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  • 5 Nigerians Reveal Their Best Experience At Nigerian Restaurants

    5 Nigerians Reveal Their Best Experience At Nigerian Restaurants

    There’s a lot to watch out for if you are visiting a Nigerian restaurant for the first time. You might get served eran dindin instead of steak, or cow shit in place of assorted. Literally, terrible things can occur. But the people in this article have experienced good things in Nigerian restaurants, and they were more than eager to share their stories.

    Gloria.

    Cravings N' More opens in Alimosho - AlimoshoToday.com

    It was at Cravings N’ More around Egbeda, Lagos. I think they opened a few months ago. Last weekend, my fiance and I wanted to have lunch and we didn’t want to go far, so we decided to give them a try. I must confess the environment was really good and the service was impeccable. I say it with my full chest that they have one of the best meals in Lagos and for a really good price. After lunch, we decided to give their chicken pie and scorched eggs a try, and surprisingly, the chicken pie actually had chunks of chicken in it, and the scorched eggs tasted so great that we immediately Googled them and dropped a great review. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find them on Instagram, we found another page with the same name but it wasn’t exactly the same place. Here is a shout-out to them for quality service.

    Omotola.

    eric kayser lagos | The Abuja Times

    My best experience has to be at Eric Kayser and Abstract Ikoyi. I went to both restaurants in a day, it was my best girl’s birthday. At Eric Kayser, the waiter was extremely nice, and there was no delay in bringing our order. One of them even offered to help take pictures of my friend.

    We moved to Abstract Ikoyi which is just a 20mins or thereabout drive from Eric Kayser at VI. There is an art gallery before the main entrance, and you’re surrounded by beautiful artworks. And the waiter who attended to me at Abstract has to be one of the best I’ve met in a Lagos restaurant. She was sweet, friendly and pleasant.

    Here’s one thing about this place, they make your food afresh. The best thing to do when going there is to place the order ahead so they know you are coming, especially if you’re coming with a lot of people. Our food was delayed but we had the time of our lives, we were the only ones at the restaurant and it was late in the evening. They allowed us play music, they danced and sang birthday songs for my friend and even when the food came in late, we had to pack them and leave. The Chef was kind enough to give us some specials and she also apologized for the food coming in late.

    Abstract is a restaurant I’ll always go to over and over again. It is a very cozy and private restaurant, definitely suitable for my kind of person. I don’t like attention. And yes, the food was great.

    IBK

    355 Steakhouse Lounge And Restaurant Abuja Has One Of The Finest Dinning In Abuja - Nightlife.ng: Hottest News about Nightlife in Nigeria

    I’ve had so many great experiences at restaurants. But the most memorable has to be at 355 Steakhouse and Lounge in Abuja. That was where I had the first medium rare that was actually medium rare. The service was great as well. And the price was decent: 49k for two people.

    6 Hot Spots In Abuja You Are Bound To Meet Someone You’ve Slept With And Ghosted

    Tobi

    I went to Craft Gourmet in late August or early September, after the lockdown was eased and establishments could resume operations. I had always wanted to go, and finally, work presented an opportunity for me to. They operated on the 50% capacity the government requested, and everyone had their masks on.

    EPOSGEAR® A4 Portrait Angled Acrylic Lean Back to Counter Menu Leaflet Flyer Poster Holder Display Stands (5): Amazon.co.uk: Office Products

    Everything was neatly arranged and spaced out, the servers were masked, they took our temperature and the person who served our food wore gloves. The menu was in a menu-holder so that diners don’t have to touch it. When a person left, they wiped down the table and sanitized it. Asides their amazing ambience, the food was great. I had Italian pasta. I would definitely be returning there.

    Lost In Lagos

    Hakeem.

    10 BEST AMALA JOINTS IN LAGOS TO CELEBRATE NIGERIA - Entertainment News | Celebrity News | Fashion and Style

    My own experience was at a buka. Bukas are part of Nigerian restaurants too– very affordable and an ambience that is completely realistic. It’s like watching everyday life continue while you eat your food. The amala joint was neat and the servers had a smile on their face as they explained ebverything they had on the menu. Most bukas are usually , which was different from the other bukas I had been to. It wasn’t as crowded too, and they had the option of serving your amala and soup in one bowl or two separate bowls. They offered free water, and their soup was top notch. What was more, they had a TV. The service was really nice too.

