Five new Joburg menus you have to try – June 2025

17 Jun 2025

The Pot Luck Club's Prix Fixe menu. Photo: The Pot Luck Club.

TANG in Nelson Mandela Square has a new Kaiseki menu. Photo: TANG.

A winter offering at Cyra at The Houghton Hotel. Photo: Cyra.

At Johannesburg In Your Pocket, we love tasting new dishes and flavour combinations, so while most people are fixated on the steep temperature drops in Joburg in June (we know these are laughable if you come from the Northern Hemisphere), we love the opportunity to experience seasonal menus.

As the weather takes a chilly turn in Joburg (around 15 degrees C), we've rounded up our favourite seasonal offerings and winter menus at restaurants in the city (plus one surprise Gauteng location) that are sure to warm you.

1. Big flavour in Tang's new Kaiseki menu

Luxury Asian restaurant TANG's winter menu is packed with flavour. Photo: TANG.

TANG at Nelson Mandela Square launched a winter Kaiseki menu, a refined multi-course Japanese meal designed to highlight the elegance of Japanese haute cuisine. We were invited for lunch and asked Kate Liquorish of Joburg Eats to join us to try it out. Every time we eat at TANG, the food stands out – it's consistently excellent and full of deep flavour. The restaurant is chic, and the atmosphere is always vibrant. The Kaiseki menu is also exceptionally good value for money in a city where it's not difficult to spend around R750 on three courses and a drink at an upmarket restaurant. Opt for a five-course (R450 per person and R500 per person including a glass of the signature wine, Mirabelle rosé) or the eight-course Kaiseki menu (at R650 per person or R700 with a glass of wine). The standouts included a miso soup with chicken that we believe could cure any bout of winter ailment, with its more-ish umami flavour, a dish of edamame beans loaded with ginger and chilli that would put most other restaurants that serve these simply steamed to shame, and a rich and succulent beef tenderloin. The beef sits in a meaty gravy and is served with egg fried rice. We found five courses to be hugely satisfying and struggled to finish all the food on our plates. The wine is a perfect accompaniment, a light, Provençal-inspired rosé made in South Africa that is delicate and yet able to cleanly cut through the spiciness of the dishes. Book here.

2. A winter offering at Cyra

The duck course with parsnip and coffee at Cyra. Photo: Cyra.

We were invited to Cyra, the gorgeous fine dining restaurant of Chef Candice Philips at The Houghton Hotel, to sample their new seven-course winter menu. It's always a treat to be in this space – the view out over the immaculate greens of the Houghton Golf Course from the wraparound balcony, particularly as the sun is setting, is spectacular. Our tip: always aim to arrive in time for a sunset. Our seven-course tasting menu included an amuse-bouche of beef tartare with tongue and olive aioli – a savoury bomb, described by our companion as "umami velvet crunch" – and for mains, we enjoyed the duck flavoured with coffee, resting on a creamy parsnip purée. Understated, but no less lovely, the palate cleanser of honey and lemon ice cream was a perfect little bite we'd happily repeat. The wine and spirit pairing is optional but recommended, and as always, we loved the opportunity to chat with the knowledgeable and entertaining sommelier. This seven-course menu is satisfying; the portions are thought out, so you won't feel uncomfortably full. It costs R1,250 per person, or R1,995 including the wine pairing. Book for Cyra's winter dining experience here (pescatarian and vegetarian options are available).

**3. The return of The Pot Luck Club's prix fixe menus**

A fabulous spread – The Pot Luck Club's popular *pre fixe* menus are back. Photo: The Pot Luck Club.

We're loyal fans of The Pot Luck Club's delicious prix fixe (fixed price) menus – an affordable take on fine dining. This is the first time the restaurant is offering this deal from its new location at The Peech Hotel. As we've come to expect, the experience here is steeped in indulgence, from the richness of the dishes to the variety of tastes on your plate. A meal at The Pot Luck Club has the feel of an occasion, which is sometimes missing in Joburg establishments. The Prix Fixe Lite is a six-plate sharing experience for two (at R495 per person) that's ideal for a quick lunch, while the Prix Fixe Loaded (includes two more plates (at R795 per person) is best suited for dinner or a longer, lingering lunch. It was all good, but our favourites on the day included The Pot Luck Club's fish slider, which sounds ordinary but is always a winner, a petite burger of the crispiest and yet tender fish in a brioche-style sweet bun with trimmings. You have to get your hands dirty to eat this one, but it's worth it. The peri peri chicken here is also a marvel. It smacks with flavour. We love how the restaurant takes South African staples and uses Asian and Mexican influences to create a sizzle. We went large and ordered our favourite cocktail, a Thai Green Curry Martini, which we have read is crafted with Absolut vodka, lemongrass syrup, lychee, and chilli puree. A delight every time. Available until Tue, Sep 30, 2025. Book here (pescatarian and vegetarian options are available).

4. Dim sum to share at Fairlawns Boutique Hotel

Delicious dim sum at the lovely Fairlawns Boutique Hotel. Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

Sushi might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Fairlawns Boutique Hotel in Morningside, Sandton, but it's on the menu – and extensively so. New to this offering is the addition of Dim Sum. We visited on a sunny winter Sunday, where you have the option to eat on the terrace or inside the inviting dining room with its floor-to-ceiling glass doors. We took a table in the sunlight, while outside, a live music performance added to the warm ambience, and the sounds gently filtered into the space. The Dim Sum basket included spinach and cheese, and prawn steamed dumplings with a delicious dipping sauce of honey, soy sauce, and chili; and duck baozi (duck pieces wrapped in a steamed bun dumpling). This was accompanied by a light miso soup. The sushi platter was a 16-piece combination of maki, salmon and tuna rainbow rolls, and California rolls. A fusion of Chinese and Japanese cuisine with a touch of South African style, while not an authentic Dim Sum menu, makes the combination of tasty dishes, location, and atmosphere a perfect lazy afternoon out. Dishes are served à la carte, so priced individually (you're looking at around R450 per person, excluding drinks). We enjoyed the Jordan rose as a wine accompaniment. These bites are perfect for sharing in the relaxed setting that this hotel is known for, with its vibrant decor and lush gardens. For an added treat, book a little spa adventure at the hotel's Balinese-inspired retreat pre-lunch. Book now.

5. A surprise in store at Secret Eats

From a previous edition of Secret Eats. A surprise soiree awaits. Photo: Secret Eats.

Does an overnight culinary journey on a grand Gauteng country estate, with a multi-course meal by a secret (but star) chef, strike your fancy? With Secret Eats, you're in for a treat. Choose between the Secret Supper for R1,900 per person or extend your stay with the Secret Escape, which costs R7,100 per couple and includes an overnight stay with a breakfast buffet the next morning. For now, the location is part of the secret, but keep an eye out for more details. Spaces are limited for this experience on Fri, Jun 27 and Sat, Jun 28, 2025. Book here.