When you arrive in Ghana, it’s not just the vibrant colors, warm smiles, or lively music that greet you first — it’s the irresistible aroma floating through the air.
Grilled spices. Simmering stews. Sweet fried plantains.
Food in Ghana isn’t just a part of daily life — it’s a celebration of it.
From the very first bite, you’ll feel it: Ghana cuisine is rich with history, love, and stories passed down through generations.
Every plate invites you to taste not just flavors, but a way of life.
Whether you’re craving the smoky comfort of Jollof rice, the playful spice of kelewele, or the bold soul of fufu and light soup, Ghanaian food will capture your heart — and never let it go.
Ready to fall in love, one unforgettable dish at a time?
1. Jollof Rice
If there’s one dish you can’t miss, it’s Jollof rice.
Smoky, spiced, and cooked in a rich tomato base, this beloved meal sparks friendly rivalries across West Africa. But in Ghana, it’s more than food—it’s a matter of pride.
Ghanaian Jollof has a distinct depth: bold but balanced, often paired with grilled chicken, beef, or fried plantains.
🔎 Where to find it:
Try it at Sikada Restaurant for a rich, smoky flavor, or visit Buka Restaurant for a traditional home-cooked feel — both discoverable on the Akwaaba App.
2. Waakye
Waakye is the perfect harmony of rice and beans, cooked with a hint of sorghum leaves for an earthy flavor and distinctive reddish tint.
Traditionally served with an army of sides—fried plantains, spicy shito, boiled eggs, spaghetti, beef—it’s a buffet on a single plate.
You don’t just eat Waakye.
You experience it.
🔎 Taste Tip:
Order from street vendors mapped on Akwaaba App or visit Pinkberry Chop Bar for a more curated experience.
3. Fufu and Light Soup
Fufu is Ghana’s heart on a plate.
Made from pounding cassava and plantains into a sticky, stretchy dough, it’s served with brothy, peppery soups—often loaded with tender goat, fish, or chicken.
Eating fufu by hand connects you instantly to tradition.
Each scoop, dipped in hot, spicy light soup, tastes like home.
🔎 Flavor Hub:
Sikada serves incredible fufu, and you’ll also find stellar versions at Azmera Restaurant in Accra — both listed on the Akwaaba App.
4. Kenkey and Fried Fish
Sour, savory, and absolutely soul-satisfying—kenkey is a fermented cornmeal dough steamed in leaves.
It’s paired with crispy fried fish and blazing-hot pepper sauce.
It’s messy.
It’s finger-licking.
It’s pure Ghana.
🔎 Best Bite:
Head to the local spots at Jamestown Fishing Harbour for authentic street-style kenkey, or grab a plate at Sikada if you prefer a cozy indoor setting.
5. Kelewele
Late-night cravings?
Kelewele has your back.
Golden, spicy cubes of ripe plantain, fried till crispy outside and soft inside, seasoned with ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and chili.
Sweet meets heat in every addictive bite.
🔎 Street Food Stars:
Find night vendors on Akwaaba App — or taste gourmet kelewele at Santoku Accra for a surprising upscale twist.
6. Banku and Okra Soup
Get ready for bold.
Banku—a sour dough of fermented corn and cassava—is dense, stretchy, and perfect for scooping up spicy, slippery okra soup.
It’s sticky. It’s spicy.
It’s Ghanaian bravery on a plate.
🔎 Culinary Adventure:
Taste classic banku at Sikada, or enjoy an upscale version at Skybar25, both bookable through Akwaaba App.
7. Tuo Zaafi (TZ)
From Northern Ghana comes Tuo Zaafi, a soft maize dish often served with ayoyo soup (a slimy green leaf stew) and tender meats.
Unlike the spicier southern dishes, TZ is mild and mellow—perfect for comfort food lovers.
🔎 Northern Roots:
Explore authentic Northern cuisine at Kukua’s Kitchen — or use the Akwaaba App to discover hidden gems.
8. Red Red and known as Gobe
Vegetarian?
Ghana’s got you.
Red Red is a hearty dish of black-eyed peas stewed in flavorful palm oil and served with fried plantains.
It’s smoky. It’s savory.
And it’s impossible not to love.
🔎 Seaside Vibes:
Taste Red Red at Oseikrom Aduanepa — or let the Akwaaba App guide you to a cozy café nearby.
9. Chinchinga (Kebabs)
Street food doesn’t get better than chinchinga.
Spicy, charred beef or goat skewers coated in suya spices and roasted over open flames.
Perfect for a quick snack—or grab five and call it dinner.
🔎 Grill Masters:
Grab chinchinga at Sikada for guaranteed quality, or explore bustling food markets with Akwaaba App’s street food guide.
10. Etor
Simple yet powerful, etor is mashed yam or plantain blended with palm oil, onions, and peanuts, crowned with a boiled egg.
It’s often served during celebrations and rites of passage—because some dishes don’t just nourish your body; they mark your milestones.
🔎 Tradition Tastes:
Taste etor at Chop Shop East Legon, or ask the Akwaaba App to find a local chef serving it fresh.
Why Food in Ghana Stays With You Forever
Ghanaian food isn’t about eating.
It’s about connecting.
It’s the grandma who smiles when you ask for a second helping.
It’s the stranger who invites you to sit and share a bowl.
It’s the laughter over too-hot pepper sauce and the pride in every perfectly cooked Jollof.
When you taste Ghana cuisine, you’re not just discovering new flavors.
You’re stepping into a story, a family, a celebration.
And once you taste it, you carry it with you—forever.
Let Akwaaba App Be Your Guide
Want to experience the very best food in Ghana?
From bustling chop bars to fine dining gems like Sikada Restaurant, Buka, Azmera, and more — the Akwaaba App is your passport to Ghana’s flavor universe.
✅ Curated food hotspots
✅ Easy reservations
✅ Local secrets revealed
Download Akwaaba App today. Plan your Travel and Tour Trip with Akwaaba App.
Fall in love with Ghana—one unforgettable meal at a time. 🍴❤️
