Korea is suing SA for the bunny chow

Updated April 1, 2025, 5:45 a.m. | By East Coast Breakfast / Skyye Ndlovu

Wait… what?! South Korea is suing South Africa over the name bunny chow?

Durban’s most famous street food, the bunny chow, is facing an unexpected identity crisis; one that might leave South Africans fuming into their curry-filled bread bowls.

According to a shocking international trade review, our beloved bunny chow is allegedly in violation of geographical indication laws, and South Korea wants it renamed.

Yep – the land of K-Pop, kimchi, and Samsung has raised concerns that the name bunny chow could be misleading due to its supposed similarity to South Korea’s Buneechô region.

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The South African Culinary Standards Authority has confirmed that global food naming conventions (like how champagne must come from Champagne) are at play here.

“In an increasingly globalised food industry, we must ensure that our local cuisine adheres to international standards,” said spokesperson Dr Reshma Naidoo.

Translation? We might need to start calling it something else.

Since bureaucracy never takes a day off, local restaurant owners and culinary historians are now tasked with finding a new name for our beloved meal-in-a-bread-bowl.

Some early suggestions include the Durban Curry Loaf, Spicy Hollow Bread or the Curry Pocket.

As expected, the announcement is sending shockwaves throughout the country.

Social media is ablaze with furious caps-locked posts, and there are whispers of an impending protest at the nearest corner store.

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So, what happens now?

Public consultations are set to take place throughout April. An official decision is expected later in the year.

Although let’s be honest, nobody is going to stop calling it the bunny chow.

Until then, we encourage all loyal bunny chow lovers to submit their alternative name suggestions to the South African Culinary Standards Authority’s website.

NOTE: If you've made it this far, congratulations - you've been April fooled!