"Golden bites on the street; The lagos story of fries"

Street food in Lagos is the selling point because Lagosians love food that is fast, tasty, and affordable, and street vendors provide just that. It is more than just a quick meal, but I prefer to call it a lifestyle. Take a walk through any busy street, from Yaba to Ikeja, and you’ll find the air filled with the aroma of street food.

Aunty Ugo’s Fries is one of the landmarks of street food in Mafoluku Oshodi, Orile-Oshodi 102214, Lagos. Her spot is right at the starting point of the street, making it easy for anyone coming from the Arena or Oshodi Market to find her. It’s a strategic location where hungry passersby quickly exchange money for her golden, crispy bites.

screenshot of the location

Oshodi itself is one of the busiest and most popular markets in Lagos. Whether you’re coming from the Island or the Mainland, getting there is never a problem. All you need is to board the right bus heading to Oshodi or better still, book a ride online if you want to avoid the stress. But be prepared; Oshodi is a massive market, and it’s easy to get lost in its buzz and endless activities. Thankfully, the area has several terminals, and whichever one you arrive at, it eventually connects you back to the heart of the market, and to Aunty Ugo’s famous fries.

Aunty Ugo’s fries has become a small but popular landmark in Mafoluku, Oshodi. Her spot is right at the entrance of the street, which makes it almost impossible to miss if you’re coming from the Arena or the busy Oshodi Market. Over time, it has turned into one of those food joints that people mention when they talk about quick and tasty street food in the area.

Customers waiting to be served

The place was started by Aunty Ugo herself, a cheerful woman who built her hustle from scratch, but along the line, she had her sister come join her for expansion. What began as a simple roadside food stand slowly grew into a trusted spot for workers, traders, and even students who just wanted something filling on the go.

It’s hard to put an exact year to when she started, because like many street businesses in Lagos, it wasn’t about launching with banners, it was about consistency, day after day, serving hot, crispy fries until people began to know her by name.

For communication, it’s mostly face-to-face. You walk up, make your order, and enjoy your food right there or you can go with it. It’s still very much the Lagos street food vibe, always personal, direct, and warm, they hardly take orders, they believe in what we call "cash and carry." It means, come with your cash and buy.

The team serving customers

Arranging the fishes in order of sale

At Aunty Ugo’s fries stand, the work is simple but well coordinated. She runs the business herself, but she’s not alone. Her younger sister is always by her side, helping with the preparations like; peeling potatoes, yam, cutting them into slices, and mixing the beans for akara. Sometimes her sister handles the frying when the place gets busy.

In addition to her sister, since the business keeps expanding, she also employed one more worker who focuses mainly on serving customers, packaging the fries, collecting money, and keeping the queue moving so things don’t get too crowded. On very busy evenings, the employee also helps with frying or refilling oil, depending on what’s needed.

So altogether, I would say there are three people keeping the business running;

• Aunty Ugo – the founder and main cook, who oversees everything.

• Her sister – assistant in preparation and frying.

• One employee – handles serving, packaging, and customer transactions.

This small team keeps the place lively and efficient, making sure customers don’t wait too long before enjoying their hot golden bite.

The business structure

When it comes to facilities, Aunty Ugo’s fries stand is very much a true Lagos street food spot, simple and straightforward. There’s no formal seating arrangement; most people buy their fries to take away or enjoy while standing around the stand which I experienced, chatting with friends or fellow customers.

Even without seating, the environment is kept clean. Aunty Ugo makes sure the area around her stand is swept and tidy, with waste properly gathered so it doesn’t litter the street. She also handles her food neatly, using clean utensils and fresh oil to maintain the taste and quality people love. I am one person that does not eat street food because of their environment and other factors, but when I noticed Aunty Ugo's style, I fell in love with her fries. It's big and tasty.

As for water, there isn’t a special facility for drinking or washing like you’d find in restaurants, but customers trust her hygiene. Everything is handled in a way that makes you feel comfortable eating there, even though it’s in the middle of a busy market environment.

