Spatlo (also spelled sphatlo, spathlo and sphatlho) is a South African street food popular in all provinces of South Africa, especially Gauteng. Also known as kota or "Skhambane". It is made from a hollowed out quarter loaf of bread and filled with a variety of ingredients, often potato chips, sausage, egg, beef patty, cheese, polony and atchar.
The name kota,used in areas such as Soweto and Johannesburg, is derived from the English word quarter, referring to the size of the bread loaf. The name sphatlo, used in areas such as Pretoria, Soshanguve, Attredgeville and Mamelodi.
Spaza shops sell popular street food, including spatlo. Spaza shops are
the backbone of township economy. Spaza shops that sell this popular
street food normally set minimum prices at ZAR(R)10 ranging over to
ZAR(R)200 depending on the size and ingredients inside,customers largely
scholars and low income individuals in general because it's the cheapest
alternative to Burgers and this meal is largely available in every area
across the country (it's a rare occasion where it won't be available for
sale in any given area across South Africa), Sphatlo is considered a
stable junk food in South Africa which goes well with a soft drink -
usually cola.
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