If you want to experience the real Ghana, don’t just visit the tourist attractions—eat where the locals eat. In Ghana, that means heading to a chop bar, the heartbeat of traditional Ghanaian cuisine. These informal eateries serve hearty, home-style meals full of flavor, culture, and community.
Whether you’re craving banku with tilapia, fufu with light soup, or waakye served with all the trimmings, this guide highlights the top chop bars across Ghana and explains how to dine like a true local.
What Is a Chop Bar?
A chop bar is a traditional Ghanaian food joint where people gather to “chop,” the local slang for “eat.” They’re usually open-air or semi-enclosed, with wooden benches, giant pots simmering over coal stoves, and food served fresh and hot—often in generous portions.
Chop bars specialize in authentic, local dishes like:
- Fufu with light, groundnut, or palm nut soup
- Banku and okro stew
- Kenkey with pepper and fried fish
- Waakye with wele, gari, and boiled eggs
- Tuo Zaafi (TZ), a northern staple
- Jollof rice with fried chicken or goat
Expect finger-licking flavor, zero pretension, and a side of warm Ghanaian hospitality.
1. Asanka Local – Accra (Osu)
Location: 18 Cantonments Road, Osu, Accra
Famous For: Fufu with goat meat light soup, jollof rice, waakye
Asanka Local is one of the most well-known chop bars in Accra for both locals and visitors. It offers a clean, fast, and flavorful experience of Ghanaian staples.
What to Try:
- Fufu with groundnut soup and smoked goat
- Waakye with all the toppings (gari, spaghetti, fried plantain)
- Banku and grilled tilapia with shito
Tip: Go early during lunch hours (11am–1pm) to avoid long queues.
2. Bush Canteen – Accra (East Legon)
Location: East Legon boundary road near Starbites
Famous For: Variety of dishes in a communal atmosphere
Bush Canteen isn’t a single chop bar—it’s a cluster of food stalls with everything from TZ to yam and palava sauce. It’s a go-to spot for students, workers, and budget travelers.
Highlights:
- Eat what you see—walk around and choose your dish
- Get huge portions for a low price
- Sit under trees or share benches for a very local feel
Tip: Bring cash. Prices are affordable but vendors often don’t take mobile money.
3. Esi’s Chop Bar – Kumasi (Adum)
Location: Near Kumasi Central Market
Famous For: Fufu with abunuabunu (green soup), massive portions
In the cultural capital of Kumasi, Esi’s Chop Bar has earned a reputation for authenticity and taste. Located near the bustling Kejetia Market, it serves thousands of customers a week.
Signature Dishes:
- Fufu with nkontomire (cocoyam leaves) soup and bush meat
- Ampesi (boiled yam/plantain) with kontomire stew
- Rice balls (omotuo) with light soup
Tip: Fufu here is pounded fresh—expect a wait if you visit during rush hours.
4. Ebenezer Chop Bar – Accra (Dansoman)
Location: Dansoman Roundabout, Accra
Famous For: Waakye, kenkey, and late-night service
Ebenezer is a favorite for locals looking for authentic food late into the night. Their kenkey and pepper sauce is some of the best in Accra.
What to Eat:
- Kenkey with fried fish, pepper, and shito
- Waakye with gari, salad, spaghetti, boiled eggs, and wele
- Tilapia grilled over open coals
Tip: Very popular on weekends—arrive early if you want a specific dish.
5. Aunty Muni Waakye – Accra (Cantonments)
Location: Near Flagstaff House, Cantonments
Famous For: Waakye with a long-standing reputation
Aunty Muni’s is arguably Accra’s most famous waakye spot—and with good reason. For over two decades, it has served dignitaries, students, and tourists alike.
Add-Ons to Try:
- Wele (cow skin)
- Shito (black pepper sauce)
- Avocado slices
- Fried plantain and spaghetti
Tip: Open early and sells out by early afternoon. Expect a queue.
6. Alhaji’s Chop Bar – Tamale
Location: Near Aboabo, Tamale Central
Famous For: Tuo Zaafi (TZ), northern-style soups
Alhaji’s is a popular destination in northern Ghana, where travelers can enjoy authentic Dagomba cuisine served in hearty bowls.
Local Specials:
- TZ with ayoyo leaves and guinea fowl
- Rice balls with groundnut soup
- Hausa Koko for breakfast
Tip: Ask for low pepper if you’re not used to northern Ghana’s spice levels.
7. Mawarko Chop Bar – Ho (Volta Region)
Location: Close to the main roundabout, Ho township
Famous For: Akple and abobi tadze (anchovy okro stew)
In Ghana’s Volta Region, this chop bar is a must-visit for anyone curious about Ewe cuisine.
Don’t Miss:
- Akple (fermented cornmeal dumplings)
- Abobi tadze (anchovy in hot okro stew)
- Red-red (beans and ripe plantain) with fried gari
Tip: Combine with a weekend getaway to Wli Falls or Mount Afadjato.
8. D’zifa Chop Bar – Cape Coast
Location: Near University of Cape Coast
Famous For: Seafood stews, fante kenkey
Serving the coastal Fante community, D’zifa is known for rich, spicy seafood-based soups and stews.
Seafood Options:
- Fante kenkey with shrimp stew
- Octopus/light soup
- Yam with palava sauce and smoked mackerel
Tip: The region’s kenkey is slightly different from Ga kenkey—so try both if you’re a foodie!
9. Naa Dede’s Chop Bar – Madina (Accra)
Location: Madina Market Area
Famous For: Local dishes on a budget
If you’re on a tight travel budget but want to eat like royalty, this is your spot. The food is simple, fresh, and extremely affordable.
Try:
- Rice and beans with stew
- Gari fotor with smoked fish
- Boiled yam with egg stew
Tip: Perfect for travelers staying in East Legon or University of Ghana area.
10. Porters Lodge Chop Bar – Takoradi
Location: Sekondi-Takoradi
Famous For: Seafood, light soup, and palm nut soup
Being a coastal city, Takoradi offers an abundance of fresh fish and crab. Porters Lodge serves it traditionally, with local sauces that burst with flavor.
What to Order:
- Fufu with crab palm nut soup
- Banku and okro stew with snails
- Smoked tuna with spicy tomato stew
Tip: Great spot for lunch before heading to nearby Busua Beach or Cape Three Points.
Dining Like a Local: Tips for Chop Bar First-Timers
- Wash Your Hands: Most meals are eaten by hand. Look for a hand-washing station or ask for a bowl of water.
- Don’t Expect a Menu: Ask what’s available that day—it changes.
- Don’t Fear the Spice: But do ask for “small pepper” if you prefer it mild.
- Go Early: The best dishes often sell out by 2 PM.
- Respect the Setup: Seating is communal. You may share a bench with strangers—this is normal.
Conclusion
Eating at a chop bar is more than just a meal—it’s a cultural experience. These spaces bring people together over food that’s rich in tradition, flavor, and community spirit. Whether you’re in the city or up north, by the coast or in the hills, there’s always a chop bar nearby ready to serve up the soul of Ghana, one plate at a time.
So skip the fancy restaurants for a day, grab a stool at a local chop bar, and taste Ghana the way it was meant to be enjoyed.
