8 Ghanaian Meals You Need To Try In Accra And Where To Find Them

By Meg Sagoe

Accra is not only a cultural and historical hub but also a paradise for foodies. With a rich blend of flavors influenced by Ghana's diverse regions and cultures, Accra offers a tantalizing culinary journey. From street food vendors to upscale restaurants, the city offers a wide range of delightful dishes to explore. Here are the top 8:

Jollof Rice

No, it’s not hype. Ghanaian-made jollof is one of the first things you need to absolutely try. It is a popular one pot meal, made with rice, tomatoes, onions, and a variety of spices. It is known for its distinct taste and is often the subject of friendly debates among West Africans about which country makes the best jollof rice. Ghana jollof is typically served with a variety of sides such as fried plantains, chicken, fish and a salad. It is a staple dish in Ghanaian cuisine and can be requested in any restaurant or eatery in the country.

Waakye

Unlike jollof, waakye is a meal you wouldn’t want to get from a restaurant. It just doesn’t hit the same. You have to get it from a food vendor set up on the streets. The traditional Ghanaian dish believed to have originated from the Northern parts of Ghana is made from rice and beans, served with a variety of side dishes like fried plantains, spaghetti, gari, salad, tomato stew and spicy pepper sauce. The meal is a popular and very filling breakfast option and is sold in restaurants and by the streets by food vendors.

Kelewele

For a spicy and crispy treat, try Kelewele, which is fried spicy plantains. You can find this popular street food at numerous roadside stalls throughout the city, particularly in Osu and Jamestown and any actively vibrant neighborhood. It is often taken as a snack or a side to other main dishes like rice and jollof.

Fufu and Soup

Fufu is a popular dish believed to have originated from the Ashanti region of Ghana. It is made by boiling cassava and plantains until they are soft, then pounding them together to form a smooth, dough-like consistency. It is typically served with different choices of soup and is a staple food in many households.

Fufu is often eaten with the fingers, and is considered a communal dish that brings people together. It’s also become a symbol of Ghanaian culture and tradition, and is often made at home or sold in restaurants and chop bars--a type of restaurant known for serving local meals at affordable prices. Best place to eat fufu… a chop bar with friends.

Banku

Banku is a traditional Ghanaian dish made from fermented corn and cassava dough. It is a staple food in many parts of Ghana and is often served with soup, stew, or sauce. The dough is mixed with water and cooked to form a smooth, elastic dough-like consistency. Banku has a sour taste due to the fermentation process and is usually eaten with the fingers. It is a popular and filling meal that is enjoyed by many Ghanaians. You can eat it with any soup, stew or pepper sauce and you can find this in any chop bar or restaurant.

Kenkey with Fish and Shito

Kenkey is a popular dish in Ghana, made from fermented corn dough. It is a staple food in the southern part of Ghana, particularly among the Ga people and is usually served with a pepper sauce and fish. This dish also has a sour taste due to the fermentation process and can be found in the streets of Accra by vendors, at any time of the day. You can have it as breakfast, lunch or dinner from these street vendors and can choose to add any protein you desire, from fried fish to grilled meat to tinned fish, sausages and eggs.

Red Red

Red Red is a delicious and popular dish made with black-eyed peas and fried plantains. The name "red red" comes from the vibrant red color of the dish, which is due to the use of palm oil in the cooking process. You can get some from food vendors mostly from mid morning to afternoon. Finding some at night is rare unless you go to a restaurant.

Tuo Zaafi

Tuo Zaafi is a popular dish from the Northern Region of Ghana. In the Hausa language, tuo means stirred, and zaafi means hot. This delicious meal is made from millet or corn dough and served with a soup and/or stew. It’s a very popular street food in some communities and is also sold in some restaurants however, the most common place to find some is in the streets of Accra, in settlements predominantly inhabited by Muslim populations in Ghana.