Jollof in Accra is everywhere — and not all of it is good. Here are eight places we keep recommending, organised by neighbourhood, plus what to order alongside.
This list is honest. We left off bigger-name spots that don't actually serve consistent jollof, and we included a couple of unfussy places that do.
Osu
Osu is the easy-win neighbourhood — most travellers stay nearby, and several of Accra's best jollof restaurants are walking-distance from each other.
Buka
The reference. Pan-African plates with a Ghanaian core. The jollof is restrained, perfumed, with grilled tilapia or grilled chicken alongside. Order the kelewele as a side.
Order: jollof with grilled tilapia, kelewele, a cold Malta. Around GHS 100-130 per person.
Asanka Local
More elbows-on-the-table than Buka. Asanka is the clay pot the food arrives in — jollof comes hot and aromatic, with bony grilled chicken on top. Loud, fast, fun.
Order: asanka jollof with chicken. GHS 70-90 per person.
Republic Bar & Grill
Small plates, akpeteshie cocktails, jollof balls (yes, balls — fried jollof croquettes) as a starter that we always over-order. Tiny kitchen, so go early.
Order: jollof balls (always), grilled lamb skewers. Drinks-and-snacks: GHS 80-120.
Cantonments
The quieter, leafier embassy-and-NGO neighbourhood. Slower pace, refined food.
Coco Lounge
Coco does refined Ghanaian — the jollof here is the smoky, deep-tomato style with prawns. More expensive but consistently good. Beautiful garden setting.
Order: prawn jollof with side salad. GHS 150-200.
Santoku
Not Ghanaian, but the in-house twist on jollof on their fusion menu is genuinely good — they use the same long-grain technique with a Japanese-shrimp accent. Worth a try if you've eaten jollof elsewhere on the trip.
Order: shrimp jollof. GHS 180-220.
Airport Residential & Labone
Where business travellers tend to base themselves.
Burger & Relish
Famous for burgers but does a really solid jollof — a side most travellers don't notice on the menu. Big portions.
Order: jollof with the grilled chicken plate, banana milkshake. GHS 100-140.
Roots Apartments restaurant
The hotel restaurant of Roots Apartments has a surprisingly good kitchen — jollof comes with shito and grilled chicken, slow-cooked properly, served with a refreshing kontomire (cocoyam-leaf) stew on the side.
Order: jollof + kontomire combo. GHS 120-150.
Central Accra / Tudu
Older Accra. Slightly grittier, more authentic, fewer tourists.
Roadside woman near Ussher Fort
Anonymous, no signage, often busy. She sets up around 11am most weekdays. The waakye (rice and beans) is the headliner but her jollof on Fridays is exceptional. Bring small cash.
Order: jollof with grilled chicken if she has it. GHS 30-50.
What to order alongside
Jollof rarely arrives alone. A complete Ghana meal includes:
- Grilled chicken or grilled tilapia — almost always.
- Kelewele — spiced, deep-fried plantain cubes. Sweet-savoury-spicy. Order generously.
- Shito — the dark, smoky pepper sauce. Some places will offer it on the side; ask if it doesn't appear.
- Malta Guinness — non-alcoholic malt drink. Sounds wrong with rice; it's right.
- Kontomire stew — cocoyam-leaf stew. Earthy, deep, served with boiled yam or as a side.
Where to avoid
We won't name places — that's not the point. But two warning signs:
- Hotel buffet jollof that's been sitting under a heat lamp. Lukewarm jollof is a different and worse food.
- "Tourist menu" places near major attractions that charge 3-4x and serve the worst version of every dish. The Cape Coast Castle area has a few.
The jollof rivalry
It's worth knowing the broader context. Ghana and Nigeria have been arguing about jollof for at least two decades. World Jollof Day is August 22 (yes, really). Both versions are excellent. The Ghana version is more perfumed and uses long-grain rice; the Nigerian version is smokier and earthier.
If you're in Accra in late August, Buka runs a Ghana-versus-Nigeria jollof tasting around World Jollof Day. Worth showing up for.
How to find more
Ghana's food scene moves quickly — new spots open, old ones change hands. The fastest way to keep up is to ask: ask your taxi driver, ask the hotel staff, ask anyone you trust who lives in Accra.
Plan an Accra food trip with the AI planner
Tell it 'food-and-drink focus' and we'll route the days through the best plates.
Frequently asked
What's the difference between Ghanaian and Nigerian jollof?
Ghanaian jollof is typically made with long-grain perfumed rice (jasmine or basmati), tomato paste base, and uses bay leaves and ginger. Nigerian jollof leans on Roma-style tomatoes and a deeper smoky flavour. Both are excellent. The 'rivalry' is a national sport.
Is street-food jollof safe for visitors?
Generally yes if it's freshly cooked and you can see it on the heat. We avoid lukewarm jollof from any source. Standard food-safety rules apply.
What goes with jollof?
Grilled chicken or tilapia, kelewele (spiced fried plantain), or a side of shito (pepper sauce). A cold malt drink (Malta Guinness) is the traditional pairing.
