Beyond this off-Oxford Street chop house’s lobby, which looks onto the kitchen through large windows, is an airy split-level hall with tables around its raised sides. Ceiling fans and open eaves keep the atmosphere comfortable, and on our visit a large grey speaker propped in the corner blasted out modern highlife (plus a short, unexpected sermon in a blistering mix of Twi and English).
Asanka’s menu would be 100% West African and heavily Ghanaian were it not for some samosas and spring rolls appended to the bottom (‘NEW!’). Service was quick and friendly, though at just after six on a Wednesday we had the room to ourselves.
My groundnut soup came up spicy, nutty and anointed with red palm oil. L’s fish light soup was hotter still, with a good, meaty chunk of tilapia. The obligatory fingerbowls and washing-up liquid came up with a cutlery back-up; even so, we made a horrific mess that our waitress politely overlooked.
We paid 24 cedis (plus gratuity) for:
- Groundnut soup
- Fish light soup
- Plantain side x 2
- Large Club x 2
