Yes, it is genuinely hot. Fresh scotch bonnet is in the broth and you will feel it.
And yes, you can ask for it milder or hotter. At Chipat Bar the kitchen cooks Mild, House or Extra, whichever you say when you order.
For first-timers and anyone who wants the flavour without the burn. Full spice character, dialled-back heat.
The standard bowl. This is what most customers order and what the kitchen cooks by default.
For people who find most Lagos pepper soup too tame.
Extra is genuinely hot. If you have not eaten here before, start with House.
Ask for your level when you order, or note it when you book.
There is no single national heat level. Northern versions are generally milder than South West ones, so two bowls with the same name on the menu can land very differently depending on the kitchen that cooked them.
Emmanuelle Blatmann, then France's ambassador to Nigeria, made the same point in an interview with Daily Trust published on 11 January 2024. She said the pepper soup was "too peppery" and named the South West as hotter than the North. She has since left the post, and she was speaking about Nigerian pepper soup in general, not about Chipat Bar. You can read the Daily Trust interview in full.
The difference comes down to the blend and how much fresh pepper goes in. If you want the detail, read about the spices behind the heat.
These are the pepper soups on our menu. The chicken and the turkey are the gentler starting points.
The gentlest starting point. Light broth, tender chicken, easy to eat slowly.
Similar to the chicken, with more meat in the bowl.
Heavier and richer. Order this once you know your level.
The signature bowl. Strongest flavour of the four, so ask for Mild on a first visit.
Mild, House and Extra heat are available on request. How hot is pepper soup?
If you would rather ease in without a bowl of broth, order from the charcoal grill. Our charcoal barbecue fish comes with the pepper sauce on the side, so you control the heat yourself.
Delivering across Lagos. Message us on WhatsApp for a delivery time to your area.
Delivering Tuesday to Sunday, 9 AM to midnight. Closed Mondays.
Coming with a group? The VIP section seats 20 and you can set the heat level for the table when you book.