CENTURION – A Centurion restaurant has cooked up a slice of history, smashing the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest bunny chow with a mammoth 15,98-metre creation that celebrates South African culture in spectacular fashion.
Bhai’s Lounge Banqueting Hall in Pretoria made culinary history on Friday 17 April when their record-breaking bunny chow stretched nearly a metre beyond the minimum 15-metre requirement, comfortably surpassing the previous record of 13,95 metres.
The creation required 40 kilograms of lamb curry and 10 kilograms of sugar beans, finished with traditional carrot and onion salad, all nestled within one continuous loaf baked in a specially constructed 17-metre oven.
Engineering ambition
“We always think of crazy things to do,” explained Kishore Ramharakh, who runs Bhai’s Lounge. “We came across the largest bunny chow on Google – 13,95 metres. How do we get a 16-metre long bread baked in an oven?”
The answer lay in innovation and determination. The team constructed a custom-built oven specifically for the attempt, ensuring they could bake one continuous loaf capable of supporting the enormous filling.
Under strict Guinness World Records guidelines, the bunny chow needed to surpass 15 metres and stand entirely on its own for long enough to be measured. Every step was meticulously monitored, verified, and certified by official Guinness representative Mbali Nkosi.
Team effort, cultural celebration
The record attempt was spearheaded by chairman Kishore Ramharakh alongside a dedicated team including Chris Brits, Aradhana Authar, Kubashni Govender, Vernon Naidoo, Eugene Govender, and Vusi Leeuw. The momentous occasion was documented by Fire Water Earth Productions.
Key partners including Ajmer Butchery (Pretoria) and NSP Industries supported the ambitious undertaking, whilst an independent chef and baker supervised every detail from preparation to final execution.
The event transcended mere record-breaking, drawing nearly 100 supporters including family and friends to Bhai’s Lounge for what became a celebration of South African culture and community spirit.
“This didn’t start as a record… it started as a belief. Built by a team that refused to stop. Strengthened by our children. Carried by the people around us,” reflected Fire Water Earth Productions. “This was never just a bunny chow. This was unity. This was South Africa. And this… is what history feels like.”
The production company added: “This wasn’t just food. This was South Africa – in flavour, in unity, in innovation.”
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What began as an ambitious culinary challenge evolved into an extraordinary moment showcasing culture, community, and culinary ambition, proving that sometimes the most remarkable achievements start simply with refusing to accept limitations.
The official title of world’s longest bunny chow now belongs to Bhai’s Lounge – a record that stands as testament to South African ingenuity and the power of collective determination.
History of bunny chow
The dish originated in the 1940s when Indian labourers were brought to KwaZulu-Natal to work in the sugarcane fields.
No cute bunnies were harmed during the naming of the curry; the name originates from the caste of Indian businessmen who sold the curry, known as “bania”, and the slang word for food, “chow”.
It is believed the curry would give enough energy for a full day’s work, was cheap and easy to make and could be eaten with your hands with minimal mess – starting your meal by scooping up the curry with the bread top hat and ending on the curry-soaked bottom of the loaf.
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