Ikea opens first ever standalone Swedish restaurant on UK high street
Anyone who has been to Ikea knows no trip is complete without a plate of meatballs or a loaded hot dog in the cafe.
Fancy one of the Swedish chain’s signature dishes but don’t need any furniture or homeware? You’ll soon be able to get your hands on both (and more) without the need to visit one of Ikea’s stores.
This week, the retailer announced the opening of its very first standalone restaurant in the UK, located on King Street in Hammersmith, london, near the brand’s revamped Hammersmith City Store.
As well as offering all your favourite treats, including meatballs – which are available in both meat and vegan options – mash, and peas, there are also plenty of other dishes.
Ikea favourites like penne pasta, fish and chips, and salmon with cous cous, as well as a children’s menu, are among the available dishes.
So, while the restaurant may lack its usual furniture shopping add-on, you can still expect the same great meals you know and love — with the added convenience of being on the high street.
With prices starting from just 60p, the restaurant also offers a breakfast menu, alongside a range of other treats all of which are able to be ordered over the counter or on self-service screens.
In a statement, Matthew Gould, market manager at Ikea London City said: ‘We know how much our customers love the Ikea restaurant, and we’re excited to celebrate the opening of our very first high street restaurant.
‘Fans of our delicious dishes can recharge during their shopping trip with our famous Swedish meatballs, pop in for a traditional Swedish “fika” break for coffee and a sweet treat, or find an affordable meal for the kids right on the high street.’
Ikea’s Hammersmith resturant menu
Breakfast menu (until 11am):
Small cooked breakfast – six piece cooked breakfast which includes bacon, sausage, hash brown, omelette, baked beans and tomato: £2.75
Regular cooked breakfast – nine piece cooked breakfast which includes two slices of bacon, two sausages, two hash browns, omelette, baked beans & a tomato: £3.75
Breakfast roll: £1.60
Main menu (after 11am):
Eight meatballs served with mashed potatoes, peas, cream sauce and lingonberry jam: £5.50
Eight plant balls served with mashed potatoes, peas, cream sauce and lingonberry jam: £5.50
Penne pasta served with a delicious tomato and basil sauce for £2.95
Fish and chips, battered haddock served with chips and peas: £6.95
Salmon with cous cous and yoghurt: £6.95
Hot dog: 85p
Plant-based hot dog: 85p
Vegetable hot dog: 60p
Cold Dishes
Cured salmon mustard lemon-dill sauce: £3.50
Sandwich shrimp: £3.50
Wrap, marinated salmon: £2.95
Indian summer salad: £2.95
Children’s menu
Four meatballs with mash and peas: £1.95
Four plantballs with mash and peas: £1.95
Tomato sauce and pasta: 95p
Other
Filter coffee or tea: £1.25
Soft ice cream: 75p
Opening its doors to consumers today, the restaurant (which was formerly a Wasabi) is running an extra special deal for those wanting to pop in for a bite to eat.
If you’re an Ikea Family member, you’ll receive £5 off your in-store purchase when you spend more than £5 at the restaurant on the same day.
Valid until November 30, it’s the perfect opportunity to finally buy that desk you’ve been meaning to get or the clothes rack that’s needed replacing for far too long.
Over the past few days, Ikea’s UK Instagram account has also been teasing a meatball-related launch after addressing ‘rumours’ that their delivery boxes smell like the much-loved dish.
‘There are rumours going round the internet that state some of the logos on our delivery boxes smell of meatballs,’ the brand said in a post.
‘As implausible as this sounds, we’ve added a note to our delivery boxes just to be safe. If for some completely unfounded reason your box happens to smell like meatballs (hypothetically, of course) you can let us know via social media.’
Ikea has made a number of updates in recent months (Picture: Ikea/Alex Rumford)
Another featured a user guide on what to do if your delivery box smelt of meatballs, resulting in many frustrated customers to take to the comment section.
‘Just launch the damn candle or whatever this marketing is for already,’ Somebeartyoncetoldme wrote, while kwassazahra commented: ‘Guys stop playing with me… if you’re delivering meatballs I’m gonna start crying.’
It’s unclear whether the campaign is related to the new store’s launch or if another exciting announcement is coming. Who knows, perhaps there’s just been a wave of meatball-scented postage?
The company has revealed a number of big changes in recent months, including one designed to make its shopping experience more accessible for UK customers.
This saw Ikea team up with Tesco to offer over 100 mobile pick-up points in supermarkets across the country, with a further 100 pick-up points planned to open.
In addition, the brand is planning to open two new inner-city stores in London’s Oxford Street and Brighton, making it easier than ever to get your Hemnes, Malm or Billy bookcase fix.