Places to Eat in Abuja: Drumstix

True foodies love to have their variety and Drumstix Food and Investment Limited has been serving it up since 2007, running four different catering service brands out of the same building/compound.

The first is the actual Drumstix restaurant which serves the delicious crispy fried chicken and rice, small chops, and pastries. It’s a great, relaxed place to go to as a family or with friends. During the day, the restaurant is lit up by natural light flowing in through the large windows around the building, the murals on the wall give you something to talk about, But what really sets Drumstix apart is their very attractive prices. If you’re looking for great tasting food that doesn’t finish in about two or three spoons without breaking your wallet in Abuja, then Drumstix is one of your very few, widely spread options. A full meal i.e. 2 pieces of chicken with fried or jollof rice or chips and a drink will cost you less than N2000.

For the sweettooths craving a quick fix, Café Gelato serves some amazing soft ice cream, smoothies, waffles and milk shakes, and it’s in the same building as Drumstix – right next to the Drumstix sales counter, really.

If you’re not really in the mood for the usual “onyibo’ food and you’re craving something more local but don’t really feel like cooking or you’re on a lunch break from the office and not a magician, fret not! Just next to the Drumstix door, on the far left of the building, is the entrance to Aunt Ajobi’s Kitchen where you can get sizeable portions of Nigerian delicacies still at very affordable prices. Plus, the atmosphere is a bit calmer than at Drumstix, with a slightly more sophisticated feel.

Want something filling that isn’t exactly food? Perhaps some spicy chicken from an open flame charcoal grill, or some shawarma? Then you don’t even need to go into the Drumstix building. At the entrance of the compound is Maman Kato Suya and Shawarma. There was a time when this was Abuja’s go-to place for shawarma, before other establishments caught on and stepped up their game. You can also get chicken, beef, and gizzard suya. It takes some time to get ready, depending on the rush, so you might want to have a seat in the gazebo, watch the cars drive by, and catch a breather.

Yes, Drumstix Food and Investment Limited has been doing it right for over 7 years now, and you can find branches strategically located at some of Abuja’s commercial and industrial areas and they deliver!