South Africans did not simply order food this year; they curated masterpieces, choreographed cravings and treated the comments box like a diary, a poetry slam, and occasionally a CAPS-LOCK courtroom. Uber Eats has released the second annual South Africa Cravings Report, revealing how the country ate, shopped and surprised loved ones in 2025. The report shows that the Uber Eats app saved consumers more than 12.7 million hours by delivering meals and groceries directly to their door.
For the second year running, fried chicken refused to loosen its grip on the nation. It was the top searched item in the entire country and, impressively, the top search in every single city. Paired with pap, it became South Africa’s most-loved order of 2025.
And in a very respectable second place, malva pudding held its ground once again, proving this nation takes dessert as seriously as dinner. Food wasn’t just food. It was how South Africans apologised, flirted, celebrated and performed emotional gymnastics.
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Valentine’s week saw thousands of heartfelt orders sent to partners, parents, friends and secret admirers. Johannesburg and Pretoria led the charge, with Cape Town close behind. Romantic gestures went far beyond chocolates.
Curated grocery bundles, flowers, late-night snacks and full meal plans were delivered across cities, often accompanied by messages that read like love letters. One eater submitted a birthday lunch order with a note so poetic that the courier reportedly smiled the entire way. The full message read:“Happy Birthday, my sweety.
You are truly an absolute star lighting up my world. Your beauty takes my breath away every single day, and not a moment passes without me thinking of you. I miss you deeply, and my heart aches to be near you.
I love you more than words could ever capture, and I hope this birthday is as unforgettable as you are to me—filled with all the joy, love, and magic you deserve. Here’s to you, the most incredible person in my life. I can’t wait until we’re together again. Forever yours.”
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