    15 Hilarious Tweets About Horrible Nigerian Restaurant Experiences

    [donation]

    Kunle Ologunro

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  • 9 Small Kindness You’ll Experience In Any Buka

    9 Small Kindness You’ll Experience In Any Buka

    If you’re a regular at Bukas, chances are that you’ve experienced one of these:

    1) Getting extra fisi from your server.

    Real recognize real. Extra plantain or meat is a whole mood.

    2) When someone helps pour water to wash your hands in an Amala joint.

    It’s known that the best Amala joints don’t have functional taps and nothing beats the bonding between Amala brethren.

    3) The look you give when they add plenty plenty stew.

    Especially on rice!

    4) or when they call you customer.

    And ask after your whole family.

    5) When someone passes you cold water.

    Especially as you’re battling Ogunfe.

    6) The solidarity when a customer informs you that a particular stew is not sweet today.

    Whew!

    7) Or, they point you to the generous server.

    My G!

    8) That customer that helps you clear a table when your hands are full.

    The very best!

    9) After a sumptuous meal and someone passes you toothpick and napkin.

    This must be heaven. I can cry.

    Hassan Yahaya

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  • The Zikoko Guide To Spotting A Great Buka

    In order for you to know whether or not the food in a particular buka is going to be good, certain things must be present. If you walk into any buka and these elements are missing, we have to tell you that the food won’t be sweet.

    They must have very cheap and mismatched plates.

    If all their plates match then their stew won’t be sweet. Pure facts. They must also have this one nation plate.

    Either the owner or at least one of the servers has to be a rude and overweight woman with flabby arms.

    When the owner is rude you just know the food is going to be good. You think they are there to serve you? They are only doing you a favour.

    If you don’t see the woman serving flick sweat into the stew at least once then that stew can’t be sweet.

    That’s the last and final ingredient that makes buka stew taste the way it does. Ingredient X.

    As you step into the buka some kind of unbearable heat must overcome you.

    Any buka that has an A/C is not ready for life, sweat has to be pouring out of your body as you are eating.

    The food is served straight from the pot they cooked it in or old coolers that have seen life.

    From the pot straight to your plate, no time to waste.

    If the prefix of the buka’s name doesn’t have ‘Iya’ or ‘Mama’ or the suffix doesn’t have ‘Buka’ in it then it’s probably not even a buka at all.

    That one is a restaurant or fast food.

    A good buka doesn’t have an opening or closing time.

    They open when the food is ready and close when food has finished.

    If there isn’t a crowd waiting to buy the food just know it’s not sweet.

    Any buka you enter that is empty has nothing good to offer you.

    Because nobody has time for decor, you’ll find plastic chairs and tables that look like this.

    Anything fancier than this qualifies as a restaurant.

    The menu is never extensive because nobody has time for stress.

    There is rice, dodo, swallow, and beans. Dazzal.

    Do you have any other good buka-finding tips for us?

    Toketemu Ohwovoriole

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  • These Are Best Places To Find Correct Amala In Lagos

    Good amala is hot, light, fluffy and lump-free, a thing of beauty and joy, kind of like this.

    When accompanied by gbegiri, ewedu, a delicious stew and various ‘animals’, it is a match made in culinary heaven!

    If you don’t like amala, sorry for you. Your tastebuds need divine intervention.

    And for the rest of us, let’s not go about wasting money on rubbish amala. These are the very best spots in Lagos to find finger-licking amala worthy of the gods.

    Amala Shitta – 26 Rabiatu Thompson Crescent, Shitta, Surulere

    This legendary amala spot is not anybody’s mate. Apparently, it’s been running since ’67! This is hands-down one of the best places to eat amala anywhere!

    Olaiya Food Canteen – 109 Akerele St, Surulere, Lagos

    Actually quite close to Amala Shitta, this is like a newer-generation version. You go here for the excellent amala, as well as the AC and authentic environment.

    White House – 9 Chapel Street, Sabo, Yaba

    At the heart of the startup hub of Lagos, this place has saved many young, hungry workers from hunger and bad amala! The best in the area.

