When traveling to Ghana, one of the things you should be looking forward to is trying all the delicious cuisines the country has to offer. Ghana is very well known for its food being a strong part of the culture of various ethnic groups in the country. Your travel experience can never be complete without trying some local Ghanaian cuisine to elevate your travel experience. Food is not just something to satisfy your hunger, it is a cultural experience passed down through generations and empowering ethnic identity.
Here are some of the best restaurants in Ghana that will make your culinary experience a memorable one.
1. Buka Restaurant: Authentic Ghanaian Flavors
My go-to restaurant for authentic Ghanaian food is Buka restaurant in Osu. This is a beautiful contemporary restaurant that has beautiful decor and food that tastes even better. This is one of the few restaurants I will gladly give a 10 out of 10 for great food and great ambiance. It is a very popular place in the city and the vibes are just everything. It is very family-friendly and warm with great customer service. Buka serves authentic African dishes.
They have various sitting options including an upstairs sitting area (my favorite), an indoor sitting area and an outdoor sitting area downstairs. Some popular dishes on their menu include jollof rice, beans stew, fufu, grilled tilapia, Gari fotor (my go-to dish at Buka), palava sauce, and many many more. They also serve a variety of local drinks like palm wine, asana, hibiscus juice and fresh coconut water. If you are ever in Accra and hungry, go to Buka.
2. Ayewamu by Jane: Traditional Dishes in an Earthenware Bowl
As a foodie, when I discovered Ayewamu by Jane, it truly felt like a blessing. All my favorite local dishes in one restaurant. Aside from the great food, this restaurant wins my heart just by the way they present their food in a traditional authentic Ghanaian Asanka bowl (earthenware bowl). The food is really good with my favorite being Ampesi with Kontonmire stew.
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Some other dishes served include banku, fufu, jollof rice, rice balls, red red, waakye and the list goes on and on. They have different dishes they serve every day so I will strongly advise checking their menu for the day on their Instagram before visiting. They have an indoor and outdoor sitting area but I personally prefer the outdoor sitting area.
3. Chop Shop: A Variety of Ghanaian Delights
Chop Shop is one of my favorite Ghanaian owned restaurants serving a variety of Ghanaian dishes. The restaurant has a cute eating setup with a beautiful interior design and walls decorated with portraits of renowned people from across the world. Each sitting setup has some local board games you can play as you wait for your food to be served.
Their signature dish is the famous oilless Banku and Okro soup which also happens to be my favorite. You can also enjoy a variety of other local dishes like the gari foto with grilled chicken or tilapia, assorted noodles (they make it so good), jollof rice, fried rice, Angwamo, curry sauces, coconut rice, vegetable rice and many more. In fact, I love everything on their menu. This is one of the few restaurants that has very good customer service especially their staff at the Osu branch.
Location: Chop Shop has five different branches across Accra. Osu, Airport, Dansoman, Spintex and East Legon (East Legon branch only offers delivery and pick ups, no dine in offered)
Contact: Check out Cho Shop on Google to find the contact for the specific branch you want to visit.
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Opening Days and Hours: The opening hours are usually from 7:30 am to 8:00 am and closing times are between 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm depending on the branch. Check out the opening hours of the branch you are visiting on Google.
4. Bantama Avenue: A Traditional Food Experience
The overall experience at this restaurant is traditional in every sense. From the food to the service and the traditional stool setting, you get a unique food experience here. I love the beautiful traditional presentation of their meals in the “Asanka” (earthenware bowl). Their dining space is an outdoor area with an inviting yet simple traditional decor set up.
Their signature dish is their fufu with goat light soup or “ebunubunu” (green soup). Their “ampesi” with “kontonmire” (cocoyam leaves) stew, oil rice (Angwamo) and “etor” are also highly reviewed. Why should you go to Bantama Avenue?
5. Azmera Restaurant: Authentic Ghanaian Cuisine
Azmera Restaurant is renowned for its authentic Ghanaian cuisine, offering a delightful and immersive dining experience. The restaurant features traditional Ghanaian decor, enhancing the cultural dining experience. Elements like wooden carvings, woven fabrics, and local art contribute to the authentic atmosphere.
Azmera’s menu is extensive with dishes like Fufu served with various soups like light soup, groundnut soup, palm nut soup, Banku with Okro stew or tilapia, Waakye, and Ampesi with palava sauce or garden egg stew. Azmera is also known for its iconic buffets (which is why I personally go there) which allow guests to sample a wide array of Ghanaian dishes. During buffet hours, guests can enjoy live cooking stations where chefs prepare certain dishes on the spot.
