Where Chefs Eat: Kemi Fajemisin of Lekki by Little Lagos, West End

For more than a decade, chef Kemi Fajemisin has been bringing the rich and raucous flavours of her native Nigeria to Australia. Having spent time behind the pans at Little Lagos, Sydney’s first and only dedicated Nigerian restaurant and bar which quickly earned itself a cult following having graduated from a pop-up to a permanent venue, Fajemisin has taken the flavours of her native Nigeria to Brisbane with Lekki by Little Lagos.

The West End venue serves fried plantains, flavoursome jollof rice, succulent goat stew with sides of fufu (a doughy pounded yam ball) and a flaky Nigerian meat pie as well as African beers and Nigerian-influenced cocktails.

Fajemisin sat down with Broadsheet to talk about her favourite spots to grab coffee, the croissant that made her want to open a venue in Brisbane, and her favourite dish on the menu at Lekki by Lagos.

What’s your go-to for a quick takeaway?
When I moved to Brisbane and saw there was a Betty’s Burgers just a five-minute walk from our venue, it made my heart happy! I’m there almost weekly. They need a Kemi special on the menu!

And for a drink and snacks?
Still Betty’s – yeah, I’m obsessed. The Betty’s French fries do something to my soul.

Where’s your favourite for great baking or pastries?
Lune Croissanterie is an undisputed classic. I may have chosen to open a venue in West End just because of the proximity to Lune, but we’ll get to that when my biography is released.

And where do you think does the best coffee in town?
My friends over at Insane Acai Bar on Boundary Street make brewing great coffee look too easy. I’ve suggested they buy an IV machine so I can get my daily fix pumped straight into the bloodstream.

Do you have a go-to for a long lunch?
Afrikanbite over in Redbank Plains does the best Ghanaian dishes in the city. Supporting other Black female chefs is important to me so I lunch there regularly.

And what about the best food close to where you live?
I’m trying to resist the temptation to shamelessly self-promote my venue Lekki by Little Lagos, but it really is my favourite place to eat. Italian Street Kitchen is a close second though.

What’s your favourite late-night spot to head after work?
Dirty Sultan for Afrobeat with DJ Cheq because I get special treatment by saying “I’m with the DJ”.

What’s your favourite place to get fish and chips in summer?
Sea Fuel on Vulture is amazing! Sorry, I don’t leave West End much, as you can tell from my previous answers.

Do you have a go-to ice-cream spot?
Anita Gelato is the spot – you can tell from the long queues coming from it every night! I’m slowly working towards a personal goal of trying every single flavour.

What’s your personal favourite dish on the menu at Lekki by Little Lagos? Tough one I’m sure.
Easiest question I ever answered: it’s the goat stew. Literally the GOAT.

And is there a hidden gem that you think is underrated but great?
The Boom Boom Room is such a vibe. It’s cosy, intimate, and the staff are lovely. It’s great.

@lekkibylittlelagos
@chef_kemi

To find out more where the city’s top chefs are drinking and dining, check out some of their favourite hangover feeds or where they go to pick up fish’n’chips.