What to Eat in Kumasi and the Ashanti Region: A Local Food Culture Guide

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Have you ever wondered what makes Kumasi’s food scene so special?

Food in Kumasi is deeply connected to everyday life. Whether served at home, bought from a street vendor, or shared at a celebration, every dish reflects the Ashanti region’s traditions and lifestyle.

This guide gives you a clear look at traditional meals and street food favorites, with helpful notes about where locals usually enjoy them.

While home-cooked meals are common, it’s not unusual for families of all backgrounds to buy meals from trusted street vendors, chop bars, or caterers.

In Kumasi and surrounding areas, eating outside the home isn’t about class. It’s part of everyday life. People regularly support local food sellers, from quick roadside snacks to full meals brought in by catering services.

This habit isn’t about wealth—it’s simply how the food culture works.

Traditional Dishes from Kumasi and Ashanti Homes

These meals are common in households and chop bars (local eateries). Many are tied to family life, celebrations, and everyday comfort.

Fufu with Soup

Where to find it: Homes, chop bars, gatherings

Fufu is made by pounding boiled cassava and plantains until smooth and stretchy. It’s a staple for family meals and is often served at Sunday lunch or special occasions. You’ll usually find it paired with one of three soups:

• Light soup: A tomato-based broth with a spicy kick
• Palm nut soup: Thick and smoky, made from palm fruit pulp
• Groundnut soup: Creamy and rich, made with blended peanuts
  Eating fufu with your hands is part of the experience—no chewing, just dipping and swallowing.

Jollof Rice

Where to find it: Restaurants, events, some street vendors

Jollof rice is a crowd-pleaser across Ghana, and Kumasi’s version doesn’t disappoint. It’s cooked in a spiced tomato sauce and often served with fried chicken, goat meat, or grilled fish. It’s the go-to dish for birthdays, weddings, or even a casual weekday lunch.

Banku with Grilled Tilapia

Where to find it: Chop bars, homes

Banku is made from fermented corn and cassava dough, cooked until smooth and elastic. It’s usually served with whole grilled tilapia, pepper sauce, and fresh onions. The flavors are bold—sour from the banku, smoky from the fish, and spicy from the pepper. It’s a common dinner for families and a favorite at chop bars.

Kenkey and Fried Fish

Where to find it: Street vendors, homes

Kenkey is steamed, fermented corn dough wrapped in corn husks or plantain leaves. It’s a classic meal served from street vendors and home kitchens alike. It’s eaten with fried fish and fresh hot pepper sauce. Some add sliced onions, tomatoes, or shito on the side.

Waakye

Where to find it: Street vendors, markets, homes

Waakye is a hearty rice-and-bean dish cooked with dried millet leaves for color and flavor. It’s usually served with a mix of sides: boiled eggs, fried plantains, meat or fish, spaghetti, and a generous scoop of shito. Many people grab it for breakfast or lunch, especially from vendors outside schools or markets.

Kokonte

Where to find it: Homes, some chop bars

Kokonte, sometimes called “face the wall,” is made from dried cassava flour and cooked into a firm, sticky dough. Though plain in appearance, it’s full of flavor when paired with soups like groundnut, palm nut, or light soup. It’s often served at home and known for being filling and nourishing.

Emotuo (Rice Balls)

Where to find it: Homes, chop bars

Emotuo is made by cooking soft rice and forming it into round balls. It’s traditionally served with rich soups, especially groundnut or palm nut. It’s a favorite for Sunday meals and special gatherings, offering a softer, milder base than fufu or banku.

Mpoto Mpoto (Yam Porridge)

Where to find it: Homes, local food joints

Mpoto Mpoto is a one-pot dish made by mashing yam and simmering it with palm oil, onions, tomatoes, and either fish or meat. It’s a warm, comforting dish usually eaten in the evening. Think of it as the Ghanaian version of a cozy stew.

Tuo Zaafi (TZ)

Where to find it: Markets, homes, select chop bars

Tuo Zaafi is a northern Ghanaian dish that’s also loved in Kumasi. It’s a soft, smooth dough made from maize and sometimes cassava. It’s served with a green leafy soup (often with dawadawa) and meat. Filling and nutritious, it’s popular during lunchtime or for those craving something light but satisfying.

