Mr. Biggs, Abuja - Photos, Reviews

Mr. Biggs has earned the right to be a national landmark and, whether we choose to admit it or not, many Nigerians still very much love it. The fast food franchise, owned by United African Company of Nigeria PLC, started in 1986 and is Nigeria’s largest and oldest chain of restaurants with over 100 restaurants nationwide. The first Mr. Biggs in Abuja opened some time in the early 2000s and was an instant hit. Kids loved it, adults loved it, and companies loved it. For many years, Mr. Biggs was the ultimate go-to place for families after church on Sundays, or for birthday parties or just a weekend treat. It was an especially fantastic family-friendly place because it had a play pen for children where the little ones could exhaust themselves while waiting for their meal with designated staff watching over them so parents can have some downtime.

And it wasn’t just about the environment; the food was a huge hit too.  Mr. Biggs’ meat pie was the most popular item on the menu and, quite frankly, is still pretty good. In fact, all their pastries are quite legendary. If companies or groups were having conferences or meetings, attendees were most likely to be served pastries from Mr. Biggs. And who could ever forget the birthday cakes that were a requirement at every kid’s birthday party at the time? You could have sausage rolls, chicken pies, burgers, hot dogs and delicious, jam-filled doughnuts that made your heart smile. They also serve food with more weight like fried rice and jollof rice, and very creamy ice cream you can have for dessert.

But, as usual, over time, the lights and sparkle dimmed and the crowd thinned as they explored new dining and family outing options popping up about town. They went through a rebranding phase to try to pull back some customers and reconnect with the kids whom they have identified as their target demographic, but it wasn’t as successful as they’d hoped it would be.  The food and snacks are still great, although the birthday cakes have lost their touch, and people still bring their kids from time to time, so it could still be considered a good option for a family outing. Many props must be given to them for standing the test of time and continuing to thrive at their own pace. So, stop by any of the branches in Abuja for some lunch, or a snack, or some ice cream – 87, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.