By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi/ Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada
September 10, 2026

For Ghanaians living in Toronto, few meals carry the comfort and familiarity of home quite like waakye.

The simple combination of rice and beans, traditionally cooked with sorghum leaves and served with accompaniments such as shito, stew, gari, egg, plantain and a choice of meat or fish, has travelled far beyond Ghana.

In the Greater Toronto Area, a growing number of Ghanaian restaurants and food businesses have made waakye a regular feature of their menus.

But finding a good plate can be a different matter.

The rice has to be properly cooked. The beans should be tender without turning the dish into a soft mash. The shito needs the right balance of heat and flavour, while the accompanying stew and protein can make the difference between an ordinary meal and one that tastes like Sunday afternoon back home.

GhanaianNewsCanada looked at restaurants across Toronto and the surrounding GTA, considering availability of waakye, customer feedback, restaurant reputation, menu variety, location and the overall Ghanaian dining experience.

Here are seven places worth considering when the craving for waakye hits.

1. Golden Gate Restaurant – Etobicoke

Golden Gate Restaurant

Location: 2428 Islington Avenue, Etobicoke

Golden Gate Restaurant is one of the established Ghanaian food destinations in the Etobicoke area and has built a following among customers looking for familiar West African dishes.

Its menu includes House Waakye, as well as a combination of waakye and jollof rice.

The restaurant’s current delivery listing shows House Waakye at C$17, while customers have also praised the portions and freshness of the food.

Recent customer reviews specifically mention the waakye, with some describing it as flavourful and filling.

For someone looking for a traditional Ghanaian meal without travelling deep into downtown Toronto, Golden Gate is a strong option.

Best for: Traditional Ghanaian food and generous portions.

2. Nyamekye – North York

Nyamekye

Location: 2965 Islington Avenue, Unit 15, North York

Nyamekye has become another name to know among people searching for Ghanaian food in the northern part of Toronto.

The restaurant offers a Loaded Waakye, alongside other Ghanaian favourites including fufu, light soup, red red, fried yam and jollof rice.

Its current restaurant listing shows a strong customer rating, while reviews frequently highlight large portions, friendly service and the restaurant’s Ghanaian menu.

The restaurant is particularly worth considering for diners who want a more substantial plate rather than a basic serving of rice and beans.

Best for: A loaded, filling waakye experience.

3. Accra Restaurant – North York

Accra Restaurant

Location: 3300 Dufferin Street, Unit G, North York

Accra Restaurant puts Ghanaian food at the centre of its identity, with a menu that includes several traditional dishes.

Its waakye is described as rice and beans cooked with sorghum leaves and served with shito, wele and egg.

The restaurant also serves other Ghanaian favourites including jollof, fufu with light soup and omotuo.

That makes it an appealing option for anyone looking for a broader Ghanaian dining experience rather than simply picking up a plate of waakye.

Best for: Diners who want waakye alongside a broad Ghanaian menu.

4. Afro Continental Restaurant – Etobicoke

Afro Continental Restaurant

Location: 849 Albion Road, Etobicoke

Afro Continental Restaurant is another West African food destination in Etobicoke with a reputation for Ghanaian dishes.

Customer feedback highlights waakye among the restaurant’s recommended meals, alongside dishes such as banku, fufu and rice balls with peanut soup.

Some customers describe the food as fresh, flavourful and reminiscent of home cooking.

For Ghanaians living around the Albion Road area, its location makes it a convenient choice when the appetite calls for a traditional meal.

Best for: Home-style Ghanaian flavours.

5. Ghana Jollof Restaurant – Brampton

Ghana Jollof restaurant

Location: 135 Main Street North, Brampton

Although its name puts the spotlight on Ghana’s famous jollof, the restaurant is part of the wider Ghanaian food scene serving customers across the GTA.

Its Brampton location also makes it relevant for the large Ghanaian and African community outside Toronto proper.

For diners willing to travel beyond Toronto’s city limits, restaurants in Brampton can provide another option for exploring Ghanaian cuisine.

Best for: GTA diners in Brampton looking for Ghanaian food.

6. African Chop Bar – North York

African Chop Bar

Location: 2503 Finch Avenue West, North York

The African Chop Bar offers a broader West African menu and is another destination for people looking for familiar African flavours in North York.

Its location in an area with a sizeable African community makes it a convenient stop for diners exploring West African cuisine.

While waakye is only one part of the wider menu, the restaurant belongs on the list for people who want to compare different African food experiences around the GTA.

Best for: Exploring West African food beyond a single dish.

7. Ghana Chops Scarborough – Scarborough

Ghana Chops Scarborough

Location: 269 Morningside Avenue, Scarborough

For Ghanaians living in Scarborough and the eastern side of Toronto, Ghana Chops provides another local option for Ghanaian food.

Its location is particularly useful for diners who do not want to travel across the city for a taste of Ghana.

As with any restaurant ranking, individual experiences can differ, so diners should check the current menu and availability before making the trip.

Best for: Ghanaian food on Toronto’s east side.

So, where should you go for waakye?

There is no universal answer to what makes the perfect plate of waakye.

Some people want soft beans and heavily seasoned rice. Others care more about the shito, while some consider the quality of the meat or fish the deciding factor.

For a classic Ghanaian experience, Golden Gate and Accra Restaurant stand out for their clearly established waakye offerings, while Nyamekye offers a more loaded interpretation.

The bigger story, however, is that Ghanaians in the Toronto area no longer have to travel thousands of kilometres to find the flavours they grew up with.

From Etobicoke and North York to Brampton and Scarborough, Ghanaian food has become part of the GTA’s increasingly diverse restaurant landscape.

And for anyone who has spent a long time away from Ghana, sometimes a plate of waakye with shito, stew and plantain is more than just lunch.

It is a small taste of home.

Before you visit

Restaurant menus, prices and opening hours can change. Readers are advised to check directly with each restaurant before travelling, particularly when ordering a specific dish such as waakye.

Have we missed your favourite Toronto waakye spot? GhanaianNewsCanada welcomes recommendations from readers as we continue building our guide to Ghanaian restaurants and businesses across Canada.