Have takeaways gone massively downhill?

[LaJacondeFumantLaPipe]

We have never been huge users of takeaways, deliveroo etc, but when we did order them, I quite enjoyed them.

But we ordered one last weekend as a treat after a really busy week and really busy weekend. It was so disappointing. The meat was awful quality - so fatty and gristly. The sauces were watery and bland and.... I have a horrible feeling that I found a fingernail in mine 🤢.

Thinking back to the one I had before that (from a different place and a different cuisine completely), it was also just horrible.

On both occasions it was really expensive, which just adds insult to injury.

Have takeaways gone downhill or is it my imagination or just bad luck where I live?

I definitely think so. Most takeaways now are using cheaper ingredients and portion sizes have shrunk. I'm finding they are bulked up with the less expensive ingredients.

Even restaurants are the same. Most food places the prices have gone sky high and the quality has nose dived.

You only have to look at the size of the burgers now in McDonald's.

I'm not buying many takeaways or chocolate any more.

It's always restaurant dependant and very often area too.

Deliveroo has ruined a lot of restaurants too. Can’t eat your dinner in peace without delivery drivers walking through every 5 minutes and you also have to wait longer.

Yeah, the last time I got a takeaway pizza it was so disappointing. I know this may not work for you but I’d rather buy some nice food, maybe from M&S and heat up. Cheaper too!

Yes, I think treat foods/meals made at home are going to be the way forward!

I had takeaway pizza recently, and it honestly was an insult, and should never have left the restaurant. I am just glad that I did not have to pay for it. They had used cheap quality cheese, and the toppings were so sparse. I would never order from them, after that experience.

I dont eat meat - I haven’t noticed a drop in quantity or quality but the prices mean that takeaway isn’t ever a spur of the moment treat and we’ve really cut back.

When I was vegetarian and vegan, I really resented the prices of meat free meals in restaurants and takeaways! It must be even worse now, so I really do empathise

I have a Chinese and an Indian near me and both are delicious, sorry OP!

The Chinese has very generous portions (and is also an excellent chip shop) and the Indian gives me free stuff because one time they missed something off my order.

I don't use delivery apps though, if I want a takeaway I can at least get off my fat ass and pick it up!

No need to apologise, although I am envious!!

Its a bit like saying have books gone downhill when you've read a bad one - no they havent

Yes we buy the m and s meal deals as a treat rather than a takeaway now. The M and S Indian meal deals (2 mains 2 sides) is our favourite treat. I’ve found the quality has decreased at our favourite takeaways probably because they are cutting costs I imagine and using cheaper ingredients or it just takes too long and the food is cold etc

Nope can’t say the ones around us have. I find it weird that you would think it’s all areas?

I’ve had a couple of take away fish and chips recently. I don’t get them often but I was never able to finish them in one sitting, either the fish or the chips. Both times recently they’ve been easy to finish and as my appetite hasn’t changed it’s obviously because they are considerably smaller.

Takeaways just aren’t worth the huge expense nowadays when the size and quality has deteriorated.

Yes dh ordered some munch boxes and I honestly said the salad was the best part. £50 down the pan.

I think it might be because many brands ( not independent restaurants) don’t actually do the takeaway. These are rustled up in off site kitchens.

I don't think that and mentioned regionality as a factor in my original post.

I did wonder if it was related to cost of living/economics, leading to price hikes and possibly cost cutting, which would indeed have the potential to affect all areas of the UK and beyond. But I am happy to read that you are well served for takeaways. Sad times for me, but they aren't great for my health or wallet tbf, so maybe it isn't such a problem

Well, two which is 100% of the takeaways I have had this year.

As I say in my previous reply, I wondered if there were overarching factors which are creating a general trend. It seems from a lot of these replies that may be the case.

Cost cutting will be the answer. I’ve noticed over a few years portions have gotten smaller while price increased. Now quality is also dropping.

I used to have places I’d order from as I knew it was good. Now I’m down to a chippy.

Tell me about it. A few weeks ago I ordered an Uber delivery from my favourite fish and chip shop. My usual cod and chips,with gravy. The chips and gravy were fine,but the fish. Urgh. After talking to my DD,who's husband used to be a fishmonger,I am sure that they substituted the cod for basa. Otherwise charmingly known as Vietnamese sewer fish. Which says it all. Slimy and revolting. I don't expect to pay cod prices for something that is about a third of the price.

I’m pretty sure you can report that to an agency. The name escapes me and I don’t just mean trading standards. There was a whole thing about white fish being used for cod.

We had a Chinese the other week and it was horrible, my sons chicken friend rice was made with processed chicken that really spongy chicken with holes in it 🤮 I won’t order one ever again

I’m surprised at the question, you think your two takeaways are representative of all take aways across the uk, irrelevant of restaurant quality and price point.

the answer is no, they are not. Some have gone downhill, some have not.

I do think that take aways have gone down hill. I ordered a pizza last week as it was warm and i fancied a treat. The pizza was so dry. The last time i ordered a chinese the quality was awful and i ended up with awful diarrhea. I am fine with spicy food when i cook it myself.

Agreed. We almost never get them and pretty much every time we do it’s a huge disappointment. It’s just overpriced grease.