Experience authentic cuisine through guided food tours in Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso, meaning 'Land of Honest People,' is a West African nation rich in cultural heritage and traditional arts. From the vibrant capital Ouagadougou to the historic city of Bobo-Dioulasso, visitors can experience authentic West African culture, stunning natural landscapes including waterfalls and wildlife reserves, and warm hospitality.
The best guided culinary experiences.
A guided walk through Ouagadougou's best street food neighbourhoods, sampling poulet télévision (rotisserie chicken), brochettes grillées (grilled meat skewers), and tô avec sauce feuilles (millet paste with leaf sauce) at authentic local spots.
A guided exploration of Grand Marché's food section with a local cook-guide explaining Burkinabé ingredients, spices, and food traditions. Includes stops at the dried fish section, spice vendors, and fresh produce stalls with tasting of local snacks.
An evening tour visiting three authentic maquis (open-air West African restaurants) to experience the full range of Burkinabé cuisine — from street maquis for brochettes and grilled chicken to established restaurants for riz gras and fish sauce. Includes cold Flag or Brakina beer.
Visit a family-run compound in Ouagadougou where women brew dolo, the traditional fermented millet beer central to Burkinabé social life. Learn the multi-day brewing process, taste fresh and aged dolo, and sample other traditional drinks including zoum-koom (millet water drink) and tamarind juice.
Choose based on your culinary interests.
Street food walks focusing on maquis, brochette stands, and market food stalls — the best way to experience everyday Burkinabé eating
Guided Grand Marché tours explaining local ingredients, traditional cooking methods, and West African food culture
Progressive dinner tours across multiple restaurants sampling poulet yassa, riz gras, and French-African fusion cuisine
Traditional dolo brewery tours, shea butter processing demonstrations, and traditional beverage tasting experiences
Tour recommendations, DIY routes, and local recipes.
Learn to make local dishes yourself.
Learn to prepare classic Burkinabé dishes in a local family home in Ouagadougou. The curriculum includes tô (millet paste), sauce gombo (okra sauce), and poulet télévision under the guidance of an experienced Burkinabé cook who explains ingredients and techniques in English and French.
A comprehensive cooking experience beginning with a guided Grand Marché shopping expedition to select fresh ingredients, followed by a three-hour cooking lesson preparing riz gras, brochettes, and a West African salad. Students eat the meal they prepare at a local maquis terrace.
Learn to make beignets (fried dough snacks), chin-chin (fried dough biscuits), and kouign (millet biscuits) commonly sold by street vendors throughout Burkina Faso. A hands-on class suitable for all skill levels with snacks to take away.
Create your own culinary adventure.
Ouagadougou's best self-guided food route takes you through the city's authentic food scene on foot or by taxi over half a day
Stop 1: Grand Marché food section (7-9 AM) — buy fresh baguette and local peanut butter for breakfast at the nearest stall
Stop 2: Avenue Yennenga brochette stands (10 AM) — char-grilled beef and chicken skewers with mustard and chilli at roadside grills
Stop 3: Maquis Chez N'Tonton (12:30 PM) — the city's most famous poulet télévision (rotisserie chicken) served with rice and attiéké
Stop 4: Street vendor for tamarind juice and tamarin candy (2 PM) — refreshing traditional drinks sold in small plastic bags or bottles
Stop 5: Marché de Gounghin (4 PM) — buy raw shea nuts, dried baobab fruit, and bissap (hibiscus flowers) to take home
Stop 6: Maquis Aboussouan (7 PM) — evening riz gras (rice slow-cooked with meat and vegetables) and cold Flag beer for dinner
Get the most from your culinary adventures.
The best poulet télévision (rotisserie chicken) in Ouagadougou is served at Maquis Chez N'Tonton on Avenue Yennenga — arrive before 1 PM to secure the crispiest pieces
Dolo (millet beer) is best enjoyed fresh at a compound brewery on the day it is brewed — ask your hotel or guide to arrange a visit to a local brewer
Street food is generally safe at busy, high-turnover stalls — look for vendors with a queue of local customers and freshly prepared food
Shea butter is used extensively in Burkinabé cooking and is a uniquely local ingredient — try dishes cooked with shea for authentic local flavour
Tamarind is used in sauces, drinks, and sweets throughout the country — buy raw tamarind pods at markets to take home as edible souvenirs
The national dish tô (thick millet or sorghum paste) is eaten with the right hand from a communal bowl — accept an invitation to share it with locals for an authentic cultural experience
Flag beer (brewed locally) and Brakina beer are the best local beers; both are widely available and pair well with grilled meats at maquis restaurants
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