Maitama is arguably the wealthiest corner of Abuja, and as you wind into streets that lead to Chopsticks, one of the city’s only Chinese restaurants, you’ll likely see several of the finest mansions in Nigeria on the surrounding hillside. Strangely, the restaurant is inside one of those mansions, though you’ll have no trouble finding it based on its exterior facade and the expensive cars scattered around the front entrance.
Walking inside of Chopsticks though, you’ll notice that the floor plan doesn’t match up with the size of the building you saw from the outside. Perhaps only one half of the first floor is used as a dining room, with space for 50-60 guests. It’s a very clean, very personal room with beige marble floors, tiled walls and fine linen napkins and the service is personable and attentive. The back corner is taken up by a small wooden bar while the kitchen is off to the right. The rest of the property, I’m told, including the sprawling top floor, is residential.
Chopsticks’ interpretation of Chinese food is contrary to the typical western turnkey restaurant. There is no General Tso’s chicken or mu shu pork. Instead, proteins are split up and cooked among a selection of sauces. While unconventional, the formula seems to work, and my shredded beef in oyster sauce was surprisingly good.
There’s also a slight Nigerian spin on several of the dishes; while the Chinese might make vegetable fried rice, the Nigerians make fried rice with sweet corn – again, surprisingly good.
While the prices here are a bit hefty, the portions here are also monstrous. The beef that I ordered for N 3500 was big enough to feed two people, and I felt guilty for leaving part of it behind.
Chopsticks is fairly deep in the Maitama neighborhood and might be difficult to find on your own. Coming in from the city on Mississippi street, the restaurant is behind a high wall on your right. Most drivers will know where to go – the venue seems to be quite popular.
Expert Review
Maitama is arguably the wealthiest corner of Abuja, and as you wind into streets that lead to Chopsticks, one of...
Maitama is arguably the wealthiest corner of Abuja, and as you wind into streets that lead to Chopsticks, one of the city’s only Chinese restaurants, you’ll likely see several of the finest mansions in Nigeria on the surrounding hillside. Strangely, the restaurant is inside one of those mansions, though you’ll have no trouble finding it based on its exterior facade and the expensive cars scattered around the front entrance.
Walking inside of Chopsticks though, you’ll notice that the floor plan doesn’t match up with the size of the building you saw from the outside. Perhaps only one half of the first floor is used as a dining room, with space for 50-60 guests. It’s a very clean, very personal room with beige marble floors, tiled walls and fine linen napkins and the service is personable and attentive. The back corner is taken up by a small wooden bar while the kitchen is off to the right. The rest of the property, I’m told, including the sprawling top floor, is residential.
Chopsticks’ interpretation of Chinese food is contrary to the typical western turnkey restaurant. There is no General Tso’s chicken or mu shu pork. Instead, proteins are split up and cooked among a selection of sauces. While unconventional, the formula seems to work, and my shredded beef in oyster sauce was surprisingly good.
There’s also a slight Nigerian spin on several of the dishes; while the Chinese might make vegetable fried rice, the Nigerians make fried rice with sweet corn – again, surprisingly good.
While the prices here are a bit hefty, the portions here are also monstrous. The beef that I ordered for N 3500 was big enough to feed two people, and I felt guilty for leaving part of it behind.
Chopsticks is fairly deep in the Maitama neighborhood and might be difficult to find on your own. Coming in from the city on Mississippi street, the restaurant is behind a high wall on your right. Most drivers will know where to go – the venue seems to be quite popular.