Bunny chow is the South African dish made by filling a hollowed-out loaf of bread with curry. It originated among Indian South Africans in Durban and is often served as a handheld meal or street-food-style dish.
A traditional bunny chow uses a quarter of a white bread loaf, with the soft centre removed and replaced by curry. The bread acts as both container and accompaniment, soaking up the sauce as it is eaten. Common fillings include mutton, chicken, beans and trotters, while vegetarian versions are also popular.
The dish is closely tied to Durban’s Indian community and developed as an inexpensive, portable way to carry a curry meal. Several origin stories exist, including accounts involving plantation workers and Indian golf caddies, so no single creation story is universally accepted.
Despite the name, bunny chow does not contain rabbit. “Bunny” is generally linked to the word bania, referring to an Indian merchant caste, though the etymology remains debated. A half loaf or quarter loaf may also be called a bunny.