Because the only tears a braaibroodtjie (or braaibroekie) can cause are happy ones.
Hoedspruit, South Africa (15 March 2026) – It’s not a braai without one. South Africans have written songs about it. Fights are had over leftovers… braaibroodjies are an important addition to a braai. And so, are “braaibroekies”, apparently.
Mickey is visiting Hoedspruit from the States and, in his weeks here, has already been ‘initiated’ into a braai. That’s how he discovered… the braaibroekie. He calls it South Africa’s secret cure to sadness and says the world can learn a thing or two from us. Especially when it comes to braaibroekies.
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We fully agree. There’s nothing better than a braaibroodtjie, but we’re also going to take the opportunity to interject, because South Africans are getting snappy in the comments. Because in his video is not braaibroodtjies but roosterkoek. They’re both a-tier but they’re not the same. If South Africa had a sorting hat, it’d group them in very different houses.
For the uninitiated: A braaibroodtjie is a toasted sandwich, grilled over the coals. Butter generously, loaded with cheese, tomato, and (this is non-negotiable) onions and lots of black pepper. The heat does the things, and it’s delicious. Amazing fresh off the braai. Somehow even more delicious cold the next morning, eaten standing at the fridge at 7am with zero regrets. Onions and black pepper are not optional. Don’t @ us.
Roosterkoek, on the other hand, is bread dough rolled into rounds and cooked on the grid. Crispy outside, soft and doughy inside, best eaten without any delay – fresh off the coals with a fat slab of butter. Nothing else needed. Though nobody will sue if you add cheese and apricot jam.
Don’t even get us started on garlic bread. That’s an entirely different conversation for an entirely different day, Mickey.
Guys, we need to be careful about spreading misinformation. You’ll upset the braai gods.
But all are loved equally here. No braaibroekie left behind.
The comments had us giggling:
“That’s roosterkoek tjom” wrote simoneinamerika.
“Braai broodjie ❌ — Braai Broekie ✅” joked thatssomelani.
“Ons gaan nou braai” said uhanvmerwe.
Ja, ons gan nou braai.
Sources: Linked above.
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