Indomie Café, renowned for being the first noodle bar with a live kitchen, offers a unique dining experience for noodle enthusiasts. While homemade noodles have their charm, sometimes the flavours from specialized noodle bars stand out in Lagos.
Indomie has opened several locations across Lagos, providing a diverse array of noodle options such as Asian beef noodles, Schezuan spicy mix, Cheezerella and Jambalaya noodles with prices ranging from N4,500 to N5,500.
To find out more, we visited their outlet at 22 Simbiat Abiola Way, Jara Mall, Ikeja, to explore their menu and experience the vibrant offerings firsthand.
- Menu variety – 8/10
- Food quality – 5/10
- Service – 8/10
- Ambience – 8/10
- Value for money – 5/10
- Hygiene standards – 8/10
- Accessibility – 9/10
- Consistency – 6/10
- Innovation – 7/10
- Sustainability – 7/10
- Waiting time – 7/10
- Online presence – 9/10
- Special features – 5/10
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Menu Variety
The menu boasts a diverse selection of dishes, catering to various dietary needs. The noodle offerings are particularly versatile, allowing customers to personalise their meals.
The variety includes options like Mexican-style noodles, Cheezerella, Tropicana, sausage noodles, Asian beef noodles, and pepper soup noodles, among others.
Food Quality
We tried the Asian beef noodles and crispy chicken bites. The noodles had a regular flavour but were quite spicy, be sure to request your preferred spice level. The beef in the noodles was cold, while the noodles were warm.
The crispy chicken bites were flavourful and came with a sauce. Both dishes were served on plates with plastic forks.
Service
The staff were cheerful, friendly, and eager to assist with any requests, demonstrating a high level of professionalism and efficiency.
Ambience
The café features warm lighting and a cozy atmosphere, making it an ideal spot for relaxing or hanging out. It also provides a comfortable environment for working and dining. The restaurant was clean and tidy, with staff regularly maintaining cleanliness after customers.
Value for Money
Indomie Café may seem a bit pricey compared to street vendor options, but it offers a range of customisable noodle combinations. For N5,000, we ordered the Asian beef noodles, which was reasonably priced for the portion. However, considering that a pack of Indomie noodles costs N200 and a carton costs N7,500, the café’s prices are higher.
Hygiene Standards
The café adhered to excellent hygiene standards. The entire space, including the kitchen, dining area, and restrooms, was clean and well-maintained.
Staff were diligent about cleaning up after customers, and the open dining area allowed customers to observe the chef preparing meals, which was also kept spotless. Additionally, staff members wore clean aprons and hair bonnets, ensuring a neat and professional appearance.
Location
The café is located at 22 Simbiat Abiola Way, Jara Mall, Ikeja, and is easy to find on maps. The mall provides parking for all customers, and the café’s location within the mall ensures easy accessibility, including for wheelchair users. It is centrally positioned, making it convenient for visitors.
Consistency
Although this was our first-time dining at the café, we noticed a steady stream of food delivery riders arriving to pick up orders. This frequent activity suggests that the café is a popular choice among customers, indicating that it reliably delivers consistent quality and service.
The regular presence of delivery riders reflects the café’s ability to maintain a dependable standard, which keeps customers returning and relying on their meals.
Innovation
While the café stands out for its unique combinations of noodle options, it doesn’t showcase many other innovations in terms of menu offerings, presentation, or dining experiences.
The focus seems to be primarily on the variety and customisation of the noodles, rather than on introducing additional creative elements or new dining concepts.
Sustainability
The café demonstrates a commitment to sustainability through its packaging practices. To-go orders are neatly packaged in recyclable noodle carton boxes or bowls, which reflects an effort to reduce environmental impact.
However, it is unclear whether they use reusable plastics for takeaway or their specific practices related to sourcing ingredients and waste management. We were unable to confirm this from the management.
Waiting Time
Since noodles are generally a straightforward dish to prepare, our meal was ready in 5-8 minutes. It seemed that the noodles were pre-cooked and the beef pre-seasoned, with the chef primarily focusing on assembling and finishing the dish.
This quick preparation time suggests that much of the initial cooking was done in advance, allowing for efficient service.
Online Presence and Ease of Reservations
The restaurant’s social media handles are active, providing regular updates and information about the restaurant.
They also feature the menu online, allowing customers to easily view offerings. The restaurant’s website is also functional and encourages customers to place orders directly through it.
Special Features
While the café does not offer live music or themed dining experiences, it does enhance the atmosphere with a selection of music from different musicians.
The primary unique selling point of the café is its extensive and impressive range of noodle combinations. This variety, along with the option for customization, distinguishes it from other dining establishments and is its most notable feature.