Ghanaian food in Dubai is not as easy to find as Nigerian, Ethiopian, or Indian cuisine — but it is there, if you know where to look. Between dedicated African community restaurants in Karama and Deira, pan-African dining rooms that do Ghanaian dishes justice, and a handful of spots in International City catering to West Africa's large expat community, Dubai has more Ghanaian food than the city gets credit for. This is our ranked guide to the best of it.
🇬🇭 Ghanaian Food in Dubai — Full Guide Series
Cuisine, culture, all dishes explained
This page — ranked guide
Rice and beans — where to find it
Spiced fried plantain guide
The Dubai taste test
The Best Ghanaian Restaurants in Dubai — Ranked
We have assessed these spots on the quality and authenticity of their Ghanaian dishes, not just their African food menu in general. A restaurant scoring highly here serves actual waakye, kenkey, banku, or Ghanaian jollof — not just generic "African rice". Our rankings reflect dedicated research visits in 2024–2025.
KIZA Dubai — Pan-African Excellence in DIFC
KIZA is Dubai's flagship pan-African dining room — a sleek, high-energy space in DIFC that serves the most polished African food in the city. The Ghanaian representation is genuinely impressive: jollof rice made the Ghanaian way (tomato-forward, slightly smoky), kelewele on the sharing menu, and a groundnut soup that rivals anything you would find in Accra's better restaurants. The kitchen is helmed by a chef with West African roots and it shows.
Expect live Afrobeats music on weekend evenings, a beautifully designed dining room with African art, and a crowd that skews young, affluent, and cosmopolitan. It is not cheap — budget AED 250–350 per person — but the quality justifies it. Book at least two days ahead for weekends.
Our verdict: The finest African dining room in Dubai. Ghanaian dishes are treated with respect and finesse. If you want to impress someone with a KIZA experience and introduce them to Ghanaian food at its best, this is the place.
Biggy African Restaurant — Karama's Best-Kept Secret
This is where Dubai's Ghanaian community actually eats. Biggy's is the kind of restaurant that has no marketing budget, no social media presence, and a waiting list on Sunday afternoons because everyone knows it is the real thing. The menu rotates daily based on what the kitchen has, but on a good day you will find waakye with all the toppings, banku with tilapia stew, Ghanaian jollof with fried chicken, and kelewele that pops with ginger heat.
The dining room is simple and functional — formica tables, plastic chairs, ceiling fans. Do not expect ambience. Expect to pay AED 50–70 for a plate that would cost three times more at KIZA and tastes equally authentic. This is community cooking at its best. The owner is Ghanaian, the kitchen staff are Ghanaian, and the women running the counter have been serving food since before Dubai was a food city.
Our verdict: The most authentic Ghanaian food in Dubai. If KIZA is the fine-dining interpretation, Biggy's is the real thing — humble, honest, extraordinary value, and packed with people who know their food. Go here first.
Africana Home — Deira's Pan-African Hub
Africana Home in Deira is the kind of restaurant that anchors a community. Located on a side street near the Gold Souk, it serves a broad pan-African menu but the Ghanaian section is consistently the strongest: kenkey with fried fish, fufu with palm nut soup, and — on Fridays and Saturdays — waakye with the full traditional toppings including shito (black pepper sauce), fried egg, and spaghetti. Yes, spaghetti — that is authentic waakye.
The dining room has warmth: African fabrics on the walls, a communal family table in the centre, and the smell of slow-cooked stew following you from the street. Service is unhurried and the staff will explain every dish with genuine enthusiasm. The palm nut soup — rich, oily, deeply aromatic — is one of the best in Dubai.
Our verdict: Africana Home punches above its price point and location. The Ghanaian dishes are made by people who grew up eating them, and the fufu with palm nut soup is one of the most comforting bowls you will find anywhere in Dubai's African dining scene.
African Palace — Al Quoz Hidden Gem
Tucked into one of Al Quoz's industrial district side streets, African Palace has built a loyal following among Dubai's West African community. The kitchen focuses on Ghanaian and Nigerian dishes with the occasional Ivorian dish making an appearance. The kelewele here is exceptional — properly spiced with a blend of ginger, chili, and cloves, served alongside roasted peanuts as nature intended. The omo tuo (rice balls) with light soup is also worth ordering.
