I couldn’t believe it when I saw some of their menus
I tried supermarket cafes at Tesco, Asda, Morrison’s and M&S — there’s 1 I’ll never go back to
They are easy, a fun treat for the kids and perhaps a break for mum (or dad) during a trip so the supermarket. But how do our major supermarket brands’ cafes compare?
I visited four of the biggest UK supermarket chain cafes to find the best one, focusing on the main factors such as value for money, cleanliness, suitability for children and how tasty the food and drinks are. I headed to Asda, M&S, Morrison’s and Tesco — all of them shocked me, one for the wrong reasons.
The last time I ate in a supermarket cafe was probably when I was around 12 years old and I would have chosen a hot chocolate with all the toppings and a ham and cheese toastie.
This was back when the best things you could get were a jacket potato, or a pot of tea and a scone. Today, thing are a bit different. Supermarket cafes now boast menu items such as the TikTok viral strawberry iced matcha lattes, and posh brunch options such as eggs royale. Tesco and M&S, especially, are boasting restaurant-style menus for a fraction of the price.
This was not the only thing that stood out to me, however. The friendliness of the staff was truly a breath of fresh air. There was a sense of community in each of the cafes, as the staff spoke to regular customers as though they were friends. Nothing was too much of an ask and they seemed genuinely interested in every customer that passed through their doors.
So, will a supermarket cafe become my new go-to? Here are my experiences, from best to worst.
1. M&S
I found the healthiest, and freshest food in M&S
You may well have guessed in advance that my favourite was going to be M&S. Known for their quality produce on the shelves, the cafe was not going to disappoint. It was by far the cleanest, and had the best menu for my taste. I went for the chicken and pesto crunchy sandwich, and it was delicious: fresh, tasty and healthy.
I also tried a supermarket cafe classic, the jacket potato with cheese and beans, as well as the breakfast wrap (as recommended by staff on the day) and the viral strawberry iced matcha latte. The last time I tasted matcha it tasted like grass but I took another shot at it. As much as I hate giving into trends, something about the strawberry matcha was special. I loved it!
The staff running the M&S Cafe in Newport Retail Park really made the experience
I tried a range of food from the menu, but they also had plenty of hot food options, such as fish and chips, as well as nourish bowls, salads, and sweet treats.
The only downside of the M&S cafe was that it was the most expensive, by far, and so I am not sure you could justify dining out here so often. The jacket potato with cheese and beans cost £7.50, my chicken and pesto sandwich cost £7.50, and the breakfast wrap cost £6.95. To me, this is a little expensive for lunch in a supermarket, as these prices are even higher than the likes of Costa and Starbucks. But it does boast an affordable kids’ menu, where children can grab a main, snack, and drink for just £4.50.
2. Tesco
The full English was delicious — the best part was the hash-browns
It always appears to be busy at Tesco’s ‘The Cafe’
Again, I was shocked to see the range of menu items. Here you can get a chicken burger with fries, barista-made drinks and some seriously nice brunch items, as well as teacakes, scones and other classic supermarket cafe sweet treats. Despite the range of carefully put together, restaurant-grade dishes, I could not do a supermarket cafe review without getting a full English, could I?
I opted for the big breakfast, with fried bread, sausages, hash browns, eggs, beans and bacon. It was £9.50, but the portion size was enough for two! The prices of their other menu items ranged from £6 to around £9, and all appeared to be great value for money.
I also enjoyed yet another strawberry iced matcha latte, which was on par with the one I had in M&S. The staff were friendly, the service was fast, the cafe was clean and everything was tasty. On top of this, kids can eat here for £4, which to me, is a bit of a bargain!
3. Morrison’s
There is something in Morrison’s for the whole family
Morrison’s cafe exceeded all of my expectations. On top of the extensive range of freshly made cakes, salads and sandwiches, you can grab British classics such as bangers and mash, fish and chips, steak pie and mash, and other hearty meals all for around £7.
The best part is, kids eat for free with an adult meal costing £5 and over. This means you could get a jacket potato with cheese and beans for example, and your child can get chicken dippers, chips and veg, and it would cost you just £5 for the lot.
They also sell refillable soft drinks for £2.75, have a slushie machine, and refillable coffee machines. This cafe really caters for the whole family. The value for money here really stood out to me, and the jacket potato was actually nicer than the one I had in M&S, while being £2.50 cheaper.
The small fish and chips cost £6.50, and it was super tasty
I was really impressed with the portion sizes
The staff were friendly, the cafe was nice and busy, and it was really clean. The menu here is definitely more humble than the one in M&S but it still offers a restaurant level of dining with cafe value for money.
4. Asda
Lots of the tables were dirty, and there was rubbish on the floors
There was no hot food, other than toasties, on offer
I was debating not including my experience in Asda in this review at all. It was a bit of a fail and all I am going to do is urge you to avoid the place but I have to be honest after all.
The only enjoyable thing was drinking my Costa coffee, as I used it to wash down my stale panini, stale carrot cake that was as hard as bricks, and to distract me from the dirty tables and the sticky floor.
My experience was definitely hindered by the fact that the entire hot food menu was not on offer due to staff shortages, and there was only one person working on both the till and in the kitchen. Though, despite the staff shortage, I received friendly service.
The carrot cake was quite possibly, in my opinion, the worst I have ever had
The only other menu item I tried was a £4.95 ham and cheese panini. The bread and the cheese were decent, but the ham was like eating rubber. One positive is that when they are serving food, kids can eat here for just £1, which is real value for money.
It is safe to say I will not be going back to Asda cafe again any time soon, especially with Morrison’s, Tesco and M&S just around the corner.