Tucked in a secluded spot on Lateef Jakande Road, just opposite Excellent College, is Saudi Food Palace, a buka offering a blend of traditional dishes and staples .
Unlike its name suggests, it doesn’t serve Arabian dishes but rather rich, home-cooked meals.
While many bukas typically focus on specific dishes like jollof rice, white rice with stew, yam and beans, or exclusively local options such as various swallows with soups, moi-moi, and yam porridge, Saudi Food Palace offers a potpourri of meals.
If you are looking for a place to enjoy local meals around Ogba, or Agidingbi axis, you might want to try Saudi Palace.
- Menu variety – 6/10
- Food Quality – 7/10
- Service – 8/10
- Ambience – 7/10
- Value for money – 8/10
- Hygiene standards – 6/10
- Accessibility – 7/10
- Consistency – 5/10
- Innovation – 4/10
- Sustainability – 5/10
- Waiting time – 8/10
- Online presence – 4/10
- Special features – 2/10
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Menu Variety
Their menu boasts a wide variety of local dishes, as indicated onthe entrance signpost, featuring options such as amala, wheat, pounded yam, eba, fufu, semo, ofada rice, jollof and fried rice, porridge, moi-moi, and a selection of proteins including goat meat, snail, bush meat, fresh fish, and catfish.
However, upon arrival, we discovered a more limited offering due to the Eid al-Adha weekend celebration. The available dishes included white rice, rice and beans, eba, semo, amala, vegetable soup, ewedu, and gbegiri soup. According to our server, this reduced selection was due to expectations of lower patronage during the holiday period.
Thee protein options were also constrained that day, with only beef, goat meat, and boiled mackerel fish available. Items such as ponmo, boiled eggs, panla, chicken, turkey, and assorted parts like liver and tripe were not available.
Food Quality
For our meal, we ordered white rice and beans with peppery stew and meat chunks. The sauce was delicious, with an extra hot flavour that balanced the dish. It was served piping hot and steaming, having been reheated in the microwave.
We also tried the amala and ewedu with goat meat and beef as our swallow option. This dish was equally delightful; the goat meat was tender and well-cooked. Our only issue was that it needed to be reheated in the restaurant’s microwave before serving to ensure it was hot.
This is In contrast to other bukas where swallow dishes are typically served piping hot, with soups kept steaming on a stovetop.
At Saudi Food Palace, pots of soup weren’t actively heated on the stove when we visited, but the amala was freshly scooped directly from a large hot pot. This setup might have affected the temperature and freshness of the dishes.
Service
The staff at Saudi Food Palace are notably friendly and polite. We were promptly attended to by a professional server who handled our meal orders and personal requests efficiently.
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Ambience
In terms of ambience, Saudi Food Palace embraces a casual and minimalistic buka style.
The interior features plastic chairs and tables for diners, creating a straightforward dining environment. They provide two handwashing stations equipped with mirrors, conveniently located for customers to use after their meal.
There’s a television mounted on one wall for entertainment, complemented by standing fans that ensure adequate air circulation.
Value for Money
While the meals at Saudi Food Palace are generally affordable, they are slightly pricier compared to other typical bukas.
For instance, a small scoop of amala at Saudi Food Palace costs N400. To get a medium-sized portion, you would need at least three scoops if you have a small appetite.
Similarly, a scoop of rice and beans is priced at N300, and the portion size is also relatively small.
However, their meat offerings are reasonably priced, with each small piece costing N200. Goat meat is moderately priced at N1,500 per piece, which is also considered reasonable.
Overall, while the prices at Saudi Food Palace are affordable, particularly for the meat options, the portions of staple foods like amala and rice and beans may be considered slightly smaller for their respective prices compared to other bukas.
Hygiene Standards
During our visit, we found the dining area at Saudi Food Palace to be clean and well-maintained.
The tiled floors were swept and mopped, ensuring they were free of debris. Tables and chairs were neatly arranged, adding to the orderly atmosphere.
While we were dining, there was only one other customer in the restaurant. After they finished their meal and left, a server promptly cleared their table, wiped it down, and packed away the used plates and utensils.
This swift and attentive service contributed to the overall cleanliness and pleasant dining experience at Saudi Palace.
Location
Saudi Food Palace is located at 20 Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, making it easily identifiable thanks to prominent signage.
They also operate additional outlets in Ikorodu and Gbagada.
The restaurant is accessible to a diverse range of customers, with a smooth entrance that accommodates those with mobility issues.
Inside, the layout is spacious, allowing for comfortable movement and navigation for all patrons.
Saudi Food Palace also provides ample parking within its compound, ensuring convenient access for diners arriving by car.
This accessibility both inside and outside the restaurant enhances the overall dining experience for visitors.
Consistency
While it’s hard to judge Saudi Food Palace’s long-term reliability in maintaining consistent food quality and service, our experience was quite satisfying.
According to a staff member, they are committed to using fresh, high-quality ingredients sourced from trusted suppliers for their meals.
Additionally, their skilled and experienced cooks specialise in preparing local dishes, ensuring delicious flavours and well-prepared meals.
Innovation
Saudi Food Palace, like many bukas, lacks innovation in its menu offerings, presentation, and overall dining experience.
They do not, for example, feature a special menu with unique twists on meals or offer combo options. .
Sustainability
Saudi Food Palace prioritises sourcing ingredients from local markets, which not only supports the community but also ensures the freshness of their meals.
They also implement portion control techniques to minimise food waste, ensuring servings are ample yet not excessive.
For takeaways, they offer reusable plastic containers, encouraging customers to reduce single-use plastic waste by reusing them. This eco-friendly approach aligns with their commitment to sustainability and responsible environmental practices.
Waiting Time
The waiting time for service at Saudi Food Palace largely depends on the number of customers present.
During our visit on a low-patronage day, we were attended to promptly, within five to eight minutes from the moment we approached the counter to place our order.
Online Presence and Ease of Reservations
Saudi Food Palace’s social media presence is not active. Their social pages have irregular posts and no updates regarding menu changes, special offers, events, or engaging behind-the-scenes content to keep followers interested.
However, they do offer the convenience of ordering meals through Chowdeck, allowing delivery to your location.
Special Features
Beyond its buka offerings, Saudi Food Palace operates a catering service.
They offer both indoor and outdoor catering options suitable for small and large gatherings, making them a choice for customers looking to outsource cooking for their events.