    Amala Beljium – Parliament Road, Jakande Estate, Mile 2, Amuwo Odofin

    Amala Beljium is straight fire! You just have to look at the number of people rushing to get food there for you to be convinced.

    Iya Eba – 10 Berkeley Street, Lagos Island

    This is another legendary spot. The food is so gooood wow! You’ll just start marking daily attendance.

    Yakoyo – Olabode House, 217 Ikorodu Road, Ilupeju

    This place served me some of the best amala I’d eaten in a long time!

    First Bank Amala – Marina Street, Opp First Bank HQ, Lagos Island

    This is also known as Defence Park Canteen. Whatever the name, the quality of their amala is always consistent!

    Amala Yahoo – Victoria Street, Mechanic Village, Ogudu-Ojota, Ogudu

    I don’t even care how the name came about. All I know is that whenever I’m in the area, I stop and buy this amala. E come be like curse. Superb!

    Topshot Amala – Parkview Estate, Ikoyi

    There’s no bad and bougie when it comes to amala. Even our Parkview brothers and sisters need a little amala love, and Topshot is the bomb!
    Hey, if you don’t agree with me, make your own list… in the comments below lol! Or just tweet me @zikokomag what spot you think should have made the list!

    Sade

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  • The Zikoko Guide To Bukas In Lagos

    There’s nothing like a mama-put. They always have cheap, fresh, hot food that somehow, is sweeter than everyone else’s. Yes, please! For those of you that don’t know where to experience the best buka food in Lagos, keep reading.

    1. Amala Shitta – 26 Rabiatu Thompson Crescent, Shitta, Surulere

    Hands down, this is the best place to get amala in Surulere. It’s actually legendary.

    2. Iya Eba – 10 Berkeley Street, Lagos Island

    This is another legendary spot that has been saving people from time! Despite the name, they have other delicious foods, especially the amala!

    3. White House – 9 Chapel Street, Sabo, Yaba

    For everything from light meals like rice and plantain to solids like Amala and Eba, White House does it all, and well!

    4. Designer Rice – 14 Bank Olemoh Street, Surulere

    If you want to go crazy on some of the best rice and pepper stew with assorted meat, Designer Rice is the place to lose your mind.

    5. Ajisafe Rice – 23 Ajisafe Steet, Onigbongbo, Ikeja

    A strong contender for the best pepper stew on the mainland, Ajisafe rice is simply everything. Plus, they have amazing amala too!

    6. First Bank Amala – Marina Street, Opp First Bank HQ, Lagos Island

    AKA Defence Park Canteen, just go there and try their amala. Come back and thank me.

    7. Mama Ebo Pepper Rice – 70 Taiye Olowu Street, Lekki Phase 1

    This place is the truth! Try their rice and goat meat. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

    8. Ghana High – King George V, Off Awolowo Road, Lagos Island

    A long-standing buka near the Ghana High Commission, this place serves up delicious rice, and some of the best ewa-agoyin in Lagos!

    9. Topshot Amala – Parkview Estate, Ikoyi

    This one is for the amala lovers in Ikoyi! Arguably the best in the area.

    10. Amala Yahoo – Victoria Street, Mechanic Village, Ogudu-Ojota, Ogudu

    This… This might just be the best amala in the whole of Lagos. For real.

    11. Yakoyo – Olabode House, 217 Ikorodu Road, Ilupeju

    Leave your house now, and go and try their pounded yam, egusi and catfish. Don’t argue. Just come back and thank me.

    12. Amala Beljium – Parliament Road, Jakande Estate, Mile 2, Amuwo Odofin

    For delicious amala around the Amuwo-Odofin area, just find Amala Beljium. You’ll be going back for more. Okay, so I know I’ve eaten at a lot of bukas, but I definitely don’t have them all here! Tell me, what awesome Lagos buka have I missed?

