Review: DO Bowls (Delivery-Only, Lagos)
FOLLY: A couple of weeks ago, we ordered from an Instagram vendor to try their fusion pasta and rice bowls.
NOSA: First time I tried DO Bowls was during the lockdown. My roommates found DO on Instagram, and we thought we’d give it a try as a household. I wonder if it’s DO like the present simple tense of “doing” or DO like D-O.
FOLLY: I think maybe the owner’s initials…
NOSA: I digress. DO also does sandwiches, by the way, but that’s for another day.
(Sorry, I had to get that one in)
NOSA: I thought DO was some hidden gem in Lagos, but it appears the streets are already on it. DO Bowls was nominated for our 2020 Restaurant (Delivery-only) of the Year. Kewa’s Kitchen was a runaway winner, but DO Bowls was surprisingly close. If that godforsaken virus ever leaves this place, DO Bowls is the first outfit I’m begging to participate in EatDrinkFestival.
It was that good.
FOLLY: I’d have ordered more because it was very affordable; however, it was just Nosa and I eating, so I ordered three things. One bowl each and one to share. Thai food is one of my favorite cuisines, so the Bangkok Pad immediately seemed like my spec.
Bangkok Pad - Pad Thai inspired rice noodles with beef suya, peppers and onions and finished with yaji spices
We also got the Bang Banging Bowl and the Jambalaya Pasta.
Bang Banging Bowl - Crispy fried chicken chunks tossed in our signature sweet and spicy bang sauce with egg fried rice
Jambalaya Pasta - Cajun spicy stirfry penne pasta with beef sausages, chicken and veggies.
L - R: Jambalaya Pasta, Bangkok Pad, Bang Banging Chicken
NOSA: Just a heads up. All the bowls are super spicy, so come prepared.
FOLLY: I don’t think I can even accurately describe how spicy it was. Nonetheless, the Bangkok Pad was still my clear favorite.
NOSA: My favorite thing about DO Bowls is how well they take what’s great about Nigerian food and pour it into something that’s far from Nigerian. You don’t expect Yaji in your Thai or expect your penne to pack heat, but DO Bowls makes that happen.
FOLLY: I like their experimentation of Nigerian spices into international cuisine, it’s not perfect, but it works. It makes some of these foods more accessible for a Nigerian palette. I’m definitely in favor of more fusions like this.
I loved the idea of the Bangkok Pad because it’s two street foods - Pad Thai from Thailand and Suya from Nigeria, but I think that the soy sauce and the Yaji clashed aggressively - for me sha. The peas and sweetcorn don’t do much for the dish. I think it would have been nice to keep the sprouts from the classic Pad Thai for some freshness and something to break up all the pepper cause this was so so spicy.
NOSA: The noodles taste like a Lagos bachelor’s dream. I bet this is what they imagine they’re making when they put suya in Indomie.
Bangkok Pad
NOSA: The Jambalaya Pasta isn’t half bad either. It wasn’t my favourite, that title belongs to the Bang Banging Bowl, but it was great nonetheless. I think I might make it my mission this year to try every single bowl on their menu. I owe it to myself.
Jambalaya Pasta
FOLLY: The Jambalaya Pasta reminded me of Mr. Biggs rice from the 90s. I can’t describe the taste of the rice from when I was five years old, but I remember the taste distinctively. That’s why I’m 95% sure it’s the same sausage that used to be in Mr. Biggs fried rice that Do Bowls uses in the Jambalaya Pasta. The pasta base itself was like a fried pepper base, curry, thyme and again very spicy but not as spicy as the Bangkok Pad. For me, it was more of a Jollof Pasta than a Cajun Pasta.
Bang Banging Chicken
FOLLY: Overall, I feel like Do Bowls is very accessible and good value for money. For N3,500, their bowls are enormous, and you get a lot.
NOSA: No joke. The portion is sizes are huge. Each one is like two meals in one. If you finish it in one sitting, you’re way too greedy.
POSTSCRIPT
FOLLY: I love the idea and their menu. The spiciness was through the roof, so spice warnings are essential abeg.
NOSA: It’s so damn delicious, man.
VERDICT
DAMAGE
Jambalaya - N3500
Bang Banging Bowl - N3500
Bangkok Thai - N4500
PRICE RANGE
N3,500 - N5,000