Food & Culinary

Chips mayai: Easy recipe for delicious street food

Paulette Mboga 26th May, 2026 08:05 PM

Chips mayai is one of the most popular comfort meals in many homes and local eateries.

This combo is popular in Tanzania, where it is locally referred to as ‘Zege’.

The combination of crispy fries and soft eggs creates a filling meal that is simple, affordable, and tasty. Whether served for lunch, dinner, or a quick weekend treat, chips mayai always hits the spot.

The good thing about this meal is that you do not need expensive ingredients or special cooking skills. With a few easy steps, you can make delicious homemade chips mayai that leaves everyone asking for more.

Ingredients you will need

Before you start cooking, prepare the following ingredients:

4 medium potatoes
4 eggs
1 onion
1 tomato
Cooking oil
Salt
Black pepper
Chilli or hoho (optional)
Coriander (optional)

Fresh ingredients make a big difference in the final taste. Choosing good potatoes also helps your chips become crispy instead of soggy.

Preparing the perfect chips

Start by peeling and washing the potatoes properly. Slice them into medium-sized chips because very thin fries may become too crispy and disappear inside the eggs.

After slicing the potatoes, soak them in cold water for about 15 minutes. This helps remove extra starch and gives the chips a crispier texture after frying.

Once soaked, dry the potatoes well using a clean towel. Heat cooking oil in a pan and fry the chips until they turn golden brown. Avoid overcrowding the pan because the chips may cook unevenly.

After frying, place the chips on tissue paper to remove excess oil.

Bringing the chips mayai together

As the chips cool slightly, chop the onions and tomatoes into small pieces. Beat the eggs in a bowl, then add the onions, tomatoes, salt, and black pepper. If you enjoy spicy food, you can also add chilli at this stage.

Next, add the cooked chips to the egg mixture and stir gently. Make sure the eggs coat the chips evenly without breaking them too much.

Heat a little oil in a clean pan and pour in the mixture. Spread it evenly and allow it to cook slowly on medium heat. After a few minutes, carefully flip it to cook the other side until both sides are golden.

Serve the chips mayai hot with tomato sauce, kachumbari, or chilli sauce.

Chips mayai remains a favourite meal because it is simple, affordable, and satisfying. Once you learn these easy tricks, your homemade version may easily become everyone’s favourite plate at the table.