Celebrate local flavours: Uber Eats highlights 70+ HDP restaurants across SA

Dimakatso Hlongwane, founder of Mama Dee Fast Food in Danville, Pretoria. Image supplied

With 73 HDP-verified restaurants now live on the platform, Uber Eats is making it easier for people to connect with meals that feel like home — and support the entrepreneurs who bring them to life.

From Soweto to Nelspruit, these restaurants are more than places to eat — they are symbols of resilience, talent, and cultural heritage.

The HDP badge helps customers find and support these businesses with a simple search, bridging technology with homegrown pride and traditional tastes.

More than a food delivery app

This is part of Uber Eats’ broader commitment to being more than a food delivery app. The platform is actively creating opportunities for all, including historically disadvantaged business owners who are using digital tools to grow their businesses, reach new customers, and shape the future of South African food culture.

Currently, there are 43 HDP restaurants in Johannesburg and Pretoria, 21 in Cape Town, eight in Durban, and one in Nelspruit — each one bringing something special to the table.

Whether it’s the familiarity of street food or a fresh take on traditional favourites, every dish tells a story — of struggle, triumph, and flavour passed down through generations.

Success story

Among the many inspiring stories on the platform is that of Dimakatso Hlongwane, founder of Mama Dee Fast Food in Danville, Pretoria.

What began with R500 and a single batch of amagwinya "vetkoek" has grown into a thriving eatery with a devoted customer base. For Hlongwane, food is personal. “My customers love and prefer amagwinya made by me,” she says. “They can somehow tell if I didn’t make them.”

Over time, Hlongwane expanded her menu based on feedback from her community, adding township favourites like sphatlo (kota) and growing her business one dish at a time.

“Uber Eats has made more people aware of my business,” she adds. “I always tell people, if you want your business to grow, register on Uber Eats.”

Support local

Anyone looking to support local businesses can simply search “HDP” in the Uber Eats app to find nearby restaurants marked with the HDP badge. Whether it’s a neighbourhood favourite or a new hidden gem, the badge makes it easier to back small businesses and discover meals with meaning.

“Uber Eats is deeply rooted in South Africa — not just as a business, but as a community partner,” says Cassie Jaganyi, head of communications at Uber South Africa.

“We’ll keep working with our merchants to build an inclusive, thriving digital economy that opens doors and puts more local stories on the map.”