Tamale's food scene is dominated by northern Ghanaian cuisine, which centres on millet, sorghum, and groundnuts rather than the cassava and plantain of the south. Tuo zaafi — a thick, sticky porridge served with a dark leafy soup — is the staple of the north and worth trying at least once. Street food is abundant around the market area. Sit-down restaurants are sparse outside of the main hotel restaurants, but a few reliable options exist for those who want to eat in.