Ghanaian Street Foods
Ghana's street food is its most democratic cuisine — cooked at roadside kiosks and grills, sold from plastic tubs and calabashes, and best eaten standing up after dark. Three items anchor it: waakye rules breakfast and lunch, kelewele owns the evening, and khebab takes over at night. It is cheap — most items cost only a handful of cedis (prices change, so treat any figure as approximate) — and it is where Ghana's regions meet on one street: northern khebab next to coastal kenkey next to Accra kelewele. This guide covers the classics, where to find them, and links to recipes so you can make them at home.
Signature Street Foods
The icons of the Ghanaian street, from the late-night grill to the morning fryer:
- Kelewele — Gingery, chilli-spiced fried ripe plantain; the late-night icon, often with roasted groundnuts.
- Waakye — Rice and beans with the full load — shito, gari, boiled egg, spaghetti and protein.
- Khebab / Chinchinga — Spiced grilled meat skewers, the night-grill staple.
- Banku & Tilapia — Grilled fish with banku and raw pepper.
- Kenkey with Fried Fish & Pepper — The coastal street plate.
- Roasted Plantain & Groundnuts (Kofi Brokeman) — Charred plantain eaten with raw groundnuts. (No recipe page yet — owner to add.)
- Fried Yam with Shito — Crispy fried yam with hot black pepper sauce.
- Koose — Bean fritters, sold morning and evening.
- Bofrot — Sweet fried dough balls.
- Roast Corn & Coconut — A seasonal pairing, eaten in corn season. (No recipe page yet — owner to add.)
- Gob3 (Gari & Beans) — The cheapest filling plate — beans with gari, oil and pepper. (No recipe page yet — owner to add.)
Where to Eat It
Street food is local knowledge. A few of the best-known spots:
- Osu / Oxford Street (Accra): kelewele, khebab and fried yam after 6pm.
- Jamestown / Ga-Mashie (Accra): kenkey and fried fish — the most authentic Ga food.
- Madina (Accra): waakye and Hausa koko.
- Nima / Newtown (Accra): northern food — TZ, koose and Hausa koko.
- Makola Market (Accra): a bit of everything.
- Kejetia (Kumasi): the Ashanti side of the street-food map.
Vegetarian Street Food
Several street favourites are naturally meat-free, and others adapt easily:
- Naturally meat-free: kelewele, koose, fried yam, bofrot, Hausa koko and roasted plantain.
- Waakye can be ordered 'no meat, extra egg and plantain'.
- Banku with pepper sauce (no fish) also works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular street food in Ghana?
Waakye, kelewele and kenkey are the three most widely eaten, and khebab dominates at night.
What vegetarian street food is there?
Kelewele, koose, fried yam, bofrot, Hausa koko and roasted plantain are all naturally meat-free.
Where do you eat street food in Accra?
Osu after dark, Jamestown for Ga food, Madina and Nima for waakye and northern dishes, and Makola for everything.
What is kelewele?
Kelewele is ripe plantain cut into cubes, tossed with ginger, chilli and spices, and deep-fried until caramelised — a classic evening street snack.