Abunabunu Soup (Green Soup)

Where to find it: Homes, chop bars

Abunabunu is a green soup made from kontomire (cocoyam leaves), blended with local herbs and sometimes snails or tuna. It’s known for its earthy, herbal flavor and is typically eaten with fufu. It’s popular in homes and chop bars for those looking for a healthier soup option.

Kontomire Stew

Where to find it: Homes, some chop bars

Kontomire stew is made from finely chopped cocoyam leaves, tomatoes, onions, and either fish or meat. It often includes salted fish like koobi or tuna and is served with boiled yam, rice, or plantains. It’s an everyday staple that’s both filling and nutrient-packed.

Boiled eggs are a familiar part of many of our meals, so don’t be surprised to see one added on top. From waakye to eto, they’re a common finishing touch that brings everything together.

Street Food Highlights and Popular Dishes in Kumasi

Quick, flavorful, and affordable, street food in Kumasi is full of variety. These meals are found not only in markets, roadside stalls, and late-night spots, but also on the menus of many local restaurants.

Chinchinga (Kebabs)

Where to find it: Street corners, markets, bus stations

Grilled meat skewers made from beef, goat, or chicken, marinated with a mix of local spices and suya powder. They’re cooked over open flames and served hot, making them a flavorful grab-and-go option.

Kelewele

Where to find it: Night vendors, roadside stalls

Spiced ripe plantains cut into chunks and deep-fried with a mix of ginger, garlic, and pepper. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it’s a popular snack or side dish for any time of day.

Meat Pie

Where to find it: Street vendors, bakeries, supermarkets

A flaky, golden-brown pastry filled with seasoned minced meat, onions, and sometimes vegetables. Often enjoyed as a snack on the go or a light breakfast, meat pies are a popular choice across Kumasi and are sold in shops, markets, and school canteens.

Yam Chips with Turkey Tail (Chofi)

Where to find it: Street stalls, food trucks

Thick slices of yam are fried until golden and served with crispy turkey tail. Often accompanied by pepper sauce, this combo is loved for its crunchy texture and bold flavor.

Koko and Bofrot

Where to find it: Breakfast stalls

Koko is a mildly spiced millet porridge, usually served hot. It’s commonly paired with Bofrot, which are deep-fried dough balls—slightly sweet, soft inside, and golden outside. A popular local breakfast duo.

Koose

Where to find it: Morning vendors

Deep-fried bean cakes made from black-eyed peas, onions, and spices. Crispy on the outside and soft inside, Koose is often served with Koko or tucked inside bread as a quick breakfast.

Roasted Plantain with Peanuts (Kofi Brokeman)

Where to find it: Roadside vendors

A simple and filling street snack made by roasting ripe plantains over charcoal and pairing them with roasted groundnuts. It’s a popular mid-day or evening bite that balances sweet and nutty flavors.

Akotonshi (Stuffed Crab)

Where to find it: Market areas, special food vendors

Crab shells are filled with a spicy mix of minced meat, vegetables, and seasoning, then baked or grilled. This flavorful dish is often enjoyed as a snack or appetizer during events and market days.

Check Check (Fried Rice Combo)

Where to find it: Roadside container shops, student areas, busy intersections

A familiar favorite across Kumasi, Check Check is a combo meal featuring fried rice or jollof, grilled or fried meat, shito, and often salad or fried plantains. The name comes from vendors calling “check check” to confirm orders. It’s quick, filling, and widely enjoyed.

Kwenkwen (Rice and Beans)

Where to find it: Roadside vendors, lunch spots

A filling mix of rice and beans with palm oil, served with fish, meat, or a boiled egg.

Local Drinks to Try

These traditional drinks often come with meals or are sold on their own by street vendors.

Sobolo

Made from dried hibiscus petals and flavored with fresh ginger, cloves, and sometimes pineapple. This tangy, deep red drink is served cold and is commonly sold in plastic bottles or cups across Kumasi. It’s a favorite during hot afternoons and pairs well with spicy meals.

Asaana

Made from fermented corn and sweetened with caramelized sugar, Asaana is a thick, brown drink that’s best served cold. Often sold in reused glass bottles, it’s popular at gatherings and among street vendors during festivals and weekends.

Atadwe Milk Drink

Atadwe milk is a creamy, slightly grainy drink made from blended tiger nuts with natural sweetness. It’s often chilled and sold in sachets or bottles, making it a refreshing and nutritious companion to heavier meals.

Palm Wine

Collected fresh from the palm tree, palm wine is a mildly alcoholic drink that ferments quickly and varies in strength. It’s commonly shared at community gatherings and traditional ceremonies and is best enjoyed fresh.

