Eating Cheap at IKEA
Discount Furniture Store Offers Low Cost Dining Options
It may be unconventional, but when faced with the need for low cost eats while traveling, your best bet could be as close as the local IKEA store. Each store has a cafeteria section open to customers, and many also offer a quick service counter near the cash registers.
What Kind of Food Does IKEA offer?
As can be expected, IKEA does serve a lot of the Swedish specialties it offers for sale in its food department in the cafeteria, too. Enjoy national dishes like Swedish meatballs, Gravad Lax and lingonberries, alongside items like oven roasted chicken breast and shrimp sandwiches. Depending on where in the world you choose to dine, you may find other menu items geared towards that country’s dietary offerings.
The food isn’t going to be the most gourmet of offerings, but it will be tasty, filling and priced right for your travel budget.
Pricing for Even the Cheapest of Budgets
In the U.S. IKEA locations, hot dogs start at only 50 cents, full breakfasts (including scrambled eggs, 2 bacon strips and potatoes) at 99 cents and a cup of meatballs for a dollar. Splurge and you can enjoy full entrees, including your choice of meat and sides, for around $5. Desserts start at 99 cents and go up to around $5.
Travel around the world and you’ll find IKEA locations in most major European countries, as well as areas like Asia and Australia. Food offerings may be slightly different to include food offerings native to that country – for instance Italy is more pasta heavy on the menu – but the pricing will all be relatively low-cost compared to a normal restaurant or bistro in that city.
Save Even More by Ordering Like a Child
Light eaters can save even more by eating off the kid’s menus which offers many of the items, like mac & cheese, or peanut butter & jelly sandwiches for 99 cents. Many stores also offer specials like any 3 kids menu items for $2.49.
The only real differences are slightly smaller portions and usually service on plastic plates instead of the fine china used for the regular menu items. But if you’re comfortable with a plastic knife and fork, you can save a bit if the finances are especially tight.
Where to Find an IKEA
While IKEA has locations world-wide, they do not have them in every metropolitan city. A full-listing of IKEA locations can be found online and offer information on each store’s restaurant, including any local specials. The only drawback is that most of the location listings are in that country’s native language, but online page translators should help you navigate.
Ever eaten at an IKEA restaurant? Leave a comment on what you did and didn’t like about it.
An IKEA chef presents a dish.
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A sample IKEA menu board.
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