What to eat and drink in Nigeria: dishes, etiquette and dietary tips

Try Jollof rice, Suya, Pounded yam & egusi, Pepper soup, Akara and Puff‑puff. If you avoid peanuts, shellfish or meat, choose beans, plantain, akara or ask for a vegetarian soup.

Jollof rice – smoky tomato‑pepper rice, often served with chicken and fried plantain (has chicken, veg ask).

Suya – thin beef (or chicken) skewers coated in yaji peanut‑chilli spice, eaten at night (has beef, veg no).

Pounded yam & egusi – stretchy yam dough with melon‑seed soup, leafy greens, meat and stockfish (has beef, seafood, fishstock, veg no).

Pepper soup – hot broth of goat, catfish or chicken with aromatic spices (has lamb, seafood, chicken, veg no).

Akara – fried black‑eyed‑bean fritters, usually served with pap or bread (veg yes).

Puff‑puff – sweet fried dough balls, a popular street snack (veg yes).

Street snacks such as Bole or Puff‑puff cost between ₦300 and ₦800 (≈ $0.40‑$1.10).

A simple restaurant meal (e.g., Jollof with chicken) is around ₦2,000‑₦5,000 (≈ $2.70‑$6.80).

Mid‑range hotels with a buffet may charge ₦8,000‑₦12,000 per person (≈ $11‑$16).

Busy stalls with visible cooking and a line of locals are generally safe; the food is hot and turnover is fast.

Avoid stalls where food sits under a net for hours or where the vendor handles money and food with the same hands.

If you are allergic to peanuts or shellfish, skip suya and most native soups, as yaji spice and ground crayfish are common.

Wash hands before eating; swallows (pounded yam, eba, amala) are eaten with the right hand.

Hosts usually pay and insist; you may offer to share but accept once offered.

For vegetarian meals, ask for bean‑based soups or akara; for halal, choose northern suya spots or ask for ‘Mallam’ suya.

Gluten‑free travellers should note that puff‑puff and most breads contain wheat; yam‑based swallows are safe.