Every month, a frankly crazy amount of brilliant new cafés and restaurants arrive in the City of Gold, which makes whittling a shortlist of best newbies down to a manageable size a challenge, but here it is. The hottest new restaurants trending in Jozi this month are a stack lineup of openings with strong candidates for our favourite restaurants in the city. 

Sex, drugs and rice paper rolls 

Whether you’re a dim sum daredevil or a play-it-safe type when it comes to Asian fusion food, grab your chopsticks and ready yourself for some of the tastiest baos, dumplings, pho and bowls of stretchy, slippery noodles in town at Saigon Suzy’s second restaurant, Saigon Suzy Cedar Square. Much like its Parkwood sister, the space is totally Insta-worthy, decorated with gorgeous parasols suspended from the ceiling, a backdrop of Saigon Suzy’s namesake’s mural and pink neon signs. Our top recommendation is to load up on all the pork belly baos you can handle at this trendy hotspot. Fluffy on the outside, warm, sweet and sticky on the inside, these barbecued delights with cucumber and peanuts are the epitome of the perfect pork bao, while the rest of the bao menu is delicious and arrives quickly. The zesty wok-fried calamari with mini, chilli, lime and coriander, crispy tofu with spring onion and mushroom broth, and soft, pillowy steamed chicken and prawn dumplings are also worth ordering. 

Shop U3 6B Cedar Square Shopping Centre, Cedar Road, Fourways 

010 001 2755 

Facebook: @saigonsuzyjhb 

Twitter: @saigonsuzyjhb 

Instagram: @saigonsuzyjhb 

Gobsmackingly delicious rotisserie chicken 

Get your wet wipes ready, people – it’s time to feast your eyes on tasty birds boasting a crispy, flavourful outer layer while oozing juicy goodness on the inside at Roasting Jack’s in Morningside. The new rotisserie offers everything from double-dredged drumettes to lunchtime chicken sandwiches – think rotisserie chickens, chicken breasts, burgers, chicken wings, salads, sides and baked treats. Pop into this casual spot where you’ll stare at the golden-brown chickens being roasted on the rotisserie machine while sipping your drink for a quick lunch or dinner. Start with the mouthwatering batter-fried blooming onion that’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside followed by the tequila and lime chicken sandwich prepared with pulled rotisserie chicken, tequila, lime, chilli, corn salsa, avocado and cheddar cheese and served with RJ House Mayo on a freshly baked baguette. End the meal on a sweet note with a smooth and creamy gingerbread milkshake – it’s sure to delight both the young and the young at heart. 

Shop 5, The Wedge Shopping Centre, 255 Rivonia Road, Morningside 

011 326 5102 

www.roastingjacks.co.za  

Facebook: @roastingjacks 

Instagram: @roastingjacks 

The sexiest seafood in town 

Sometimes, trawling Joburg, it can feel like there aren’t that many fish in the sea. Good seafood is hard to come by – well, that was the case until The Prawnery Bistro & Bar opened in Illovo, at least. Whether you fancy a fishy bite or like to savour your seafood, make a beeline for this bright, open-fronted prawn bar and fishmonger that’s thrillingly informal with a double-sided menu of prawn and other seafood dishes. To nibble, order a few of meze – the lightly battered rock shrimp, crisp battered calamari, deep-fried soft shell crab and Swedish Skagen. For mains, you simply must try their signature prawns, which are grilled and served with your choice of lemon, garlic and parsley or peri peri sauce. There’s also a 1kg queen prawn special that will set you back R385, which we think is a fantastic deal seeing as you get 16 prawns. Unfortunately, there are no desserts, but the giant frozen margaritas sure make up for it! 

Illovo Junction, corner of Oxford Road & Corlett Drive, Illovo 

060 528 7958 

Instagram: @theprawnery