From trendy Asian street food to cosy winter spots (and those with the best winter specials), July’s most-viewed restaurants make for appealing reading. Here are the most-viewed restaurants on the Eat Out site last month.

• Joburg
• Pretoria
• Durban
• Cape Town
• Winelands

Joburg

1. Momo Baohaus (Greenside)
This new Taiwanese spot opened up in June, serving traditional street food with some twists. Think bao filled with braised lamb, crispy beef or tempura prawn and bowls of wokked or soba noodles. There’s also sushi and dessert bao with sweet milk or caramel dip.

The Colonel Bao filled with crispy fried chicken and sriracha. Photo supplied.

2. Craft (Parkhurst)
OTT milkshakes and gourmet hot chocolate have helped drive the viral appeal of this spot. But they also serve some excellent savoury options, as evidenced by our recent video.

3. Pron (Linden)
Either the noodles are really, really excellent here, or there are a lot of people on the internet who can’t spell porn. Knowing owner Emma Chen cooking though, it’s the former. Think Szechuan-chilli chicken with peanut sauce and surprisingly delicious pig’s ear salad with coriander.

Dishes at PRON. Photo supplied.

4. Restaurante Parreirinha (La Rochelle)
This popular Portuguese spot has been around since 1975, and still pulls in families with its warm atmosphere and hearty food. Think butterflied prawns, espetada and barbecued sardines.

5. EB Social Kitchen (Hyde Park)
Australian chef Russell Armstrong has experience at three-Michelin-starred restaurants in France and the UK, including Le Gavroche – so it’s no surprise that he’s turning up the heat at this book store restaurant. The fish, risotto and quinoa are getting rave reviews.

6. Mash Braai House (Fourways)
This shisa nyama spot serves up chops, dombolo, T-bone and wors in a vibey atmosphere.

7. Sheds @ 1Fox (Ferreirastown)
Liquorice gelato, lamb bunny chows, artisan pizza, red velvet cheesecake brownies, and gourmet hotdogs: there are a gazillion delicious reasons to visit this market. There’s often live music, and arts and crafts, too.

8. Life Grand Cafe (Mall of Africa)
A popular spot in this super-mall. We hear it can get loud when busy, but the food is getting good reviews.

9. DW Eleven-13 (Dunkeld West)
Chef Marthinus Ferriera says he was serving 500g of truffle a week, for last month’s birthday celebrations. (That’s a lot, for those who aren’t quite sure how much a truffle weighs!) His food focus is on delicious, bold fine dining.

Black wildebeest with pumpkin-seed crumble, celeriac purée, sweet-potato tarte tatin and apricot jus at DW Eleven-13. Photo supplied.

10. Eat at Northcliff (Northcliff)
Philippe Wagenführer’s bistro is going from strength to strength. The fine dining set menus are remarkably affordable, given the quality.

Pretoria

1. Chefs @ 566 (Garsonfontein)
Brett Ladds, former private chef to Nelson Mandela, is serving up bistro-style cafe food at this relaxed restaurant. Tuck into pepper pot pies, beef Wellington, prosciutto chicken roulade and Greek lamb kleftiko.

2. Afro-boer (Die Wilgers)
This cool cafe and bakery just turned three, and claim to have served over 5000kg of coffee, 176400 organic eggs and almost 100 000 blocks of farm butter in their lifetime – no small indication of their popularity. They’re child-friendly, and also cater well for special dietary requirements.

3. Restaurant Mosaic at Orient (Elandsfontein)
Currently number seven in the country, this fine dining restaurant will truly blow your socks off with delicate, beautiful food. The location and décor is magnificent too – a tribute to the Belle Epoque.

A halibut dish prepared and served at Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient. Photo supplied.

4. La Terrasse (Menlo Park)
A magnificent Moroccan experience in Menlo Park. Tuck into mezze, or one of the beautiful tagines.

5. Life Grand Cafe (Hazelwood)
Like all of the Life Grand sites, this restaurant is beautifully decorated and serves up cafe-style food.

