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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Take away cost

56 replies

DyslexicPoster · 11/09/2023 07:46

I know it's luxury and we hardly ever get take away now. Maybe once every three months if that.

I tried a new Chinese this weekend. There was no price list in the shop ( all covered over) no menu leaflets to take away so no prices anywhere.

Bought
Beef chow main
Chicken chow mein
Singapore noodles
2 lots of lemon chicken
5 mini spring rolls
Prawn crackers that was missing once I got home

In a rather rough deprived town it cost me £47. I did think it was really expensive at the time but with price hikes thought maybe it's all gone up a lot in three months.

Just checked the prices in my usual Chinese in one the most desirable SE towns to live ( according to the independent) and the same order but with twice as much spring rolls would have been £32 when I last ordered

It's made me think. 1) checking the menu and prices snd collection is more hassle than cooking 2) for two takeaways I could get a whole weeks food shop for 6 peopke for less than £94.

Restaurants have got very expensive but for a birthday or special occasion I don't feel to guilty.

But for £47 ( £15 more than the same takeaway two towns away was three months ago)I feel like a right stupid twat paying for it. I'm going to get a local menu with prices to see if it's just that takeaway but almost 50% price rise in three months?

OP posts:
ell87 · 11/09/2023 11:09

BarbaraofSeville · 11/09/2023 11:07

No, chow mein is a main, mixed meat, noodles and veg. It's always been priced the same as the other mains.

Just about every Chinese takeaway follows a similar price structure.

£X for chicken chop suey/beef and black bean sauce etc. Sometimes comes with free boiled rice or chips and about a quid extra for egg fried rice instead.
£X for chow mein
£X plus a couple of quid for the above but king prawn or duck version.

Anyone ordering beef or chicken chow mein and lemon chicken is ordering two mains.

It used to always be cheaper in my local Chinese takeaway. I think most of the more meat mains are still more expensive especially lamb and king prawn dishes.
We tend to order it instead of rice. It's not something we'd order and just have on its own personally.

EmpressSoleil · 11/09/2023 11:44

Chow mein is so easy to make, but yes the key is MSG. That's what turns it from a stir fry into a Chinese take away dish. Likewise I always put some in egg fried rice when I cook it. Tesco's do a great Chinese curry roux. Comes as a block in a tub and tastes just like take away.

I now have substitutes for most take aways as the prices are ridiculous. I had fish and chips a few weeks ago and the fish was £12 😲Won't be buying that again in a hurry. It's a shame as I don't want to see all these places shut down and I realise they are battling high costs. But so am I!

Original poster
DyslexicPoster · 11/09/2023 17:23

CranfordScones · 11/09/2023 09:06

Your post seems to say that you bought in-person at the takeaway.

Legally they must display a menu with prices so that consumers can see them before they decide to buy - the same goes for restaurants. It's why most restaurants display a menu outside - it's not just to entice customers.

I think you were subject to sharp practice, even if prices are going up. Have a word with local Trading Standards.

Absolutely no prices. They was all covered. There's a column with a piece of paper stuck over it on all the folds of a fold out menu stuck behind the perspex counter.

No leaflets to takeaway with menu on either. Very weird.

OP posts:
ManchesterLu · 11/09/2023 17:50

Takeaways are definitely more expensive. Yours does sound like the expensive end of normal, but nothing too unusual.

Pleaseme · 12/09/2023 00:42

DyslexicPoster · 11/09/2023 17:23

Absolutely no prices. They was all covered. There's a column with a piece of paper stuck over it on all the folds of a fold out menu stuck behind the perspex counter.

No leaflets to takeaway with menu on either. Very weird.

Show quote history

They've probably only recently put the prices up and haven't had the menus reprinted yet. They should still find a way to display prices. Even just written out on a chalkboard

DresdenDoll · 12/09/2023 01:11

I agree that seems very expensive. I just priced that up at my favourite Chinese takeaway and it came to £34.

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