    Sade

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  • All The Stress That Accompanies Lunch At Work

    All The Stress That Accompanies Lunch At Work

    1. Having lunch at the office at the office can be stressful!

    2. Or it could be a comedy of errors!

    3. If you pack food from home, there’s the stress of having to prep the day before…

    4. Or wake up earlier than normal to prepare your meal.

    5. Then you get to work and amebos are asking “what is in your cooler”?

    6. Please, even if it’s human head, are you the one that’s going to eat it?

    7. Then there is the wahala of finding food if you don’t pack lunch.

    8. When the buka with affordable food is dirty and noisy.

    9. But the nice and classy restaurants price their food as if you told them you want to eat a last supper!

    10. Then you have some colleagues that bring the worst smelling concoctions to work in the name of lunch.

    11. And the “fitfam” ones that don’t allow anyone hear word because of the leaves they are eating.

    12. You, when people try to bond in the office canteen:

    13. When people still expect you to say “come and join me” as if the recession is not affecting everybody.

    14. When you say “come and join me” and one moron eats half your meat and almost all your plantain.

    Jola Ayeye

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  • 11 Struggles You’ll Relate With If You Love Street Food

    1. When buying restaurant food always gives you a big headache.

    Why so tasteless and expensive?

    2. You now discover one buka beside your office.

    The answer to  prayers.

    3. How people queue at the buka everyday.

    You people should go somewhere else o!

    4. You, when you realize the buka food is very cheap.

    Yesss!

    5. When you start purging when you eat buka food for the first time.

    Which kind of wahala is this?

    6. But that doesn’t stop you from going back to eat more.

    You will manage it like that.

    7. When your colleagues are going to have lunch at one expensive restaurant.

    I am not one of you anymore.

    8. When you’re very hungry and the buka doesn’t open.

    Iya Basira wants to kill me today.

    9. When your colleagues discover you’ve started eating street food.

    Look at these ones.

    10. When they ask why you like eating buka food.

    Because it’s the sweetest sensation.

    11. When they now finally have a taste of it, they’re like:

    This is too sweet!

    Shola

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  • 9 Amazing Mama Put Joints Around Lagos

    9 Amazing Mama Put Joints Around Lagos
    There are only a few people in Lagos who will claim to never have been to a ‘buka’ or ‘mama put’ place. For those that are regulars and those that want to try them out, we made a list of top places to try out. Thank us later.

    1. White House – Sabo Yaba

    This place serves the whole of the Yaba area and beyond, people are addicted to it. Wives come to buy meals for their husbands and the home here. Convinced yet?

    2. Ajisafe – Ikeja

    https://www.instagram.com/p/u-i3-zqTbH/
    They have this rice and stew combination that will make you keep going back for more. They have a variety of options and it is usually very hard to stay fully awake after you eat here. Satisfying.

    3. Ghana High – Lagos Island

    https://www.instagram.com/p/uvkvgQR0XH/
    This place gives the island people a very good alternative to going all the way to the mainland for buka food. Ghana high is usually filled with white shirt and suit clad workers hustling to get their favorite dishes.

    4. Olaiya – Surulere

    https://www.instagram.com/p/6zYeoHqTej/
    When it is time for lunch, it’s pretty much a struggle to get a parking space anywhere around here. The amala and gbegiri with ewedu here tastes like whatever the inventors made.

    5. Amala Yahoo – Ogudu

    Food here is so good they named it after food. This is the place to go to if you have an addiction or craving for Amala and you want to satisfy it properly.

    6. Saudi Food Palace – Bariga

    This place crawls with sweet and enjoyable dishes. It’s a little hard to stay away from Saudi once you go there. If it is very close to you, you would probably not want to cook for yourself ever again.

    7. Bank Olemoh – Surulere

    https://www.instagram.com/p/1dWYgYB7hm/?taken-by=thepejuu
    Looking for designer rice? Or stew to blow your mind away? This is your place. It’s been tried and trusted, the lines there at lunch time will convince you.

    8. Defence Car Park Canteen/First Bank Amala – Marina

    It’s fondly called First Bank amala. People don’t bother about the name just the food that comes out of the kitchens and the hot, steaming amala. It’s a struggle to eat here and keep your clothes clean. Food so good you want to stay at the canteen till they close.

    9. Belgium – Mile 2

    Some people just call this place Amala Belgium. Amala so good they had to name it after a foreign country. The food here tastes better than anything you may have had. Of course, they have their signature taste.

    Tobi Smith

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