I grew up tagging along with my mom to a regional wholesale outlet on weekends. I still remember the greasy hot dogs and charred soft pretzels that used to make my stomach queasy.
On top of that, the odor was always awful. The only way I can describe it is as a mix of cardboard, flat soda and sweat.
So when I first heard chatter about IKEA experimenting with stand-alone cafeterias, I was honestly baffled.
I remember thinking, “People actually go to IKEA just to eat? That’s kind of… gross.”
Maybe I’m a little snobby about food, but the idea of dining inside a retail store has always put me off. No thanks.
Eating at IKEA: Less a Choice, More a Way of Life
Since the Swedish company opened in 1958, it has spread across numerous countries including the U.S., Italy, France, the U.K., Japan, Russia and beyond.
The store itself has been around for decades, and IKEA’s food culture isn’t exactly new, either.
The first IKEA restaurant debuted in 1960. Its dining model has since ballooned into major revenue. FastCompany notes that IKEA Food generated an impressive $1.5 billion in sales back in 2013.
People across the globe have been savoring the iconic IKEA meatballs, lingonberry jam, perfectly cooked salmon and more longer than I’ve been around.
The more I read about the food’s fame (“You mean, some folks go there strictly to eat? They don’t even shop?”), the more embarrassed I felt for never having tried IKEA food.
A quick browse on Instagram made it clear. I searched #ikeafood and the more than 54,000 posts were kind of mind-blowing.
For instance, I found a family that took their dad to IKEA for Father’s Day lunch because it’s their “favorite” spot to eat.
I made my dad a grilled cheese (minus the crust).
Then there was a post showcasing an epic spread: fried fish, a vibrant salad, meatballs, waffles, sausages, hash browns, fries… you name it.
And it looked stunning.
The caption said, “Saturday breakfast.” Because apparently Saturdays are for leisurely IKEA strolls followed by food that seems straight out of a cookbook.
Maybe I’d been out of touch about IKEA’s cuisine. Maybe.
My Mission: Try an IKEA Meal
To be fair, I’m not alone in thinking that eating inside a store is a bit… odd.
My coworker, email marketing specialist Colleen Rice, confessed she’s “always” been wary of IKEA’s food.
When I asked what exactly spooked her, her thinking mirrored mine.
“It’s the same reason why I wouldn’t eat at the small food court in Target or that creepy McDonald’s inside Walmart (if I shopped there),” she said. “These aren’t places for dining — at least, by American norms.”
Another coworker, however, is a devoted IKEA food fan.
Sharon Steinmann, our director of photography, swore by the quality.
“We love that we can get a wholesome meal everyone likes for under $20 for the three of us including dessert and coffee,” she told me. “It’s reliably good and very family-friendly.”
When I told her about my childhood memories of grim wholesale-store grub, she insisted IKEA was different.
“Other warehouse stores mostly offer junk like cheap pizza and hot dogs, so I’ve never eaten at those places,” she said. “[But IKEA] is a whole different league.”
Her family picks it as their go-to for Sunday dinners, and it’s the only spot her 22-month-old, Ezra, will consistently eat.
She also mentioned it’s incredibly affordable.
That grabbed my interest.
If I could supposedly dine well for a tiny price, did it matter that I was eating inside a cavernous retail space?
I decided to find out.
Does IKEA Food Live Up to the Buzz?
There’s something exhilarating about the drive to IKEA. Typical thoughts include:
“Am I going to get lost again this time?”
“How much can I spend here before I go broke?”
“Will anyone notice if I take a nap on a display couch?”
This visit, though, my only concern was, “Will I end up with food poisoning?”
I arrived at the café midafternoon on a Friday and it was bustling.
There were seniors, young adults, whole families and solo patrons all clustered over their trays or sipping coffee. Some chatted while others gazed through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I glanced at their meals, and they looked inviting.
So I grabbed a tray and started down the food line. I picked the veggie balls (I’m picky) with a Thai coconut curry sauce, accompanied by freshly steamed veggies and rice.
Oh, and I added a drink and dessert.
I was stunned when I reached the register and the total was only $7.99 after tax.
I sat down and inspected my plate. It looked not just passable — it looked delicious. And it smelled great. My meal was a far cry from the grim memories of my childhood wholesale store.
Final Takeaways on IKEA Food
After finishing every bite, I came away with a few thoughts:
- IKEA’s food is surprisingly tasty. The menu isn’t restricted to purely Swedish dishes. If salmon isn’t your thing, you can choose options like chicken tenders or pasta. Who doesn’t appreciate pasta?
- Not only is the food good, it’s budget-friendly. I had a full meal for under $8, and whole families can dine for under $20. Steinmann paid just $18.99 to feed herself, her husband and their child. As IKEA Family members, they also enjoyed complimentary cappuccinos.
- Eating at IKEA isn’t strange. There’s far more than hot dogs and pretzels (though those are available downstairs). This is real, sustainable food. IKEA vows to serve “food you can trust” and requires suppliers to maintain specific quality systems. To uphold standards, IKEA hires independent firms to carry out unannounced audits of its vendors.
It also explains why so many people choose to eat there.
The cafeteria has kid-friendly sections, and there’s the IKEA Family rewards program, which is free to join.
As a member you can access product discounts, price guarantees, free coffee, occasional free meals for kids and more.
Looks like I’ve had a change of heart. I foresee quite a few IKEA meals in my future.
And no, IKEA didn’t compensate me to write this piece.
