This post will discuss some street food in Lagos, it aims to enlighten people about some feeding options in Lagos, let’s call them street food as they are mostly consumed on the go. There are hundreds of them, but to keep it concise we will be talking about a few as the length of the post allows us. Let’s get to it.
Lagos is a mega city with a rich culture and diverse ethnicity. Its high population makes the city busy, and always bustling, causing a high food consumption. this to an advantage gives rise to a lot of different street food in the state.
As the state bubbles with various activities and events. Lagosians can fill their stomach with a variety of street food, which makes going to fancy restaurants a choice.
I can remember the day I ate hot noodles complemented with a nice cup of tea at 3:00 am somewhere around Victoria Island, not only me, met other Lagosians all gathered waiting for a variety of street food. I counted up to 7 different foods sold and was inspired to write this post.
Street Food In Lagos.
Here are some popular foods you can find in the streets of Lagos.
1) Noodles
This is one of the most common street food in Lagos otherwise referred to as indomie, by the way, indomie is a popular brand that produces noodles in Nigeria. This street food is an excellent choice to eat on the go, with an average of 1000 naira you are good to have a plate of noodles and fried eggs to support it. The food is predominantly prepared by the Hausas also known as Aboki in Lagos, they are so good at it that most people find it uninteresting if not prepared by Aboki, I guess that is because of their choice of spices and mode of preparing it.
Indomie spot usually opens at 5 to 6 pm till early morning in some areas of Lagos like the Island, and around 5 to 6 pm till 12 am in the mainland of Lagos. This is linked to how the area is developed and safe for people to move around late at night. whenever you find yourself in the street of Lagos noodles and fried eggs are an excellent option to try out.
2) Koko
This food has been an incredible Lagos street food from time immemorial, Koko is pap made from corn, millet, or guinea corn. This a street dining associated with women of the Yoruba and Hausa tribes of Nigeria. Koko is served hot with sugar to be eaten with Moimoi, akara, beans, and bread. Although, the choice of how to consume depends on the individual, as a starchy food most people like combining it with some protein.
This street food is usually sold in the morning for breakfast and in the evening for dinner, you hardly get fresh koko at noon. Also because is a female-owned business, you don’t find Koko at midnight. Ideally for the morning around 7:00 am to 11:am and evening from 5:00 pm to 10:pm.
3) Akara
Akara is a very popular delicious Lagos street delicacy, this is one food Lagosians cannot do without(at least the majority) made from grounded beans and spiced with various ingredients and then fried to make dry, some identify it as bean cake in a fancy manner.
The Akara goes well with different eatables found in the streets of Lagos, from Garri, bread, and pap. The Akara is both a women and men-owned business, but largely dominated by women.
Akara is prepared and served both morning, afternoon, and night, usually, the seller also prepares fried yam, potatoes, plantain, and fried fish, as a customer the choice Is yours to accompany your akara with other food. For me, my akara always goes hand in hand with yam or plantain and some peppered sauce.
To have your akara in Lagos just walk up to any busy place like a bus stop, busy street, or market and you will surely find an akara seller.
4) Suya
Suya is one of the favorite street food in Lagos, how can one survive without the almighty suya In Lagos? Suya is made from cow or goat beef sliced to have a lighter touch then roasted with pepper, vegetable oil, seasoning, onions, and other ingredients, making it dried and so delicious.
This street food is only known to be prepared by Hausa men, they are renowned with the trade of suya that no other tribe of the nation beats them on it. Suya can be eaten alone, eaten with drinks, and even garnished with some vegetables, a great choice is when accompanied by a cool bottle of beer, that feeling is out of the world.
Suya is prepared from noon to midnight as the sellers go to the market to source beef and their ingredients in the morning. Lately, some bars, hotels, and relaxation centers have adopted the strategies of having suya seller on their premises to boost sales drink sales. So, when next you want to opt for street food in Lagos try out the Suya and the us later.
5) Abachar
Abachar is an interesting street delicacy worth noticing. It is made from lightly sliced cassava and some other ingredients. This food is originally an Igbo tribe food, due to the people’s population in Lagos, the Abachar is imported from the eastern part of Nigeria and has become a recognized street food in Lagos eaten by all tribes.
Abachar is a women-owned business, sold in the street, at bus stops and markets in Lagos, garnished with vegetables fish, and cow skin also known as kpomo. You can have the abachar in the street of Lagos from 11:am in the morning till late noon, the reason is that the Abachar sellers have to visit the market to buy their products and other ingredients for their abachar. As an experienced Lagosian, we know the perfect timing to expect the Abachar seller in the street of Lagos.
. With as low as 700 naira you can get a plate of Abachar with a few kpomo and the choice of adding fish to it depends on how much you want to spend to enjoy your meal even more.
6) Puff puff
The list of Lagos street food could never be completed without mentioning the delicious puff puff. This food has been a lifesaver in Lagos for several years, eaten among kids, youths, and the elderly. Puff Puff is a male and female-owned business. People will always trace the aroma of a well-prepared puff puff to its spot.
Puff puff is made of flour, sugar, salt, and various condiments then fried with vegetable oil to give a brown look, with 500 naira you can enjoy yourself self with many rolls of puff puff, this food isn’t usually added to any other food as a combination, it tastes stands alone and of preference people eat it with juice, malt, water and other soft drinks to step it down the stomach.
Pufpuf is an all-weather street food that is prepared any time of the day excluding midnights in Lagos.
I urge you to try out puff puff whenever you are in the street of Lagos and it will be a taste to cherish.
7) Ewa Agoyin
Another food worth of notice is the Ewa agoyin , it is a delicious street food served in Lagos to be eaten on the go while in the bustle of Lagos activities. The Ewa agoyin is made from beans, thoroughly cooked, and marched so the bean seed is almost invisible, added to its a sauce of fried pepper and palm oil.
This is a food commonly known by the Yoruba woman, they are so good at it that no other tribe of the country beats them at it. Whenever the seller passes you can’t just resist the aroma if you are an Ewa agoyin fan. The food always goes hand in hand with bread, boiled yam, potatoes, and so on.
Another thing worth mentioning about Ewa agoyin from personal experience is however hard you try to prepare Ewa agoyin at home you will always end up having cooked beans and not the same Ewa agoyin sold in the street, the reason is not still known to me, I assume that because the street seller masters their business and understand the proper preparation of the Ewa agoyin.
Ewa agoyin is not too expensive, With 1000 or less you can have a plate of Ewa agoyin with boiled yam, a loaf of bread, and a boiled egg or kpomo to go with it in the street of Lagos. That’s it about the Ewa agoyin,
Do not hesitate to try out this interesting food when eve have the opportunity to.
Conclusion
Street food in Lagos is more than just a meal; it’s a vibrant part of the city’s cultural fabric. From the savory goodness of Indomie noodles and spicy Suya to the sweet delight of puff puff and the comforting warmth of Ewa Agoyin, each dish tells a story of tradition and community. As the smoky aroma of grilled Suya and the sizzle of frying Akara fill the air, the streets come alive with flavors that reflect the heart and soul of Lagos. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, exploring these diverse street foods offers a delicious journey through the bustling city. So, next time you find yourself in Lagos, let the street food scene guide you to unforgettable culinary adventures.
