Ghana Restaurants and Dining

(Ghana, GH, Western Africa)

Eating out in Ghana needn't cost a fortune. In fact, in most towns and cities it is possible to dine out on traditional Ghanaian dishes at very reasonable prices, whether in local-style chop houses or family-run restaurants. Western-style cuisine is also available at dining venues and eateries in larger towns and cities, such as both Accra and Kumasi.

Restaurant opening hours in Ghana do vary, depending upon the actual dining establishment and the size of city or town. Some stay open all day, from 09:00 or 10:00 in the morning to 22:00 in the evening. Others open for evening service only, usually from around 17:30 or 18:00 to 23:00, while some choose to close for one day a week.

What to Eat

A typical Ghanaian breakfast might include 'ampesi', made from a mix of cassava (tuberous root), yam and plantain, cooked with onions and fish.

Most traditional Ghanaian main lunch or dinner dishes consist of spicy meat or groundnut stews, served with either millet, jollof rice, or fufu - a sticky mashed mixture of yam or cassava.

Other popular snack dishes, often served by street vendors, include fried bean fritters, fried plantains and delicious fried yam sticks.

Where to Eat

Accra's restaurants serve everything from traditional Ghanaian dishes, to Indian and Western-style cuisine and fast food. The trendy district of Osu in Accra is a particularly good place for dining, with a wide range of eateries to choose from. Indeed, for many visitors to Accra, Frankie's in Osu is a must-do.

Along the coastline of Ghana it is possible to find a few good seafood restaurants, with such local delicacies as grilled freshly-caught fish on the menu. Vegetarian diners are relatively well-catered for in Accra, with a number of bars, restaurants and cafes serving vegetable-based African dishes and health food.

If you are craving a Western-style delicacy, head to Ghana's Accra Mall, where you can grab something quick to eat in the mall's food court in between going shopping and watching the latest movie.

Visitors dining on a budget, or those who prefer to sample the sort of food that most Ghanaians eat, might like to try out one of Ghana's local 'chop houses'. These popular eateries are similar to cafes and offer cheaper food than can be found in mainstream restaurants. Alternatively, street stalls can be found pretty much everywhere, selling the ultimate in tasty Ghanaian fast food at very affordable prices.