Pito

Brewed from fermented millet or sorghum, Pito is a traditional drink with a sour edge. It’s often served warm in calabash bowls and enjoyed in northern Ghanaian communities or among friends at social events in Kumasi.

Burkina

Burkina is a thick, slightly sweet drink served cold and made from fresh milk and millet or sorghum. It’s popular as a snack or light breakfast and is often sold in sachets or plastic bottles around markets and busy areas.

Food During Special Occasions

Food is central to family events and festivals in Kumasi. It’s a way to show care, share joy, and honor tradition.

Certain meals are closely tied to specific moments, whether it’s a family milestone or a traditional celebration.

Family Gatherings

• Fufu with soup: Comfort food often served at celebrations, naming ceremonies, or after funerals.
• Jollof rice: A party favorite, especially at weddings, birthdays, or church gatherings.
• Waakye: A popular choice for morning events or casual family meals, often served with multiple sides.

Festivals and Ceremonies

• Yam fufu: Served during harvest season celebrations or after annual events like Akwasidae.
• Palm nut soup with emotuo: A hearty, ceremonial dish found at large gatherings, festivals, and funerals.
• Eto (Mashed Yam or Plantain): A traditional food made with mashed yam or plantain, palm oil, and boiled eggs—used during naming rites, puberty ceremonies, or to mark personal milestones.

Where to Eat in Kumasi

Kumasi offers many places to enjoy local dishes, from lively markets to casual restaurants. While there are countless options across the city, here are a few highlights to get you started:

Kejetia Market

Suitable for fresh ingredients, snacks, and quick bites like kelewele or roasted plantain.

Asafo Market Eateries

Home-style dishes at affordable prices. Great for waakye, groundnut soup, and fried fish.

X5 Kitchen & Bar

📍 Located in Danyame, near Ridge and central Kumasi
A popular spot for well-seasoned Ghanaian dishes and grilled platters. Known for its upbeat setting and variety of local meals, such as fried yam with chofi, banku with tilapia, and jollof rice.

Ike’s Cafe and Grill

📍 Next to the Centre for National Culture in Adum
Sit-down meals with fufu, tilapia, and soups in a cultural setting.

Aca Poco

📍 Near Asafo or Amakom area
A simple setting with fresh, flavorful Ghanaian dishes, the restaurant is known for garden egg stew, banku, and light soup.

Jofel Restaurant

📍 Located in Amakom or near Adum
Popular for its mix of Ghanaian and continental meals. A good option for those wanting variety in one place.

Aboude Fast Food

📍 Near Amakom Junction or along the Asafo-Adum stretch
Well-known for quick Ghanaian dishes like jollof, fried rice, and grilled chicken—especially in the evenings.

Royal Park Hotel Restaurant

📍 Located in Nhyiaeso, near Ridge School and other hotels
Offers both Ghanaian favorites and international dishes in a relaxed setting. Suitable for families and small groups.

Western and International Food Options

While this guide highlights local dishes, Kumasi also has a growing appetite for Western-style and international meals.

From fast food chains like KFC to Chinese, Lebanese, and Indian restaurants, there are plenty of options for those looking for something different.

This is especially helpful for families with picky eaters, travelers easing into local flavors, or locals who want to treat themselves to a change.

Whether it’s fried rice with a twist, crispy chicken, or pizza night with the kids, you’ll find several reliable spots scattered around the city.

Many of these restaurants are located in areas like Adum, Asokwa, and Danyame—often near malls, hotels, or busy roads.

“In Kumasi, eating is part of the rhythm of daily life—whether it’s a home-cooked meal or something picked up from a trusted vendor.”

Kumasi’s food scene is a true reflection of its culture. From home-cooked stews to late-night kebabs, every dish holds meaning.

Whether you’re new to these meals or grew up with them, tasting them again reminds you of the connection between food, people, and place.

If you’re visiting or new to the city, don’t hesitate to ask locals what their favorite meals are and where they like to get them.

You’ll often discover some of the best spots that way—and you might even get a personal story to go with the recommendation.

Do you already know what to eat in Kumasi? Which dish are you most excited to try—or rediscover? Let us know in the comments.

We’ve done our best to include the dishes and drinks Kumasi and the Ashanti Region are known for, but we know we may have missed a few local favorites. So feel free to share your go-to meals or hidden gems, too!

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