
For the second year in a row, fried chicken ruled the nation. It was the top search in every city, from Johannesburg to Cape Town, and paired with pap; it became the ultimate SA comfort combo. Dessert lovers kept malva pudding close to their hearts, proving that sweets are taken as seriously as dinner.
Food played a starring role in how South Africans expressed love and celebration. Valentine’s week saw thousands sending meals to partners, parents, friends, and secret admirers. Grocery bundles, flowers, late-night snacks, and full meal plans were delivered with notes that ranged from romantic to downright poetic. One birthday lunch note read: “Happy Birthday, my sweety. You are truly an absolute star lighting up my world, I love you more than words could ever capture.” Even Uber Eats couriers reportedly paused to admire the message.
Rituals became a norm of love and consistency. One customer placed a standing weekly date-night order for an entire year, while another ordered “for two” more than 500 times. Love, convenience, and commitment proved the perfect trio.
Some South Africans took meal ordering to the extreme. Over 1 200 people placed at least one order every day of the year, with the top eater clocking 2772 orders and spending R465 320 ($25 140) in 2025 alone. Some restaurants received hundreds of repeat orders from single loyal fans, turning customers into unofficial brand ambassadors.
High-rollers went all out: one order of tequila cost R17 773 ($960), while another splurge included tequila and two bottles of whiskey for R17 668 ($955). At the same time, Uber One members saved over R20 000 ($1 080) collectively on food orders, the equivalent of a small holiday or roughly 2 000 fried chicken meals.
Delivery heroes logged astonishing stats. The busiest courier completed 8 250 trips and covered almost 49 000 kilometres, roughly the distance from Johannesburg to Cairo and back. The fastest delivery? A peach rooibos iced tea in just 48 seconds.
South Africans left no room for misinterpretation in the notes section. Orders included “BREAST ONLY” 50 times, “PLEASE MAKE CHIPS EXTRA CRISPY” 16 times, and “NO CORIANDER!! NO PEPPERS!!” 16 times, proving once and for all that when it comes to food, passion knows no bounds.
Cape Town dominated late-night cravings, recording more than double the average city’s late-night orders. Durban earned the title of vegan capital, with over 21 000 plant-based orders. And one restaurant emerged as a delivery legend, fulfilling 84 283 orders in 2025.
“Our annual Cravings Report shows just how vibrant, diverse and proudly SA our food culture is,” said Ntsoaki Nsibanyoni, Uber Eats General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa. “From late-night treats to poetic messages, people are embracing convenience with personality. We’re excited to keep delivering moments of joy, from everyday meals to unforgettable surprises.”
–ChannelAfrica–
