ExploFood · Africa
What to eat in Burkina Faso
Five dishes to try in Burkina Faso, the most typical first. Four are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Burkina Faso
Riz gras
Rice cooked in a rich tomato and meat sauce, a cousin of jollof.
How to have it: Served at celebrations and in maquis restaurants, usually with chicken or beef.
Tô
Firm paste of millet, sorghum or maize flour.
How to have it: The everyday meal; eat it with your right hand, dipped in okra or baobab-leaf sauce.
Attiéké
Fermented grated cassava steamed like couscous.
How to have it: Ivorian in origin but sold in Ouagadougou maquis with grilled fish or chicken.
Dégué
Millet balls stirred into sweetened yoghurt.
How to have it: Sold chilled in cups or bags by vendors; a cooling snack in the hot season.
Dolo
Home-brewed sorghum or millet beer, cloudy and slightly sour.
How to have it: Served in calabashes at cabarets (dolo bars), busiest on market days.
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Questions
What food is Burkina Faso famous for?
Riz gras (rice cooked in a rich tomato and meat sauce, a cousin of jollof) comes first on our list, followed by Tô, Attiéké, Dégué and Dolo.
What is the national dish of Burkina Faso?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Burkina Faso is Riz gras: rice cooked in a rich tomato and meat sauce, a cousin of jollof. Served at celebrations and in maquis restaurants, usually with chicken or beef.
Which dishes in Burkina Faso are vegetarian?
Four of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Tô, Attiéké, Dégué and Dolo. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What do people drink in Burkina Faso?
Dolo: home-brewed sorghum or millet beer, cloudy and slightly sour.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.