The location is a slight detour from the usual dining circuits but worth the Uber. It is extremely popular with the after-church crowd on Sundays — arrive before noon or after 2pm to avoid the rush.
Our verdict: Off the tourist map but firmly on ours. African Palace serves some of the most honest Ghanaian food in Dubai and the kelewele is among the city's best. Worth the detour.
Motherland Restaurant — International City Hub
International City hosts one of Dubai's largest African communities and Motherland serves as one of its principal dining institutions. The Ghanaian menu here reads like a proper Accra lunch spot: waakye, jollof with chicken, banku with stew, and groundnut soup with either fufu or rice balls. The banku — fermented corn and cassava dough formed into glutinous balls — is the most challenging texture for the uninitiated but one of the most rewarding once you get it.
Portions are enormous and value is outstanding — you will struggle to spend more than AED 70 per person including a soft drink. The decor is minimal but the cooking is the point.
Our verdict: The best budget Ghanaian food in Dubai. Motherland is unpretentious, generous, and completely focused on feeding the community well. An essential stop on any West African food tour of Dubai.
Where to Find Ghanaian Food by Area
Ghanaian restaurants and pan-African spots with strong Ghanaian menus are concentrated in specific parts of Dubai. Here is a quick reference by area:
- Karama: The best area for authentic, affordable Ghanaian food. Biggy's is the standout.
- Deira: Pan-African spots near the Gold Souk and Al Rigga Road. Africana Home leads this area.
- DIFC: KIZA for elevated Afro-fusion dining with strong Ghanaian representation.
- International City: The largest concentration of African community restaurants. Motherland and several smaller spots here.
- Al Quoz: African Palace and a handful of small West African kitchens catering to workers and expats in the industrial district.
What to Order: Essential Ghanaian Dishes
If you are new to Ghanaian food, here is what to look for on the menu — and how to order it correctly. See our full Ghanaian food guide for the complete picture.
- Waakye — Rice and black-eyed peas cooked together, served with stew, fried fish, fried egg, spaghetti, and shito (black pepper sauce). The full version is a complete meal. Typically AED 35–55.
- Kelewele — Spiced fried plantain, often served as a starter or snack with peanuts. AED 18–28.
- Kenkey with fried fish — Fermented corn dough served with spicy fried tilapia or mackerel and pepper sauce. AED 45–65.
- Banku with tilapia or okro stew — Fermented corn and cassava dough balls with a choice of stew. AED 40–65.
- Groundnut soup — Peanut-based broth with chicken or goat, served with fufu, rice balls, or plain rice. AED 55–80.
- Palm nut soup — Rich, oily soup made from palm nuts, usually served with fufu. AED 50–75.
FAQ — Ghanaian Restaurants in Dubai
Is there a dedicated Ghanaian restaurant in Dubai?
There are a small number of dedicated Ghanaian and Ghanaian-led restaurants in Dubai, primarily in Karama, Deira, and International City. Biggy African Restaurant in Karama is the most widely recommended by Dubai's Ghanaian community. Most Ghanaian food in Dubai is also available at pan-African restaurants that serve multiple West African cuisines.
Can I find waakye in Dubai?
Yes — waakye is available in Dubai, primarily at Biggy's in Karama (weekends), Africana Home in Deira (Fridays and Saturdays), and Motherland in International City. It is not always available every day, so it is worth calling ahead or visiting on a Friday or Saturday morning when it is most commonly served.
What is the most authentic Ghanaian restaurant in Dubai?
Based on our visits and community feedback, Biggy African Restaurant in Karama offers the most authentic Ghanaian home-cooking experience in Dubai. The food is made by Ghanaians for Ghanaians and the menu reflects true Ghanaian daily eating rather than a pan-African interpretation.
Is Ghanaian food halal in Dubai?
Most African restaurants in Dubai serve halal-certified food as a matter of course, given Dubai's regulatory environment. You can confirm halal status by asking at the restaurant — virtually all of the spots listed above are fully halal.