6. Burger Bistro (Hazelwood)
Large burgers and a spirit of fun (their latest Instagram competition involved winning tickets to go skydiving, and resulted in some creative entires) keeps regulars returning to this burger joint.

7. Alfie’s (Hazelwood)
Alfie’s may have been joined by a pizzeria, but the original – serving cafe-fare and Italian dishes – is still going strong. A local gem.

8. La Coco C (Lynnwood)
Breakfast on free-range eggs and acai bowls, followed by gluten-free brownies and giant choc chip cookies. Nab a spot at the counter and watch the world go by.

Coffee at La Coco C. Photo supplied.

9. Aroma Bistro (Silver Lakes)
Excellent coffee roasted on site and tasty ice cream pull in the crowds. There’s even a sugar-free ice cream option.

10. Black Bamboo (Ashlea Gardens)
A real gem of a spot in a leafy neighbourhood. A recent menu features rabbit croquettes, or seared scallops, salt-baked carrot and baked yoghurt with poached rhubarb for dessert.

Durban

1. Pop-up Society (Glenwood)
Think milkshakes topped with doughnuts, cake-tinis (alcohol-free martinis with carrot cake, mud cake, brownie or lamingtons on top), burgers and cocktails. The deck outside is lovely on warm evenings. It’s also dog-friendly.

2. Fourteen on Chartwell (Umhlanga Rocks)
This stylish spot offers hearty gastropub dishes. Tuck into sriracha wings, creamy mussels and little jaffles with interesting fillings and don’t miss out on their pie of the day.

A burger and chips at Fourteen on Chartwell. Photo supplied.

3. Jaipur Palace (Durban central)
The curry buffet remains incredibly popular at this stalwart.  Be tempted by every kind; from crab and prawn to lamb, chicken and lentils.

4. Old Town Italy (Umhlanga Ridge)
This buzzing Italian deli-style spot has become something of a Durban landmark. Don’t miss the freshly baked cronuts or luxurious cheeses on offer.

Old Town Italy’s cronuts. Photo supplied.

5. Boiler Room Cafe (Morningside)
Get ready for exciting comfort food at this popular eatery. Highlights include duck-liver crumpets with port-marinated figs and gorgonzola cream; charcoal-roasted pulled pork buns with pickled cabbage and kewpie mayonnaise; and a slow-roasted lamb wrap with hummus and minted cucumber salsa.

6. Papparoti (Westville)
Based in Westwood Mall, this spot is known for its bun with crispy caramel-and-coffee exterior and signature kadak chai.

7. Cafe 66 (Botha’s Hill)
Located in Valley of 1000 Hills, this family-friendly spot is great for a bite to eat after a countryside meander. Enjoy gourmet shakes and farm fresh eats.

8. Capsicum Restaurant (Durban central)
Don’t be fooled by its modest exterior – Capsicum at the Britannia Hotel is a treasure trove of authentic Durban fare. Enjoy everything from samoosas or puri patha to bunny chows, trip or fish roe curry.

9. The Prep Room (Glenwood)
This new eatery is cleverly built in shipping containers and is located at Glenwood Preparatory School. Head here for a decent cup of coffee and a tasty breakfast or lunch. They also do rotisserie chickens on site to take home for a quick-fix dinner.

The large play area at Prep Room. Photo supplied.

10. Jeera (Suncoast Casino)
This restaurant offers great South Indian cuisine in a family-style environment. The large menu includes a number of vegetarian options, and service is welcoming and friendly. Look out for their delicious curry buffet with a dessert table filled with sweet meats.

Cape Town

1. The Shortmarket Club (City Bowl)
Anything Luke Dale-Roberts touches turns to gold – but this new spot is particularly pretty. It’s led by Pot Luck chef, Wesley Randles, but is more bistro-focused than the Asian tapas spot.

2. Ash Restaurant (City Bowl)
Ash Heeger worked under Luke Dale-Roberts (who we’re considering abbreviating to LDR from here on in) at The Test Kitchen, before heading overseas, and returning to open this beautiful restaurant in the butchery and bar, Frankie Fenner. Order everything, and share it.

