11 Best Local Food Restaurants in Ghana
Food is not just something to satisfy your hunger, it is a cultural experience passed down through generations and empowering ethnic identity. Ghana is very well known for its food being a strong part of the culture of various ethnic groups in the country. 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.
Your travel experience can never be complete without trying some local Ghanaian cuisine to elevate your travel experience. In this blog, I share 11 best local food restaurants you should be visiting if you are looking to try some authentic local Ghanaian foods.
1. The Buka Restaurant
Vegan Pasta
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.
What are my favorite dishes at Buka? Everything! 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. You won’t regret it!
Location
Contact
Opening Days and Hours
Sundays to Saturdays- 12:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Sundays- Closed
2. Ayewamu by Jane
Chickpea omelets and grilled tofu sandwich
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. 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. This restaurant offers all the local Ghanaian dishes you must try when in Ghana.
Locations
Contact
Opening Days and Hours
Mondays to Wednesdays- 11:00 am to 9:30 pm
Thursdays to Saturdays- 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Sundays- 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
3. Chop Shop
Mediterranean quinoa and lentil salad
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.
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
Cucumber-Tuna Sushi Roll
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? Go for their fufu and light soup!
Location
Opening Days and Hours
Mondays to Sundays- 12:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Contact
5. Azmera Restaurant
Hummus platter topped with roasted veg and walnuts, and served with Cassava crispy bread
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. Occasionally, the restaurant hosts cultural events and performances, allowing guests to enjoy traditional music and dance alongside their meals.
Location
9 Sir. Arku Korsah Rd, Roman Ridge- Accra
Open Days and Hours
Mondays to Sundays- 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Contact
6. Country Kitchen
Green Salad with Avocado and Tofu
This restaurant is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. When you walk in, you will notice how the restaurant's decor combines rustic elements with Ghanaian art and artifacts, creating a cozy and homely setting. Whenever I visit Country Kitchen, my go-to on their menu is the kelewele and “abolo” (steamed corn dough dish) and I love to go there in the evenings when they have a live music performance.
Location
2nd Ringway estate, Osu- Accra
Contact
Opening Days and Hours
Mondays to Saturdays- 8:30 am to 9:00 pm
Closed on Sundays
7. Mango’s Bar and Grill
Simret Ethiopian Restaurant
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. I don’t like to go to Mangos on Sundays when the place is busy as I feel you don’t get the best of service as all the staff are very busy serving everybody.
Location
Contact
Opening Days and Hours
Mondays to Sundays- 10:00 1m to 10:00 pm
8. Baobab Traditional Restaurant
Sunshine Salad Bar
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. It really adds up to the setup of this restaurant.
Location
Boundary Rd, East Legon- Accra
Contact
Opening Days and Hours
Mondays to Sundays- 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
9. Asanka Avenue
A glass of Orange Juice
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. So mark your calendar for Christmas and Farmer’s Day if you are a foodie like me.
Location
402 Agbogba, North Legon- Accra
Opening Days and Hours
Mondays to Saturdays- 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Sundays- 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Contact
10. Aseda Kitchen
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. Now let’s talk about the food. 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.
Location
Contact
Opening Days and Hours
Mondays to Sundays- 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
11. Chez Amis Bar and Grill
Chez Amis is known as the best Acheke spot, an Ivorian meal that has made its way in Ghana. Acheke is made from cassava flakes and some spices. It is served with some really good grilled tilapia, avocado, chopped vegetables, fried plantains and some assorted chili sauces. I recommend this restaurant for only this one dish which happens to be their bestseller. The Achecke is so good I felt the restaurant deserved to be on my list of restaurants that serve great local dishes.
Their Cocody Night live band is an additional perk to enjoy good food with good music. The live band takes place on particular days so I will recommend giving them a call to verify if the band will be playing before visiting (that is if you are going for the music as well)
Location
40 Boundary Rd, East Legon- Accra
Contact
Opening Days and Hours
Mondays to Sundays at 9:30 am to 12:00 am
Check Out Chez Amis Bar and Grill on Instagram
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Hello, fellow adventurers! I'm Rashida, your not-so-typical travel guide. Join me for laughs, mishaps, and perhaps a questionable decision or two (because let's face it, those always make for the best stories). Learn More