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Occasionally, the restaurant hosts cultural events and performances, allowing guests to enjoy traditional music and dance alongside their meals.
Location: 9 Sir.
6. Mango’s Bar and Grill: Jollof Rice and Unique Cocktails
Another great place to enjoy some good Ghanaian dishes is Mango’s bar and grill located in the heart of Accra. Mango’s bar and grill serves some very good jollof rice which is one of my highly recommended dishes. If you are visiting this restaurant, some dishes I will recommend will be the palava sauce, banku and fufu.
The way they plate their food is basic and I think they can do better in making it more aesthetically pleasing but that being said, the food is still great. Aside from food, they serve cocktails which come in a very unique presentation (which I love) and other soft drinks like soda to keep you refreshed. Their fufu and soup is definitely one to try so I will mention it again. They have an outdoor space which is airy and comfortable. Customer service is good.
7. Fufu Restaurants
This is a great spot for local food dining, positioning itself as one of the best spots to eat Fufu. Their Fufu and light soup option is a bestseller. My favorite is their Palava sauce with Ampesi or the goat stew with plain rice which I will highly recommend if you are looking to try something new. Other local dishes served here are Banku and Okro, garden egg stew, jollof rice and grilled tilapia.
Their menu is very simple but I love every dish on it. The aesthetic of their eating area is really beautiful with lights hanging from the ceiling in beautiful woven baskets.
8. "Eto" Restaurants
This restaurant offers a simple outdoor dining area and serves some of the best “eto” (this is a plantain dish) you’ll ever eat (and that is what I usually go there for). They serve other Ghanaian local foods like fufu with light soup, banku with Okro soup, fried yam with sauces and vegetables, jollof rice and others.
Their prices are also moderate so it is a great location if you are trying to stay within budget. They offer occasional promotions like free eggs on Farmer’s Day and Christmas buffet events where you eat to your heart’s content.
9. Osu Local Restaurant
This is a local restaurant that was recently opened in Osu. When I visited this restaurant, I loved so many things about it but my favorite was the unique interior design of the restaurant. The space is small but very cute and you will find various day to day local kitchen items like earthenware bowls, a miniature wooden mortar (woduro), a wooden pestle (woma) and some beautiful African artworks used to decorate the walls of the restaurant’s interior. The design is very unique and I loved it.
The food is really great! I tried their fufu and light soup and the Ampesi with Kontomire stew with avocado. The food is served in traditional bowls which makes the presentation of the food attractive.
10. Tunnel Lounge: A Memorable Dining Experience
Tunnel Lounge, established in 2021, quickly became a beloved spot in Accra, known for its inviting atmosphere and diverse menu. From mouthwatering meals to handcrafted drinks, Tunnel Lounge promises a memorable dining experience for all who visit.
Introducing Gary Griffith, the esteemed South African executive chef at Tunnel Lounge. With over three decades of culinary experience across various sectors in Africa, Chef Griffith has honed his skills in hospitals, restaurants, resorts, and corporate catering. His journey has taken him through Nigeria, Botswana, Mozambique, and Ghana, where he has developed a deep appreciation for regional flavors and ingredients. At Tunnel Lounge, Chef Griffith combines these diverse culinary traditions to create a unique dining experience.
His meticulous attention to detail and innovative cooking approach are evident in every dish, from the sizzle of the grill to the delicate artistry of plating.
Other Recommendations
Chef Joseph “JJ” Johnson recommends Midunu, owned and operated by Selassie Atadika. Atadika recommends Cafe Kwae for coffee and Midunu chocolates that are handmade using Ghanaian cocoa, teas, spices and tisanes, and named after female African leaders from across the continent.
For dancing, head to Front/Back-also recommended by Atadika-where locally-inspired cocktails feature ingredients like ginger, local wild honey, bissap (made from the hibiscus flower) and moringa. According to Johnson, the cocktail scene in Accra is coming-of-age.
When in Accra, Johnson recommends staying at the boutique hotel Villa Monticello. “It’s a 16-room hotel five minutes from the airport,” he says, who once used it as a home base to explore Ghana.
Here is a summary table of the restaurants and their specialties:
| Restaurant | Specialties |
|---|---|
| Buka Restaurant | Jollof rice, Fufu, Grilled Tilapia, Gari Fotor |
| Ayewamu by Jane | Ampesi with Kontonmire stew, Banku, Fufu |
| Chop Shop | Oilless Banku and Okro soup, Gari foto with grilled chicken or tilapia |
| Azmera Restaurant | Fufu, Banku with Okro stew or tilapia, Waakye, Ampesi |
| Mango's Bar and Grill | Jollof Rice, Fufu and Soup, Cocktails |
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