3. Obi Restaurant (City Bowl)
Papa San’s fans followed him from Minato to Takumi, and it seems, have followed him again to Obi. Decorwise it’s not as sophisticated as Takumi, but you’re here for sushi, so shut up and don’t complain. (Seriously don’t; Papa San is very strict.)

4. Mulberry & Prince (City Bowl)
This Pepper Street spot serves up delicious tapas dishes in an interior that could’ve been in New York.

The chocolate cake at Mulberry & Prince. Photo supplied.

5. La Colombe (Constantia)
Scot Kirton’s food won him the Eat Out S Pellegrino Chef of the Year last year, and despite planning to open a new restaurant soon, he’s not showing any signs of losing his focus. Delicious fine dining.

6. The Test Kitchen (Woodstock)
The number one restaurant in South Africa recently moved to a month-to-month booking system, so you no longer need to book decades in advance. (And you can now book online on our site.) The bad news is, they’re closing later in August for a couple of months while they refurbish. Boo.

7. The Village Idiot (City Bowl)
This bar/pub/restaurant buzzes later on, but also offers a quiet spot for early after work drinks in front of the fireplace.

That Durban Chick – hot spicy peri Peri-style grilled chicken. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

8. The Pot Luck Club (Woodstock)
The thoroughly successful merger of Asian-themed tapas and fine dining is as delicious as ever, and the panoramic views, as magnificent. Worth saving up for.

9. Osteria Tarantino (De Waterkant)
This authentic Italian spot serves up sensational ravioli gorgonzola and cassata. Owner Enrico describes his food as “simple Italian-mama food”. (Which is basically all we ever wanted.)

10. Downtown Ramen (East City)
Upstairs, above Lefty’s, this ramen restaurant packs an impressive punch of flavour into their broths.

Winelands

1. The Tasting Room at Le Quartier Français (Franschhoek)
Margot Janse’s restaurant continues to thrill diners with a South African surprise menu. It’s perennially in the Top 10 – currently at number 3.

The Tasting Room interior. Photo supplied.

2. Equus Dine at Cavalli (Somerset West)
There’s fine food here: think Calvados pudding with apple custard; palma ham, pickled pawpaw and goat cheese croquettes; or crispy seabass with herby gnocchi. Don’t miss the glorious gardens of this estate, either.

3. Jordan Restaurant (Stellenbosch)
George Jardine’s fine dining restaurant is currently at number 10. Think accessible, downright delicious flavours.

4. Terroir (Stellenbosch)
This fabulous fine dining restaurant is currently offering a ‘winter plates’ special, which includes a main course and a glass of Kleine Zalze wine for R195. (Until 30 September 2016.)

Smoked duck with chestnut puree, fontina tortellini, savoury granola, dried blueberries and parmesan at Terroir. Photo by Jan Ras.

5. Thirsty Scarecrow (Stellenbosch)
A popular spot with a vibey atmosphere. Great for drinks with friends, or an affordable winelands lunch. Try pampoen koekies and the house craft beer.

6. Hickory Shack (Elgin)
The beautiful Elgin valley’s very own smokehouse. Think cider, barbecued ribs and cowboy beans for breakfast. They’re also dog-friendly.

The Hickory Shack. Photo by Tasha Seccombe.

7. Bertus Basson at Spice Route (Suider-Paarl)
This beautiful location plays host to some wonderful Cape food. It’s also a popular breakfast spot.

8. Rust en Vrede (Stellenbosch)
Glorious wine, an historic restaurant and stellar service: this is another fine dining restaurant for the bucket list.

9. 96 Winery Road (Somerset West)
This cosy restaurant is famous for their duck and cherry pie, Hollandse biefstuck, and vast burgers.

10. Bistro 13 (Stellenbosch)
Nic van Wyk knows has perfected haute comfort food. Past dishes have included shortrib cannelloni with black pepper cream; lamb kidneys with white bean mash; and venison risotto. The restaurant recently reopened after a brief break, and promise some new dishes, too.

Bistro 13’s lamb rump. Photo supplied.