Matswela's place

I’m Nick Hamman and I’m looking for the best hardbody chicken in South Africa and today I’m in the place whose name in Northern Sotho translates to place of safety, the largest urban centre north of Gauteng, Polokwane.

For the last two days I’ve been here I’ve noticed large groups of locals gathering by this tented area around meal times, which is usually a good sign. Upon closer inspection I learned that they were coming to try Matswela’s place on the corner of president Paul Kruger and Bodenstein.

This open air, shaded establishment provides a cooling respite from the harsh Limpopo sun and for R50 you can get a plate of plenty local classics, mogodu, chicken intestines and what I was here for today, hardbody chicken.

Sometimes called mašanka in these parts uMleqwa — or “hardbody chicken” — is a free-range, old hen that’s run wild, bred naturally in township and rural spaces, which yields dense, flavour-packed meat that takes time to cook down but delivers a rich, deep stew unlike any supermarket bird.

Here it’s done excellently together with a generous serving of steaming pap and fresh vegetables grown in one of the most fertlile parts of our country.

This is wholesome, delicious, South African food and I would highly recommend trying out Matswela’s place for yourself and have left the details in the caption, but if this is not the best hardbody chicken in South Africa, you need to let me know in the comments where I’m going next

Address: cnr President Paul Kruger and Bodenstein Polokwane, Limpopo

#chicken #hardbody #umleqwa