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Akwaaba

Jubilant celebration of Ghanaian food.

Akwaaba serves West African cuisine.
1 / 4Akwaaba serves West African cuisine.Chloe Dann
Inside the West African restaurant.
2 / 4Inside the West African restaurant.Chloe Dann
Akwaaba in St Kilda.
3 / 4Akwaaba in St Kilda.Chloe Dann
West African curry.
4 / 4West African curry.Chloe Dann

Critics' Pick

African$$

You’ll need a posse of friends to fully appreciate Akwaaba, and you must be prepared to eat with your hands.

As colourful as it is casual, the restaurant is known for generous West African rice dishes. Some are seasoned with fermented locust beans, which deliver a punchy umami hit, and there are plantains and cassavas galore.

The pillowy, pounded dough fufu is destined to be torn and dunked into bowls of beef and tomato stew. The vibrant crimson rice of a jollof plate is infused with gentle smoke and heat – just don’t get sucked into debating which West African country makes the best version. And kelewele, the fried plantain-based snack, delivers copious crunch.

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Akwaaba’s neonhued bar doesn’t sell alcoholic drinks but with mocktails this bright, who needs booze?

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Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/vic-good-food-guide/akwaaba-20241112-p5kq19.html