Fast Food in the UK
The Friday night Chinese, a curry that is actually good, fish and chips by the sea, a pizza delivered still hot, a kebab after the pub, a halal grill, or the burger the kids want: find the takeaways near you, with hygiene ratings and hours, and order direct.
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Finding a good takeaway in the UK
Takeaways are the busiest local trade there is: Chinese, Indian, pizza, fish and chips, kebab and Turkish grills, burgers and chicken, Thai, Caribbean, Italian, Greek, sushi and the rest, from the family shop that has been on the parade for thirty years to the dark kitchens that exist only on the apps. The good ones cook to order from fresh, hold a five hygiene rating, know their regulars' orders, and are open when you want them. The rest are the reason to look before you order.
Two things decide a good takeaway experience. The Food Standards Agency hygiene rating, displayed in the window and searchable online, says whether the kitchen is clean and the food handled safely; four or five is the standard, and anything under three is a reason to go elsewhere. And how you order: the apps are convenient and take 15 to 30 per cent from the shop, so ordering direct by phone or the shop's own website is cheaper for you and better for them, and many offer collection discounts. Allergen information must be provided on request, halal and vegetarian options are widely marked, and the best shops publish a menu you can read.
The listings here show each takeaway's cuisine, hygiene rating, hours, delivery and collection, menu and reviews, so you can see what is nearby and open, who is rated five, and which takeaways people in your town order from every week.
Kinds of takeaway
Chinese, Indian and Asian: the Friday night staples, plus Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese and sushi, with set meals and family deals.
Fish and chips: the chippy, with the fish, the chips, the pies and the extras, best eaten within ten minutes.
Pizza, kebab and grill: independent pizzerias and the chains, kebab and Turkish grills, halal and Middle Eastern, open late.
Burgers, chicken and fast food: independent burger and chicken shops, the national chains, and the drive-throughs.
The rest: Caribbean, Italian, Greek, Mexican, Caribbean, African, vegan and healthy takeaways, and the restaurants that also deliver.
Ordering well from a takeaway
- Check the hygiene rating; four or five is the standard, three at a push, and under three is a no.
- Order direct by phone or the shop's website; it is cheaper than the apps and the shop keeps the money.
- Ask about collection discounts and meal deals; most shops offer 10 to 20 per cent for collecting.
- Ask about allergens and cross-contamination; shops must tell you, and a good one knows its dishes.
- Check hours and delivery areas before you set your heart on it; kitchens close earlier than the shop.
- Read recent reviews for the food and the delivery time, not the ones from three years ago.
What takeaways cost in the UK
As a rough guide, a Chinese or Indian main with rice costs £8 to £14 and a family set meal £25 to £45; fish and chips £8 to £14 a portion; a large pizza £10 to £18 independently and £15 to £25 from the chains before deals; a kebab £7 to £12; a burger meal £7 to £12; delivery £1.50 to £4 direct and more on the apps with service fees, and often free over a minimum. App prices are frequently 10 to 20 per cent above the shop's own menu, plus the fees.
The same meal ordered direct for collection often costs a third less than the same meal through an app to the door.
How do I find a good takeaway near me?+
Look at the takeaways listed for your town by cuisine, check the hygiene rating and the hours, and read recent reviews for the food and delivery times. Ring the shop or use its own website to order; it is cheaper than the apps and the good shops answer the phone.
What does a food hygiene rating mean?+
The Food Standards Agency rates every food business from 0 to 5 after an inspection of hygiene, structure and management; 5 is very good, 4 good, 3 generally satisfactory and 0 to 2 needs improvement. Ratings must be displayed in Wales and Northern Ireland and are searchable for England; a takeaway rated under 3 is one to avoid.
Is it cheaper to order direct or through an app?+
Direct, nearly always: the apps charge the shop 15 to 30 per cent, so menu prices on the apps are often higher and service and delivery fees are added; ordering by phone or the shop's own site avoids most of that and collection discounts save more. The apps are convenient; the shop's own number is cheaper.
Do takeaways have to tell me about allergens?+
Yes. Every food business must provide information on the 14 major allergens in each dish, in writing or verbally, and takeaways must say so on the menu; ask when ordering and say if a reaction would be severe, so the kitchen can avoid cross-contamination. A shop that cannot answer is a shop to avoid for an allergy.
How do I find halal takeaways?+
Look for halal in the listings; kebab and Turkish grills, many Indian, Pakistani and Middle Eastern takeaways and a growing number of chicken and burger shops are halal, and the shop will confirm the certification if you ask. Vegetarian and vegan options are marked on most menus too.
What time do takeaways close?+
Most takeaways serve until 10 or 11pm on weeknights and midnight or later at weekends, with kebab shops and some pizza and chicken shops open until 2 or 3am in towns; fish and chip shops often close by 9pm. The listing shows hours, and the kitchen usually stops taking orders half an hour before closing.
How do I get my business listed?+
It is free. Add your business in about two minutes to appear on this page and your local town directory. Upgrade to Featured for £2.99 a month to sit above the free listings.