Johnny’s Roti
Also known as Sunrise Chip ‘N Ranch, Johnny’s Rotis is an
institution. You haven’t been to Durban if you haven’t eaten the triple cheese
and chip roti with mutton gravy after a night of jolling hard. They’re open
24/7.
89 Sparks Road, Durban. Call: 031 209 2020.
A trip to Durban is not complete without a trip to Johnny's”
My love affair with Sunrise Chip 'n' Ranch started when I was a student at Natal University. I am sure this holds true for almost everyone in the province. If you needed a quick snack, you went to the garage, and if you needed a meal that would last you for days, you went to Johnny's.
Its undeniably signature dish is surely the Chip 'n' Cheese Roti with (mutton) gravy. This thing is as long as your forearm and as heavy as a bag of potatoes and even the most gluttonous of patrons will regret eating the whole thing in one meal.
Notoriously unashamed of its dodgy outward appearance, you may strike it lucky and find the gentleman taking orders behind the counter in an unbuttoned shirt and possibly not wearing any pants (not kidding) but do not be alarmed - this is part of the persona of Sunrise Chip 'n' Ranch (AKA Johnny's).
Never quiet, always busy, it was a surprise to find out recently that Johnny's actually closes shop for two hours between 6am and 8am. That was unheard of when I was a student - it was always a hive of activity, much like the Cantina in Mos Eisley (Google it). And almost any time you run a visit to Johnny's with out of towners they will invariably find it a wretched hive of scum and villainy. But you don't need to be cautious. It's part of the vibe. I doubt anyone on the planet would dare interfere with Johnny's. Even the bad guys eat at Johnny's, so it's the safest place on the planet if you ask me. It says something that friends from out of town (or out of country) insist on a late night supply run to Johnny's whenever they're visiting.
Either way, it's a must-see part of Durban like the Eiffel Tower is when you're in Paris. Heck, New York has their Lady Liberty and Durban has their Johnny's Roti.
Its undeniably signature dish is surely the Chip 'n' Cheese Roti with (mutton) gravy. This thing is as long as your forearm and as heavy as a bag of potatoes and even the most gluttonous of patrons will regret eating the whole thing in one meal.
Notoriously unashamed of its dodgy outward appearance, you may strike it lucky and find the gentleman taking orders behind the counter in an unbuttoned shirt and possibly not wearing any pants (not kidding) but do not be alarmed - this is part of the persona of Sunrise Chip 'n' Ranch (AKA Johnny's).
Never quiet, always busy, it was a surprise to find out recently that Johnny's actually closes shop for two hours between 6am and 8am. That was unheard of when I was a student - it was always a hive of activity, much like the Cantina in Mos Eisley (Google it). And almost any time you run a visit to Johnny's with out of towners they will invariably find it a wretched hive of scum and villainy. But you don't need to be cautious. It's part of the vibe. I doubt anyone on the planet would dare interfere with Johnny's. Even the bad guys eat at Johnny's, so it's the safest place on the planet if you ask me. It says something that friends from out of town (or out of country) insist on a late night supply run to Johnny's whenever they're visiting.
Either way, it's a must-see part of Durban like the Eiffel Tower is when you're in Paris. Heck, New York has their Lady Liberty and Durban has their Johnny's Roti.
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