Flavour Faves
Akhalz Norwood: The AK Special, Wonder Why, and a Legacy of Jozi Fast Food
The roots of a Jozi legend
Akhalz is more than a fast-food stop; it’s a piece of Johannesburg’s food history. What began in Fordsburg during the 1950s as Akhalwaya’s quickly became part of the city’s cultural fabric. Back then, the kitchens of Fordsburg were alive with flavours borrowed from everywhere: Indian spices, British fish and chips, American-style burgers, Malay curries, and African home cooking. Out of that mix, meals that felt both familiar and completely new were born.
In 1990, Akhalwaya’s Dial A Meal opened in Mayfair, offering quick bites that tasted like Jozi’s past. It was fish and chips wrapped in nostalgia, burgers with a punch of masala, and curries that carried family traditions. By 1995, pizzas from a clay oven were added to the menu, changing what locals thought fast food could be.
The Norwood favourite
Today, that legacy lives on at Akhalz Norwood. The branch has become a hotspot for Joburgers looking for big flavours and even bigger portions. The AK Special Roll remains the undisputed king: steak, Russian, polony, cheese, chips, salad, and sauces all stacked into one meal-sized roll. If that wasn’t enough, the AK Special Pizza takes it further with steak, Vienna, polony, chips, mushrooms, onions, and peppers layered on a cheesy base.
Another local legend is the Wonder Why pizza. Topped with cheese, chips, polony, steak, and Vienna, it has sparked debates among fans for years about how something so over the top works so perfectly. Alongside these icons, Norwood regulars tuck into rolls stacked with Russians or steak, toasted sandwiches like the Wits Special, platters filled with chicken or fish, and pizzas that range from simple Margheritas to full-on “Garbage” pies loaded with nearly everything on the menu.
Image 1: Mr D
Why it still matters
What makes Akhalz Norwood special isn’t only the menu but also the way it connects Joburgers to their city’s past. Ordering a chip roll with masala spice or a Dagwood stuffed with patties and eggs isn’t just about filling up; it’s about revisiting the flavours that have shaped generations. Parents who once stood in line in Mayfair now bring their children to Norwood to introduce them to the same iconic tastes.
The queues outside, the laughter of groups sharing chips straight from the packet, and the smell of masala spice in the air all remind you that Akhalz isn’t just a takeaway; it’s a Johannesburg tradition.
The road ahead
With franchising now underway, Akhalz is no longer just a Fordsburg or Norwood story. It’s on track to reach even more corners of South Africa. But for those in the know, the Norwood branch will always feel like home turf, the place to get your first AK Special or argue with friends about whether the Wonder Why is the best pizza in town.
For a taste of Jozi’s Rainbow Nation on a plate, few places come close to Akhalz Norwood.
Also read: Latin Soul Meets African Roots: Inside Melville’s Artüro
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Source: Akhalz
Featured Image: Instagram/@akhalz_norwood
