Staple Foods

• Fufu: A dough made from pounded cassava and plantains, typically served with peanut or palm nut soup—it’s Ghana’s iconic staple.
• Jollof Rice: Tomato and spice-infused rice, often paired with fried chicken or grilled fish, and a star of West African cuisine.
• Banku and Kenkey: Fermented corn dishes, usually served with spicy fish soup or stew, offering unique flavors.
• Waakye: Rice and beans cooked together, often accompanied by pasta, eggs, and hot pepper sauce—a popular breakfast dish.

Soups & Grilled Meats

• Peanut Soup: Rich and creamy, best enjoyed with fufu or rice.
• Palm Nut Soup: Made from palm fruit kernels, it has a deep, robust flavor.
• Red Red: Fried plantains served with black-eyed pea stew—a vegetarian-friendly option.
• Chichinga: Spicy street-side grilled skewers coated with peanut and chili powder, bursting with aroma.

Where to Eat & Price Range

• Street snacks cost around 5–20 GHS, while restaurant meals average 40–120 GHS per person.
• Osu and Labone neighborhoods in Accra have a high concentration of restaurants, with night markets and beach stalls offering diverse options.
• Ghana is a major cocoa producer—cocoa products and chocolates make great souvenirs.
• Exercise caution with roadside icy drinks and raw foods; bottled water is the safer choice.

Street Food & Night Markets

• Waakye stalls typically operate from morning until noon, making them ideal for trying a local breakfast.
• Evening grill and fried plantain stalls are especially lively, with enticing aromas filling the air.
• Coastal towns serve grilled fish often paired with spicy sauces and onions, delivering bold flavors.

Dining Customs & Safety Tips

Ghanaians traditionally eat with their right hand, and shared meals often carry a sense of community. Most restaurants provide utensils, but street vendors usually serve food for hand-eating. Local dishes can be spicy—inform the vendor if you prefer mild flavors. For street food, choose busy stalls with freshly prepared meals, and avoid raw or unverified iced items, as food spoils quickly in the tropical climate.

Souvenirs

As a leading cocoa nation, Ghana offers must-buy cocoa powder, chocolate, and related products. Local coffee, spices, and kente cloth also make meaningful keepsakes.