Morrisons' £9 Chinese takeaway box outperformed rivals from Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose in a taste test, offering the best value and closest match to a traditional takeaway.
With the average Brit ordering up to two takeaways a month, rising prices can turn a Friday night treat into a small fortune. Supermarkets now offer 'feast boxes' as budget alternatives, but can they really rival a local takeaway?
Morrisons tops the ranking
Morrisons' Takeaway Banquet For Two, featuring sweet and sour chicken and chicken curry, won with a 5/5 rating. It included egg fried rice, spring rolls, and prawn crackers, and offered the largest portions, comfortably feeding two hungry adults. The chicken curry was rich and fragrant, tasting close to an authentic Chinese takeaway sauce, while the sweet and sour sauce was thick, well-balanced, and the closest in flavour to a traditional takeaway.
Waitrose a strong runner-up
Waitrose's Chinese Takeaway Favourites for 2, priced at £12.50, came second with a 4/5 rating. It provided three main dishes instead of two, including beef in black bean sauce, sweet and sour chicken, and chicken chow mein, plus egg fried rice and vegetable spring rolls. The presentation looked premium, with chargrilled peppers and tender beef in a rich, umami-heavy black bean sauce. However, the chow mein was light on chicken, and the sweet and sour sauce was thinner. No prawn crackers were included.
Sainsbury's and Tesco fall short
Sainsbury's Chicken Chow Mein & Sweet & Sour Chinese Takeaway Box, at £8.95, scored 3/5. It offered generous portions with fluffy egg fried rice and peas, but the sweet and sour sauce was too sugary and liquid, and the chow mein noodles turned mushy when heated. It lacked the punch of the top two.
Tesco's box, the cheapest, had large well-battered chicken chunks but a watery, pineapple-heavy sauce. The egg fried rice contained almost no egg, the chow mein was bland, and the chicken felt dry. Portions were noticeably smaller than other supermarkets.
Verdict
Morrisons felt like a decent Friday night takeaway treat for just £9. If you prefer more variety and don't mind spending a few extra pounds for a third main dish, Waitrose is a strong runner-up, but be sure to pick up a bag of prawn crackers on the side.
