The Best Amala Spots In Lagos - Part III
The third and final instalment in our Amala series is here. The series was inspired by this tweet.
While this writer (@lalaalakija) did not follow the prescribed list. Let’s just say this is a review of the more pricey and bougie Amala spots in Lagos, but it’s still Amala and so the effort is appreciated.
Amala has had a big PR boost in the last couple of years and, honestly, I’m not sure what happened. Everywhere I go, people are BEGGING for Amala.
Hungover? Amala!
Happy? Amala!
Pregnant? Amala!
My friend, Camille, and I tried out some of the popular places to get the good stuff. Post this experiment, we have had to stay away from Amala for at least 2 weeks.
Before I get into it, PLEASE can restaurants/eateries/however-you-identify stop packing Amala in square Tupperware bowls? The corners make it hard to consume. GO ROUND OR GO HOME!
Alright then, let’s get started…
Beleful
Before I start, I think it’s important to note that Ponmo this size is offensive and has no business being in Abula. The Ponmo was so big that was rolled in 3x. A travesty!
Anyway, the Beleful Abula is delicious. The Amala - Ewedu - stew ratio is perfect, and their portions work as well. When you order, they ask if you want one or two Amala. I got one, and it’s a decent portion. Now, it’s not all rosy with Beleful. There’s a grave injustice and I have to speak up: THEIR PROTEIN RATIONS ARE ODD ASF.
The pieces of beef are barely thumb-sized, the Shaki is medium, but the Ponmo? Oh my goodness gracious, these people LOVE large Ponmo. I don’t get it, I don’t want to get it, so please cut it out.
Ponmo and Shaki in Abula have to be bite-sized. Just enough to fit the spoon and shove in your mouth. Their Ponmo was also quite hard. Not sure if they’re trying to give me jaw exercises or remind me that I’m chewing leather, but message received. Please, stop. Apart from the offensive meat, the meal was actually quite nice, and I hope they get more than 1 dispatch rider or sign up with a delivery service because #duh.
Damage - N1,950
NOK
This wasn’t on my original list due to budget reasons - it’s N5,000. However, when another friend wanted to go to NOK for lunch, I had to give them. NOK Abula with assorted meat?
E sweet die.
Bruh, there are like 15 pieces of nicely cut, soft, bite-sized assorted meat inside. There is also the right amount of Amala ratio to soup so every spoonful is just perfect.
Definitely on the pricey side but you know you are paying for the NOK aesthetic and, most importantly, life is short. Spend money. I also just realised I have never been able to finish it. It’s actually quite a lot and very filling. Definitely giving NOK a thumbs up.
Damage - N5,000
Atmosphere
I remember when Atmosphere put Abula on their menu. I swear that was a contender for best Amala in Lagos, and I ordered it every chance I got. I don’t know what happened, but this didn’t quite hit the spot like it used to.
The portions were off, the Amala was quite big so the soup wasn’t sufficient and I just had a brown mass staring at me (Ed Note: Folly can attest to this). That was unfriendly.
On the plus side, I enjoyed the pepper, and they’re quite generous with the meat. Please, bring back the old Mally.
Damage - N5,250
Yakoyo
I’m going to keep this short and simple. I legit don’t understand who is responsible for the strange portions.
I had HALF the Amala with the portion of soup. WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THE OTHER HALF?
Not satisfying. Didn’t hit the spot.
Also, look, I know things are hard because #Buhari, but there’s no reason for bland food and lumpy Amala. I’m hitting ‘restart’ on the establishment as a whole, xri.
Damage - N1, 500
Olaiya
A summary of my review in pictures.
Before
After
It hit the spot but they need to reduce the cost of their meat or serve larger pieces. I also really liked the stew. It was spicy but had just the right amount of heat. Like, the type that will make you tap your head lightly but with joy. It can definitely work as a hangover cure
Damage - N1,200
Sapperz
Too. Much Oil.
I have a headache typing this and I think it was the oil. Also, I ordered assorted but all I got was one large Ponmo and two pieces of liver. It wasn’t too assorted and I was not happy about it at all.
On the whole, Sapperz Amala was meh for me. I didn’t even bother trying to finish it. The Amala, the soup and the meat all seemed like they didn’t like themselves and were forced to come together. No unity at all.
Sapperz was just a massive waste of calories. That said, Sapperz lounge is my spot though. Shameless plug: come through every Sunday night for the best rocks and come say “hi” if you do. A shot on me.
Damage - N1,500
Okélè
I wasn’t sure what to expect from here, so I went in with a very open mind. I keep talking about portions and I’m probably beginning to sound like a broken record, but PORTIONS PLEASE.
Look at how small the portion was. Am I a toddler? The Ponmo was actually bigger than the Amala and the stew to Ewedu ratio was off.
Taste-wise, it was okay. I prefer spicy stew with my Amala, so maybe that affected my perception. That said, it wasn’t bad, but not good either. Just a bit average, so maybe I give them another chance
Damage – N1,050
Labule
Man, this was damn delicious! The first time I had their Abula was when they opened the location in Lekki and, at the time, the Amala was just okay.
Clearly, they have really grown to understand the assignment. The portion was great, it packed the right amount of heat and the meat was neither overwhelming nor underwhelming. Just perfect.
Please, Labule, I’m begging you, don’t slip up PLEASE!
Damage- N1,600
Hamptons Catering
The Amala from Hamptons is huge. I can’t believe I even thought about ordering two portions of it. Literally, e choke.
The server clearly wanted to make sure I had at least a piece of meat with each spoon of Amala. I’m not complaining though.
I wish it had some more heat and less oil, but it was de have liked it to be a bit spicier and less oil but it’s definitely very filling
Damage - N2,500
100 Hours
No way we were doing an Amala review without touching 100 Hours. Forever loyal.
100 Hours was the spot to hit up after a night out at 57. Or the perfect cure to your 57-induced hangover the next day.
100 Hours serves a proper portion and it’s so good that you don’t even realise it comes with just three pieces of meat. For someone that loves tiny bits of meat in Amala, I was still pleased.
When the waiters at 100 Hours approach with your food, you definitely feel butterflies in your tummy. It must be the massive white bowl that the Amala is served in. When they open it and you see that steaming Amala. Kai, life can be good.
I ordered beef this time, decided to try something different from my usual assorted and, to be honest, I just wasn’t in the mood to tear Shaki or dissect the massive Ponmo. For some reason, they gave me a lot more gbegiri than I usually want but still 10/10.