The short version
- Must-tries: jollof, waakye, kelewele, and fufu with light soup.
- Ghanaian food can be spicy. Ask for "small pepper" if you're not used to heat.
- Eat hot, freshly cooked food, drink sealed bottled water, and peel your own fruit.
- Pack a traveler's tummy kit just in case. It's my pharmacist tip.
Food is how Ghana says "you're home." From a steaming plate of waakye at a roadside spot to Sunday omo tuo at an aunt's house, every dish carries a story. Here's what to order, plus the simple habits that keep your stomach happy so you can keep eating.
12 dishes to try
Jollof rice
Rice cooked in a rich, peppery tomato stew. Ghanaians will happily tell you theirs beats Nigeria's. Taste both and pick a side.
Waakye
Rice and beans cooked with sorghum leaves (which give it its color), served with shito pepper sauce, spaghetti, gari, egg and fish or meat. It's the classic breakfast or lunch.
Kelewele
Ripe plantain cubes spiced with ginger and pepper, then fried. It's the best street snack in Accra, especially in the evening.
Fufu with light soup
Pounded cassava and plantain, served in a peppery tomato-based soup with goat or fish. Eat it with your right hand, and swallow, don't chew.
Banku and tilapia
Fermented corn and cassava dough with grilled tilapia, fresh pepper and onions. Perfect by the beach.
Kenkey with fried fish and shito
Fermented corn dumplings wrapped in husks. The Ga version is a staple around Accra.
Red red
Black-eyed peas stewed in palm oil, served with fried plantain. Comfort food, and a great vegetarian pick.
Omo tuo (rice balls)
Soft rice balls served with groundnut (peanut) or palm-nut soup. It's traditional for Sunday lunch.
Kontomire stew
Cocoyam leaves cooked with palm oil, egg and fish. Ghana's answer to spinach stew.
Chichinga
Spicy grilled kebabs (beef, goat or chicken) dusted with suya-style spice. Look for the smoky stands at night.
Bofrot
Fluffy, lightly sweet fried dough balls. Pick some up with a cold drink.
Sobolo
Chilled hibiscus drink with ginger and spice. Refreshing on a hot afternoon.
Eating like a local
- Use your right hand for eating, especially with fufu and banku. Wash your hands first; many places bring a bowl of water.
- "Chop bars" are casual local eateries. They're the best place to taste home-style food.
- Ask about pepper. "Is it hot?" is a fair question. Shito (black pepper sauce) is delicious but strong.
A pharmacist's tips for eating safely
This is the part I care about most, because a bad stomach can steal days from a trip you saved for.
- Choose food that's cooked hot and served hot. Busy stalls with high turnover are usually a good sign.
- Drink sealed bottled water, and skip ice unless you know it's made from treated water.
- Peel it yourself. Bananas, oranges and mangoes you peel are safer than pre-cut fruit or salads washed in tap water.
- Wash or sanitize your hands before eating, especially before you eat with your hands.
- Pack a small kit: oral rehydration salts and an anti-diarrheal, plus anything your doctor recommends. My traveler's diarrhea guide on our sister site explains what to bring and when to see a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ghana's national dish?
There's no single official dish, but fufu with light soup, jollof rice and banku with tilapia are among the most loved.
Is Ghanaian food spicy?
Often, yes. Ghanaians love pepper. You can usually ask for less pepper, and shito sauce is served on the side.
Is street food safe in Ghana?
A lot of it is delicious and safe if it's freshly cooked and served hot from a busy stall. Avoid food that's been sitting out, raw salads, and drinks with ice of unknown origin.
What is waakye?
Rice and beans cooked with dried sorghum leaves, which give it a reddish-brown color. It's served with shito, spaghetti, gari, boiled egg, and fish or meat.
This is general food-safety guidance, not personal medical advice. If you have a medical condition, allergies or take regular medications, talk to your own doctor or pharmacist before you travel.