CLOSED: Ghana Cafe

If your only experience with African food is Ethiopian, look no further to Ghana Cafe. Unfortunately, Ghana itself is a very veggie-unfriendly country, but that didn't stop the owners from reinventing their dishes to the vegetarian crowd in DC. Half their menu is vegan. I highly recommend the Spinach Egusi, peanut soup, and Jollof rice.

I had lunch here yesterday. My innocence of Ghanan food was easily exposed as I had no idea what the various items on the menu were. The waiter came to the rescue and recommended I have the vegan special which is a plate of rice, plantain and a couple of other things (one was green, maybe a spinach dish), the other was red. It was packed with flavour and quite delicious and cost less than 10 bucks.

This place makes no attempt nor apology re the fact that it isn't 100% vego. Its open pretty late at night though and also a useful option for Sunday lunch of you are close by and options elsewhere are restricted. If it was 100% vego I'd defo rate it higher than 3.

Updated from previous review on Monday June 17, 2013

Went there after a protest against the seal slaughter of Namibia with a whole lot of people and ended up loving the place. The staff is very friendly and the food is delicious. It isn't 100% vegetarian but is mostly vegetarian. Half the menu is completely animal free and the other half is basically the same with dead animals as poor options to put on the rice or fufu or whatever you might get. If you really like ginger their homemade ginger beer is awesome (it is spicy as all get up).
The peanut stew is real deal and delicious. Spinach and egussi, fufu, red red, jollof rice are all quite delicious. The only one major bummer food wise is they don't have vegan deserts yet but hopefully when I get some time I will work on that.

It is nice to have something that is not Ethiopian food and also something you have never really had and cannot find a reference point for it very easily. When describing it to friends I couldn't say "it tastes like_____" and I like that. It is a delicious adventure you will come back to easily.

I will definitely go back.

Ordered the chef's choice from the vegan menu. The flavors were rich and wonderful. The restaurant is small and the atmosphere was great. The staff was friendly, and helpful in making suggestions about what to order.

Great choice!