Streetfood is possibly the lifeblood of Nigerian food. It’s accessible, If you know where to look, and often brings forth a wave of childhood nostalgia. When you live in a blended city like Lagos, you have access to a range of options from across the country, although sometimes the expertise may differ. 

Here’s a definitive ranking of popular Lagos street food.

Roasted Corn

This seasonal snack knows it’s nothing special, so it goes away every now and then to distract us from how basic it is. Also, it really isn’t kind to your teeth. 

Ranking: If inconvenience was a snack, this would be it.  Ube is the only redemption here. 

Puff Puff

Puff puff is only tolerable when it hides behind the other guys in a small chop platter to shield its inadequacy. On its own, it’s just a snack you buy when you run out of lip gloss or Vaseline. 

Ranking: An overrated blend of flour and yeast. 

Abacha

With the vibrant colours of orange, green and purple, this “African salad” is really pretty to look at. The taste? Overpowered by all that pepper and oil.

Ranking: Ruined by palm oil. 

Kilishi

Kilishi proves that pepper isn’t the only way to flavour food. The delicious jerky is coated with a spicy-sweet paste. This flavour combines with the chewy texture of the meat make it the perfect snack. Just don’t look at pictures of how it’s made though. 

Ranking: A favourite with much more (hygienic) potential. 

Bread x Akara

A balanced breakfast, right? Well, if you haven’t heard yet, beans are mostly carbs so you're basically eating carbs with carbs and some protein.

Ranking: A satisfying load of carbs. If you thought this was your chance at fit-fam, try again. 

Plantain Chips

You can tell a lot about a person by how hard or soft they like their plantain chips. They might be a soul sent to this world for pampering or enjoy suffering. Buy them some plantain chips to find out.

Ranking: The ultimate measure of character. Still rather mid, though. 

Ewa Agoyin

If whoever’s cooking it can control the urge to cook the sauce with an entire litre of oil - ewa agoyin is chef’s kiss. This stress-free guy goes with anything, from staples like bread to ridiculous pairings like spaghetti. 

Ranking: Worth all the bloating or heartburn you may get after destroying it.

Bole

If gentrification was a snack, this would be it. The original bole (from Port Harcourt), is a versatile, decadent meal worth throwing a festival for. Rich pepper sauce, rich smoked mackerel, it’s supposed to be the ultimate snack. Then, people in Lagos decided to be basic with groundnuts and a stingy helping of palm oil. 

Ranking: A fallen hero in these streets. 

Waakye

Runtown had the right idea about marrying for Waakye. It’s the perfect after work lunch, all you’ll want to do is lie down. Avoid if you’re one of those 9-5ers who want to keep their jobs. 

Ranking: Ghana’s gift to its neighbours. 

Suya

It’s just roasted meat, but there’s something about the spices that keeps you hooked. Is it sorcery? If you’re lucky enough to find a vendor that serves more edible meat than onions, you have unlocked enjoyment. 

Ranking: This should be our national food. Best served with a side of newspapers after sunset.