There’s something satisfying about going somewhere and getting everything you need from that one place. Thankfully, a lot of supermarkets in Lagos are making that possible, these days — where you can get baked goods, deli meat and even a yummy smoothie without ever leaving the store.

When it comes to cooked food as well, supermarkets aren’t playing. Which got me thinking we need a deep dive into which ones have the most interesting — and tasty — options.

So, in no particular order, here’s a list of the stores we think are doing a pretty decent job:

1. Shoprite (before they sold the business to a third party 😒)

Shoprite gets the first mention because first-come-first-serve. A South African franchise that first began its operations in Nigeria in 2005 (side-eyeing those of you who were still in kindergarten), they currently have the largest chain of outlets around the country, with almost every major city having a store.

Their claim to fame is their fresh bread that has made even the busiest of people queue up for hours to get it, but I digress. Their food, in my opinion, is top tier. It’s not high-end restaurant standard but it’s honest work and it gets the job done.

Speaking of, myself and a friend ALWAYS get the seafood paella, which I recommend, because it actually has chunks of seafood in it. It’s an affordable quick lunch and the taste is usually consistent.

2. SPAR

When you’re grocery shopping and hungry, and there’s no rice and stew at home, SPAR to the rescue 🦸🏾‍♂️ You go past by their food display area and think: What the heck, why not? The only thing I’ll say is please don’t buy that pastry — especially the one that looks like a samosa — if you like yourself. To be forewarned…

SPAR was brought to Nigeria by the Artee Group in 2009 and they do well enough in terms of accessibility, which means that you don’t have to look too hard before you find an outlet, so it’s nice and convenient. Plus the food tastes good (enough).

3. Hubmart

The only #ProudlyNaija brand on this list, Hubmart pulls its weight in the food department. You’ll know the person making the meals comes to work with a smile on his face. And because of their strategic locations, they often serve hungry office people who don’t want to be fighting with The Place on the price of asun 😒

P.S: Their yam and fish sauce is something you should try next time you’re in or around V.I!

*Honourable mentions*

Renee Supermarket: An Indian-owned retail supermarket with outlets in Ikoyi and Lekki, they hold a special place in my heart because they have this N500 Spaghetti Jollof and boiled egg that kept me alive during NYSC.

They also included Jollof rice, and yam and eggs on the menu, down the line, and they always have things on sale, so you can bargain shop and get a small meal on the side *chef’s kiss*.

Grand Square: As with most supermarket food, it’s not amazing, but it’ll do the trick when you’re starving and/or in a rush. What really deserves credit is THEIR BREAD, brethren, but that’s a separate post.

Omotola Abudu is a Lawyer with an interest in technology and regulatory compliance. When she’s not lawyering, she enjoys travelling and foodie-ing, as long as it doesn’t involve washing up.