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If you’re planning a trip to Ghana, prepare your taste buds for a flavor-packed journey. Ghanaian cuisine is as vibrant and diverse as its people—deeply rooted in tradition, filled with spices, and always served with heart. Whether you’re eating from a street-side food stall in Accra or dining in a family home in Kumasi, food in Ghana is more than just nourishment—it’s a cultural experience.
This guide will introduce you to 8 must-try Ghanaian dishes and where to find the most authentic versions. Come hungry, leave happy!
🍛 1. Jollof Rice
Arguably West Africa’s most famous dish, Ghana’s version of Jollof rice is smoky, spicy, and often served with fried plantain, chicken, or goat meat.
🧂 What’s in it: Long-grain rice cooked in tomato stew, onions, spices, and sometimes vegetables or meat.
📍 Where to Try It:
- Buka Restaurant (Accra) – upscale and flavorful
- Asanka Local (Osu) – authentic and budget-friendly
- Street vendors at Oxford Street, Osu – late-night jollof cravings solved!
🌶️ Spice level: Medium to high—ask before ordering if you’re sensitive!
🥣 2. Fufu with Light Soup or Palm Nut Soup
A staple dish in southern Ghana, Fufu is a soft, stretchy dough made by pounding boiled cassava and plantains. It’s usually served with a rich soup and meat or fish.
🍲 Popular soups:
- Light Soup – tomato-based, with goat or fish
- Palm Nut Soup – thick, creamy, and earthy
📍 Where to Try It:
- Bush Canteen (Kumasi) – a local favorite
- Azmera Restaurant (Accra) – authentic and elegant
- Any weekend chop bar (traditional eatery) – this is when fufu shines
🔔 Pro tip: Eat with your fingers—just wash your hands first and follow local etiquette!
🍤 3. Banku with Grilled Tilapia
A match made in Ghanaian heaven! Banku is a fermented corn and cassava dough ball, served with a spicy pepper sauce (shito) and grilled tilapia, often garnished with fresh veggies.
🧂 Flavor profile: Sour, spicy, and smoky
📍 Where to Try It:
- The Chop Bar (Accra)
- Skybar25 (for an upscale twist)
- Lakeside fishing spots in Volta Region – ultra-fresh fish
🥵 Fun Fact: The spicier the shito, the more respect you earn at the table.
🍗 4. Kelewele (Spicy Fried Plantain)
The ultimate Ghanaian street snack! Kelewele is ripe plantain cut into cubes, marinated in ginger, pepper, and spices, then deep-fried to caramelized perfection.
📍 Where to Try It:
- Night markets in Accra (try Osu or Madina)
- Chop Bars – as a side dish with rice or beans
🎉 Perfect for: Late-night cravings or a side dish with grilled meat.
🍲 5. Waakye
This hearty street food breakfast is made with rice and beans, often served with boiled eggs, fried plantain, spaghetti (yes!), gari (grated cassava), and shito (hot black pepper sauce).
🧂 Toppings include: Avocado, fried fish, beef tripe (wele), or chicken
📍 Where to Try It:
- Auntie Muni Waakye (Ridge, Accra) – iconic!
- Street vendors near Makola Market
- Kumasi Central Market
⏰ Best time to eat it: Morning to noon—it sells out fast!
🥘 6. Red Red (Beans Stew with Fried Plantain)
A vegetarian favorite! Red Red is a rich black-eyed peas stew made with palm oil, onions, tomatoes, and spices, usually paired with fried ripe plantain.
📍 Where to Try It:
- Chez Afrique (East Legon, Accra)
- Local canteens in Cape Coast or Ho
🌱 Great for: Vegans and vegetarians (but ask about the oil used—some add fish)
🐟 7. Kenkey with Fried Fish & Shito
Kenkey is a fermented corn dough ball, similar to Banku but steamed in banana leaves. It’s eaten with fried fish, pepper sauce, and fresh veggies.
📍 Where to Try It:
- Jamestown Fishing Village – for an authentic, ocean-to-table meal
- Street stalls near Tema Station (Accra)
🎣 Fun Tip: You can pair it with cold beer for the full local experience.
🍬 8. Chinchinga (Kebabs)
Think Ghanaian-style skewers—meat (usually beef, chicken, or gizzard) seasoned with suya spice and grilled over charcoal. Perfect for quick bites and social gatherings.
📍 Where to Try It:
- Street corners at night in Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale
- Local pubs (spots) with music and beer
🔥 Warning: Highly addictive.
👨🍳 Bonus: Street Food Etiquette in Ghana
- Cash is king – carry small cedi notes for vendors
- Don’t bargain too hard – it’s food, not furniture
- Ask locals – for the best spots, taxi drivers and market women know it all
- Be adventurous – Ghana’s best food is often found in the most unexpected places
🧭 Want a Taste of Ghana? Let’s Guide You.
At [Your Tour Company Name], we offer immersive food tours in Accra, Cape Coast, Kumasi, and beyond. Whether you want to sample street food, learn to cook a local dish, or dine with a Ghanaian family, we’ll curate an experience your stomach—and soul—will never forget.
🍴 Ready to eat your way through Ghana?
👉 Book a Food Tour Now or Get a Custom Culinary Itinerary