Try These Accra Street Foods

Ghana has all kinds of unique flavours to enjoy, yet Accra street foods are one of the best ways to experience how the locals eat. Unlike fancy restaurants, you will be pulling up a seat at a small stall to try delicious food like Kelewele or Waakye. From busy locations to quiet junctions, these spots are everywhere, and they’re where most locals grab a quick, tasty meal. And the food hygiene here is good—otherwise, the locals wouldn’t be doing fine either.

Nevertheless, this guide was prepared to take you through the top Accra street food. These dishes are listed here as the ones you should try first to truly experience the city the way it’s truly meant to be experienced. And yes, you can prepare these delicious meals if you buy African Food History Books. 

Keep reading to discover these delicious dishes.

1. Kelewele

Kelewele is a bold Accra street food made from ripe plantains that are sliced, marinated in a blend of ginger, garlic, pepper, and spices, then deep-fried until golden. The contrast of sweet plantain with hot spices gives it a unique, comforting, fiery flavour. Usually sold in small kiosks or by vendors at night, it’s often served with roasted groundnuts, making it a spicy-sweet favourite in Accra.

2. Chinchinga (Suya)

Chinchinga, known elsewhere as suya, is a smoky, spicy skewer of grilled beef or chicken coated in a nutty pepper rub. It’s grilled on open fires until slightly charred and juicy. This street food is popular among evening crowds and travellers. It gives a protein-packed bite bursting with bold flavour.

3. Waakye

Waakye is a rice and beans dish that carries the soul of Ghanaian mornings. It’s prepared with dried millet leaves for colour and earthy flavour, then served with various toppings like boiled eggs, fried fish, spaghetti, and shito. Packed and sold in leaves or takeaway packs by roadside vendors to people who want something to fill their bellies fast.

4. Red Red (Beans Stew)

Red Red is a rich stew of black-eyed beans slow-cooked in palm oil with onions, tomatoes, and spices. This dish is sold at local food stalls where it is served with fried ripe plantains, rice, or just a soft drink. It has a sweet, spicy, and warm taste that is comforting.

5. Yam with Chofi / Tsofi

This local favorite brings together crispy fried yams and chofi, which is deep-fried, well-seasoned turkey tail. The yam serves as a starchy base while the chofi adds a juicy, meaty punch. Street vendors usually serve it with spicy pepper sauce, making it a satisfying combo for those on the move.

6. Banku

Banku is a fermented mix of corn and cassava dough, served as smooth balls alongside grilled tilapia and spicy raw pepper sauce. The sour banku pairs well with the smoky fish and hot sauce, making it a balanced and deeply satisfying street meal. It’s typically sold at local food joints with open grills where the tilapia is cooked on the spot.

7. Tuo Zaafi

Tuo Zaafi, often called TZ, is a soft maize or millet-based swallow served with a green leafy soup made from ayoyo leaves. Originally from Northern Ghana, it’s now common in Accra’s communities. The soup is light yet rich, and it’s usually accompanied by beef, goat meat, or fish for a wholesome lunch.

8. Gari Fortor

Gari Fortor is a simple, budget-friendly Accra street food made from gari fried in tomato sauce and mixed with sardines or eggs. The texture is slightly grainy but moist and flavorful, perfect for students or workers grabbing a quick, tasty meal.

9. Kenkey with Fried Fish and Shito

Kenkey is fermented corn dough steamed in husks and served with fried fish and a black pepper sauce called shito. The kenkey’s tangy base balances beautifully with the crispiness of the fish and the heat of the sauce. It’s a staple sold widely across Accra, often eaten with raw pepper and onions too.

10. Bofrot

Bofrot is a popular fried dough snack with a soft interior and crispy golden crust. Slightly sweet and spicy, it’s sold by hawkers in plastic tubs or baskets and often eaten with pap or tea in the morning.

11. Corn with Coconut

This seasonal combo of charred corn on the cob and chunks of fresh coconut is both filling and refreshing. Vendors roast the corn on roadside grills and pair it with naturally sweet coconut, offering a perfect snack during Ghana’s corn season.

12. Fried Rice and Chicken

Ghanaian fried rice is a street staple made with vegetables, soy sauce, and spices, served alongside grilled or fried chicken. Commonly sold at roadside or small restaurants as a flavorful and fast evening meal.

13. Palm Nut Soup

Palm Nut Soup, also called Abenkwan by the locals, is a delicious soup made from a palm cream or palm nut base. This soup is further enriched with marinated meats like goat meat, seasoning, and smoked dried fish. This soup goes well with pounded yam, pounded cassava, banku, omo tuo, and even rice.

14. Noodles

Instant noodles cooked on the spot with onions, pepper, seasoning, and topped with fried eggs and sausage. Popular among students and night workers, it’s a spicy, customisable street favourite found at nighttime vendors.

15. Omo Tuo with Groundnut Soup

Omo Tuo is a soft rice mashed into smooth balls and served with thick, nutty groundnut soup made with meat or fish. It’s a warm, hearty street meal found in traditional chop bars and food stalls.

16. Yam Balls

These are mashed yams seasoned with spices and onions, rolled into balls, and deep-fried. They’re crunchy on the outside and soft within, often eaten as snacks or party food from vendor trays.

17. Ghanaian Jollof Rice

Ghanaian Jollof Rice is a tasty, orange-like dish due to the rich seasoning used in preparing it. It is mainly sold in small restaurants but is popularly served at weddings, parties, and other occasions. It usually contains goat, beef, or lamb sauce meat as a topping for the dish. In some places, you may even find them using chicken or fish.

18. Aboboi (Bambara Beans Porridge)

Aboboi is a porridge made from Bambara beans, sometimes sweetened or flavored with coconut milk. Thick and creamy, it’s a soothing meal sold warm in cups or bowls at street corners.

19. Kaklo (Fried Plantain Cake)

These crispy snacks are made from very ripe plantains, seasoned and deep-fried, and are usually served with a spicy black-eyed bean stew, known as “red red,” and palm oil. They’re chewy, salty, and a treat usually enjoyed as an appetiser.

20. Kokonte

Kokonte is a dark brown swallow made from dried cassava flour that is commonly eaten with light tomato-based soup. It’s hearty, slightly bitter, and often paired with goat meat or fish, mostly in traditional eateries.

21. Poloo

Poloo are crunchy coconut-flavoured cookies made with coconut, flour, and sugar, then deep-fried to a golden crisp. Commonly sold in small plastic packs, they’re perfect for snacking or pairing with a hot drink like tea.

Final Thought

Filling your stomach is one thing, and enjoying the city the way it’s truly meant to be experienced is another. Accra street food gets you into the everyday life of Ghanaians. So, skip the fancy restaurants and get into roadside joints where crowds gather around a food stall. Without a doubt, that will be the place where you will enjoy Accra street food.

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