Zimbabwean Grocers, Butchers and Restaurants in the UK: Where to Find Zimbabwean Food and Community

For Zimbabweans living in the UK, finding sadza, Mazoe, Colcom products, or a plate of muriwo unedovi can make the difference between feeling at home and feeling utterly displaced. Fortunately, a growing network of Zimbabwean and southern African food shops, restaurants, and online retailers has taken root across British cities — from London to Manchester to Birmingham and beyond. ## Online Shopping: The National Option **Zimfoods (zimfoods.co.uk)** is one of the most established online retailers catering specifically to the Zimbabwean diaspora in the UK. Based in Birmingham, the site stocks a wide range of Zimbabwean staples including Lobel's biscuits (Lemon Creams, Custard Creams, Vanilla Creams, Bermuda Creams), Cerevita in multiple flavours (sold individually and in wholesale boxes of 24), Colcom French Polony, Family Peanut Butter (dovi), and southern African condiments like Black Cat Peanut Butter, Aromat Chilli Beef Seasoning, Knorrox Stock Cubes, and All Gold Tomato Sauce. The site also offers wholesale pricing on bulk items — a Cerevita Banana Box of 24 is priced at £170, and Choc Malt at £180. Zimfoods offers a Shop Now, Pay Later option, making it accessible for larger orders. ## Birmingham Birmingham has one of the UK's larger southern African communities and is well-served for African groceries. **Samis African Store** operates three Birmingham locations and positions itself as a one-stop African and Caribbean food shop. Its branches are at: - 1063 Pershore Road, B30 2YJ - 285 Birchfield Road, B20 3DD - 82–89 Cecil Street, Newtown, B19 3SU Samis also has an online shop at samisonline.com and stocks a broad range of African food products. While not exclusively Zimbabwean, the store carries many southern African products familiar to Zimbabwean shoppers. **Pamuzinda Restaurant** is one of the most notable explicitly Zimbabwean dining destinations in the UK. The restaurant's menu reads like a nostalgic roll call of Zimbabwean home cooking: chicken feet, chicken livers, okra, muriwo unedovi (rape with peanut butter), beef bones, trotters, oxtail, catfish (muramba), gango, rabbit (tsuro), curry goat, and tilapia. Drinks include Mazoe Orange Crush, Mazoe Raspberry, Mazoe Cream Soda, Mahewu (Dairibord), and Cascade. The restaurant also serves standard English dishes and a children's menu, making it suitable for family outings. Pamuzinda takes bookings online and also accommodates walk-ins. It offers private and corporate event hire — useful for Zimbabwean community gatherings, birthdays, and celebrations. ## Manchester **Kalisha Foods Store** on Oldham Road (M40 2FE) describes itself as a foremost African and European food store in Manchester. The store stocks plantain, palm oil, palm nut cream, cocoyam fufu, and shea butter, among other African staples. Contact: 07413 904700. **Kaijah Lounge** has been highlighted on social media as a popular Zimbabwean-run or Zimbabwean-focused venue in Manchester. Dishes spotted on TikTok reviews include whole grilled fish combo (£24), grilled boerewors sausage (£15), sweet potato fries (£5), and cocktails including mojitos and pornstar martinis (£5 each). The atmosphere is described as a lounge setting — suitable for evenings out with friends. **James MCR** is noted as offering halal Zimbabwean-influenced dishes in Manchester, including wings and smoky beef preparations. ## Milton Keynes **Safari Braai Shack** in Wolverton, Milton Keynes is a family-owned restaurant specialising in southern African cuisine. The menu spans sadza, boerewors, and — unusually — exotic meats including zebra, ostrich, and buffalo. The restaurant is run by siblings, with a connected daytime café called Sunny Side Up operating from the same premises (roughly 9am–4:30pm), while Safari Braai Shack opens from 6pm. It has attracted attention from Zimbabwean food content creators online. ## Derby A Zimbabwean community dining spot has been noted at **1262 London Road, Alvaston, Derby (DE24 8QP)**. Contact: +44 7702 412609. This appears to be a community-frequented spot for Zimbabwean lunches and dinners based on social media posts. ## London London has the largest Zimbabwean population in the UK but, paradoxically, finding explicitly Zimbabwean restaurants can require some searching. The city's vast African food scene is dominated by West African establishments. That said, the Zimbabwean community is well spread across South London (particularly Croydon, Lewisham, and Woolwich), North London (Tottenham, Edmonton), and parts of East London. Several southern African-stocked African grocery shops serve these areas, and community events organised through churches, burial societies, and social groups often feature Zimbabwean home cooking. For those searching out Zimbabwean company in London, community Facebook groups, WhatsApp networks, and Zimbabwean churches remain the most reliable way to connect with events where proper Zimbabwean food is on offer. ## Practical Tips - Many Zimbabwean food shops in the UK double as informal community hubs — it is worth asking in-store about upcoming events, fresh stock arrivals, or locally made dishes sold to order. - Zimfoods.co.uk is a reliable option for those outside major cities who cannot easily reach a physical store. - Products like Mazoe, Cerevita, Lobel's biscuits, and Colcom meats are imported and stock levels fluctuate — it is worth checking availability before making a specific trip. - Zimbabwean restaurants in the UK often operate as event and private dining venues as much as walk-in eateries. Checking their social media pages before visiting is advisable, as hours can vary.