Salado cafeteria; The heart beat of UNILAG's food culture

Review of Salado Cafeteria, UNILAG

When you think about eating on campus in the University of Lagos, one name that always comes up is Salado Cafeteria. Well, for many students who wouldn't let me hear, it has become more than just a place to grab a quick meal.

• Location and Background

Salado Cafeteria is located at shop 12, Student Union Building (SUB), just a short walk from the sports center and directly opposite the Chapel of Christ the Light. This is a central location which makes it one of the easiest and most convenient places to eat on campus. It has been serving students for many years and is considered one of the oldest and most popular cafeterias in UNILAG. Interestingly, Salado has got other branches in Lagos. However, the UNILAG branch is the most affordable, since it's a student environment.

• Ambience and Atmosphere

	Salado entrance

Salado ambiance

	Cue waiting for food

The interior is simple, spacious, and functional, designed more for fine dining. Rows of seats and tables are arranged in a table of four to accommodate the large student population. The lighting is bright and natural during the day, with no fancy lighting or background music. It has no outdoor seating, what it offers is a clean, airy space where you can comfortably sit with friends. It feels more like a community dining hall than a restaurant, and that gives it its own kind of charm.

• Menu and Specialties

The menu is mostly Nigerian and African dishes with a touch of international food. You’ll find jollof rice, fried rice, beans, spaghetti, yam, and chips with proteins like chicken, beef, or fish. But the real deal is salad; fresh, crunchy, and generously portioned. Many students visit Salado mainly for this dish which has become the hit since forever. Some also recommend trying their fried fish and chips if you want a tasty meal.

• Food Quality and Presentation

Food packed in buffet style

	The staff serving a customer

The neat setting of meals

Salado’s strength is found in it's consistency. The food is always fresh and served hot, just like the day I visited. The portions are student-friendly and enough to satisfy without going beyond your budget. The food presentation is straightforward, meals are served on trays in cafeteria style with food that looks clean, appetizing, and ready to eat. The salad especially stands out, often neatly arranged with vegetables, eggs, and dressing.

• Service and Staff

The service at Salado is amazing and functional. During peak hours like I observed one of the days, staffs work fast to manage the crowd, so no one is left waiting and they get the job done as easily as possible. They are polite and professional, though you might not always get personalized recommendations unless you ask. The key here is speed, and for a place with such high traffic, they do well to keep the lines moving.

• Pricing and Value

One of the main attractions of Salado is its low cost, compared to other eateries on campus and in Lagos generally. Their meals are very student-friendly like I mentioned earlier. For the quality you get, the prices feel fair. It’s not luxury but low cost.

Food	price in #	Price in Steem
Jollof rice	300	3 steem
White rice	300	3 steem
Fried rice	300	3 steem
Moi-moi	500	2.5 steem
Beans	500	2.5 steem
Assorted meat	500	2.5 steem
Spaghetti	300	2.5 steem
Goat meat (Big)	1500	7.5 steem
Goat meat (Small)	500	2.5 steem
Tilapia	3000	15 steem
Cat fish	2500	10.5 steem
Egg	300	2.5 steem
Salad	1000	13 steem

• Facilities

Clear lightening in salado

As a cafeteria inside the SUB, facilities are quite basic. There’s no free Wi-Fi or private parking space, although the compound has got a space for parking. Restrooms are available nearby, but not directly inside. I believe accessibility is decent since it’s on the ground floor and easy to walk into, I have not visited. It’s clearly designed for students.

• Special Features

Salado doesn’t host events, live music, or social nights, it isn’t that kind of place. However, its special feature is its role in student life. It’s one of those places where you’re almost assured to bump into classmates, coursemates, or even lecturers. That social atmosphere is something money can’t buy, I guess only students can understand.

• Personal Experience

To me, Salado is unique because it represents the essence of campus dining. I recall getting a plate of rice and bean after a long walk, I didn't sit to eat, I bought take-away because I needed to get home. But most students love enjoying meals with friends before studying, or simply relaxing there after sports. It’s not about fashion, but rather about comfort. Each time I enter, I know what to expect, tasty food, reasonable prices, and a good atmosphere.

Location	University Of Lagos, University Rd, Yaba, Lagos 101245, Lagos
Google location	Google map
Opening time (mon.- fri.)	8am
Closing time	10pm
Sundays	closed
Place an order	https://glovoapp.com/en
Payment type	credit card, debit card and cash
#steem-atlas location	[//]:# (!steematlas 6.5176875 lat 3.3895625 long Salado cafeteria, university of Lagos d3scr)
Email	saladocafensk@gmail.com
Contact	+91 92265 52799
Instagram page	https://www.instagram.com/salado_cafe?igsh=OGs4YngwMWRleTJr

Salado Cafeteria may not win awards for fine dining, but for students of UNILAG, it’s an institution. With its location and affordable prices, it remains one of the best spots on campus to eat, meet friends, and experience life at its fullest.