Inside Item7Go: The campus food stall that grew into Lagos’ favourite
Every city has that one food place that quietly becomes part of its rhythm. In Lagos, that spot belongs to Item7Go.
The restaurant does not rely on flashy marketing or extravagant decor. What draws people in is its simplicity, a straightforward promise of good food, fair prices, and quick service. At lunchtime, its Allen Avenue branch is a picture of Lagos in motion: office workers, dispatch riders, and families queueing with the same patience born from trust.
Founded by Ibigbemi Oloruntobi, a Physics graduate from the University of Ilorin, Item7Go began in 2012 as a small stall near the university gate. It started with students looking for affordable meals between classes, and over time, the model proved strong enough to grow into a multi-branch eatery across the South West.
That humble beginning also explains its name. In Nigerian slang, “Item 7” simply means food, and it is not surprising that Item7Go actually delivers on that promise: food that is filling, tasty, and worth the queue.
Rice meals range from about ₦2,500 to ₦4,300, depending on whether you want beef, chicken, fish, or croaker. The shawarma, a crowd favourite, goes for around ₦3,300 to ₦3,500. Extra sides like rice, plantain, or meat are also available. Customers can order online or pick up in person, which adds to the convenience.
What’s perhaps most striking is how Item7Go manages to feel organised even during rush hours. Payments are neatly separated by method — cash, POS, or transfer — and each outlet runs with the same calm precision. There is a certain predictability to the experience, and Lagosians, who are used to daily surprises, seem to appreciate that.
Online, customers often echo the same sentiment. One post reads:
“Walked into @Item7Go today just to grab food… but one staff guy turned it into a full experience. Customer service on premium mode.”
Another adds:
“Since I tasted this Item7Go shawarma, I’ve been reluctant to try shawarma elsewhere.”
It is the kind of loyalty you can not buy, built slowly through small, consistent gestures.
More than a decade since that first stall outside Unilorin, Item7Go retains the quiet energy of a place that grew from community. In a city where many things change fast, it stands as proof that good food and good service rarely go out of style.