The environment around Aunty Ugo’s stand feels just like Lagos; busy, noisy, but full of life. She sells in an open-air space with her umbrella to shade the sun, so you get the natural breeze, the smell of fries in hot oil, and the everyday movement of people going in and out of Oshodi Market. In the evening, the weather cools down and that’s usually the best time; you can stand there, wait for your order, and just watch the market unfold.

There’s no heavy use of electricity at her spot. She fries with a gas burner, and when it gets dark, she relies on a small rechargeable lamp. The streetlights around Oshodi and the glow from nearby shops also help to brighten the place, so customers still see clearly.

Of course, the background is filled with the normal Oshodi sounds from bus conductors shouting destinations, traders calling customers, and sometimes loud music from nearby stalls. But that’s part of the charm. Despite all that activity, Aunty Ugo keeps her space clean and organized, so people don’t mind stopping by for a quick wrap of fries.

the freshly fries displayed for sale

The fries at Aunty Ugo’s are simply irresistible. They come out big, golden and crispy on the outside, soft and hot on the inside. You can tell she uses fresh beans for her bean cake, potatoes and clean oil, because the taste is always consistent. Some people like to add a bit of spice or sauce, which gives the fries an extra yummy taste. Her fishes are giving, so enticing and irresistible. It’s exactly the kind of snack that makes you want to keep coming back, whether you’re just passing by Oshodi Market or grabbing something after a long day.

Her sauce is not usually hot, it's moderate which give room to more customers who are interested. At first, I didn't notice potatoes until I stayed there to watch her slice and fry. She fry on low heat which gives the fries enough time to get done inside. It’s affordable, yummy, and perfect for anyone looking for a quick bite in the middle of the busy market.

Aunty Ugo’s fries is tasty, satisfying, and worth every naira.

Akara balls set into hot oil

Akara balls ready to be displayed

Watching Aunty Ugo at work is a small lesson in street food mastery. She starts by preparing fresh ingredients as early as 8am; peeling and slicing potatoes and yam into perfect sizes, and her sister, getting the akara mixture ready. When the oil is hot and ready, she carefully adds the potatoes and yam, making sure each piece fries well to a golden crisp. The aroma of frying yam and potato fills the air instantly, drawing in passersby.

She also adds akara balls into the hot oil. You can see how skilled she is at handling the food, flipping them at just the right time so they cook well and stay soft inside while forming a crunchy look outside. Everything is done quickly but neatly, showing the years of experience she has in serving delicious street snacks well.

Even though it’s all done on a small roadside setup, the process feels professional. You can tell she values freshness and consistency, which is probably why her fries and akara are so popular among customers.

Unfortunately, aunty ugo do not have any price list, just ask her how much she sells and she would tell you, or better still, tell her how much fries you want to buy.

The name of this place wouldn't be bad if it's called "Aunty Ugo's fries spot," but she has no business name and still her fries are rushed so well by her customers. It's Lagos street food and so both the buyer and the seller are always in a haste and careful at the same time.

A selfie under her shade

Enjoying fish with the sauce

At Aunty Ugo’s, food service is simple but very effective. Even though it’s a small street-side stand, everything is organized so that customers get their orders quickly without long waits. Aunty Ugo oversees the frying herself, while her sister and employee handles the serving, which keeps the workflow smooth. Once a customer comes, they serve immediately standing because they don't promote long queue to avoid stories.

• Food Quality

The fries are consistently fresh and tasty, always looking golden and crispy. The akara balls are soft inside with a crunchy look outside. Everything is prepared on the spot, so the quality doesn’t suffer even during rush hours. Clean oil, fresh ingredients, and attention to timing make every bite enjoyable.

• Service Quality

Service is friendly and personal. Customers interact directly with Aunty Ugo even while she's at the frying spot turning her fries, which gives the stand a warm, approachable vibe. Payments are handled smoothly, orders are accurately served, and even during busy times, the team remains polite and attentive. The combination of good food, consistent quality, and friendly service is what keeps people returning, making the stand not just a place to eat, but a small hub of connection in the middle of Oshodi Market.