Takeaway costs in Ireland.

There is something seriously amiss in a country where takeaways can cost more than eating out in a restaurant.

While I understand the rising food and living costs, takeaways don’t have the same overheads as a restaurant, such as:

1. *Restaurants have higher electricity costs to heat and light a more prominent space (dining area). Takeaways usually have a small waiting/ordering area and a kitchen to heat)if they choose to) and light.*
2. *Restaurants must employ more staff to serve and clean up after in-house customers. Takeaways don’t need to employ additional front-of-house staff or additional kitchen porters.*
3. *Arguably, restaurants pay more rent for a bigger space than takeaways for a smaller space.*

**So, what am I missing? Without the extra costs that restaurants bear during these challenging times (compared to a takeaway), why would a takeaway cost the same or more than eating in a restaurant?!**

There is no incentive to get a takeaway if you can have a restaurant experience for the same price.

Edit 1: *I was asked by this thread to give specific examples of where it is cheaper or the same price to dine in a restaurant as it is to get a takeaway delivered. So, I provided the following details as a result. I want to emphasise that it is a midweek special between Tuesdays and Thursdays (so as not to be accused of dishonesty after providing the name of the restaurant when asked – the restaurant is called McHughs for the record):*

I can dine in at a local restaurant 5 minutes from the takeaway and get a steak, fries, salad, gorgeous pepper sauce and a glass of wine for 25 euros. Along with a priceless restaurant experience and no washing up or mess to clean up!

At my local Chinese takeaway, I can get a mediocre starter, mediocre main course and side, a soft drink and delivery for 25 euros.

Edit 2: I’ve just recently returned to Ireland (first left 20 years ago and briefly returned 10 years ago), so I haven’t experienced the gradual progression of these costs. Instead I’ve been shocked all at once.

I always got takeaways when I used to live in Ireland because there were better deals, and it was significantly more comfortable at home (I mean fuck this weather! Haha!)

From recent experience since returning to Ireland late last year, it was better value and quality to eat in the local restaurant than get delivery from the local takeaway. And I would NEVER have said that before.

Edit 3: I treat myself once a month, and it will be at that restaurant from now on. I don’t go to bars and don’t drink regularly, so I expect my monthly treat to be an actual treat. Not a bitter disappointment and rip-off!

Edit 4: The plight of the homeless is appalling in this country.

Many don’t even have facilities to microwave a donated ready meal in their accommodation if they’re “lucky” enough to get one for the night. Let alone afford a takeaway at these ridiculously inflated costs.

Soup kitchens provide many their only chance of a hot meal, and reportedly, they cannot keep up with the demand and run out of food.

20 years ago I would buy homeless people hot food. At these inflated prices, I simply cannot afford to do that anymore. In a so-called first-world country, it is outrageous that humans cannot help other humans because of inflated and ridiculous costs. There is something seriously wrong with the “system” if it has come to this.

Edit 5 and I’m done:

**1. The overriding opinion here is that the greed of companies like Justeat, Deliveroo and Wolt are hiking up the overheads for takeaways by up to 33%. So, even if you order a takeaway without delivery or order from the takeaway directly and bypass the corporate greed of apps, the overall cost is being passed onto the customer regardless.**

Curious\_cat93: “You and I don’t know how much % the takeaway service (e.g. Just Eat or Deliveroo) take from the restaurant. If it’s high, then it’ll result in two different menus, two different sets of prices.

For example, in some countries where [Wolt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolt), the delivery company takes 33% (!) from the cost of each item.

Either way, I agree, it’s an annoying experience for the customer”

Prestigious-Side-286: “They are covering the costs of the delivery services like Deliveroo and Just Eat. Just because you’re not using them doesn’t mean you’re not being charged for them. These services take a huge cut for providing their service to these takeaways.”

**2. Previous cash only transactions probably facilitated avoiding the tax man in the past. With transactions now on record through apps like these, even cash only premises need to declare like they may have been able to get away with in the past….(arguably the only way they were able to offer the cheaper takeaway prices).**

**3. This country’s private and commercial rent cost is ridiculous, especially in prime locations. So extra rent costs are naturally passed on to the customer.**

Wesley\_Skypes: “One thing to add to this is that the cost of renting a place is insane in certain spots. I was over in Swords on Friday for a drink and walked past a real estate agents. Had a gander at the prices and the spot that used to have a small restaurant called Shaker and Vine that I had eaten in before and is now gone, is up for rent for 70k per annum. It’s small enough to be a takeaway spot too, but you’d have to be doing amazing business to cover that level of rent for such a small spot.”

**4. There will be more hikes in delivery costs because the Revenue intends to tax delivery fees,f and many delivery people will quit.**

Silent-Dimension530: “Get ready for more price hikes on delivery . No longer will you see anyone delivering for a few quid to supplement their income . As of jan 24 revenue wants a cut of every delivery charge paid . So delivery man won’t find such jobs worth their while anymore . I operate a takeaway , from now on we will deliver the food ourselves . The drivers working here 10 plus yrs have quit because they won’t be making enough money for the job to be worthwhile .”

**5. The additional charge for the rise in fuel prices (fair enough) was not reduced when fuel prices went down! (Not so fair!)**

Geoffrey Ireland: “What I’ve noticed since the increase in fuel prices the delivery prices went up (fair enough) but they never came back down in line with the drop in fuel prices.

I live in Dublin 12 and while there are many takeaways less than 1km away they minimum charge for delivery is €3.50 which for a €12 food delivery pushes it’s to €15.50 which is more expensive that literally going there to sit down and eat the same food.

It makes no sense, I do have Deliveroo plus which drops all delivery charges with orders over €10 but they still charge a “service fee” of a minimum of €1 🙄”

**6. Food for thought about a steep 40% increase in less than two years for the same meal but a smaller portion:**

Top\_Possession\_8099: “Had a look back at an online receipt for the place i mostly order from (same meal ever week pretty much after work on a Friday). Since around July 2022 the same meal has gone up 4€ in price, the delivery fee has gone up 2€ and they added a service charge for both cash & card orders. The portion sizes have also gone down.

That’s about a 40% increase in cost in less than two years and not taking into account the smaller portions. Needle to say I don’t give them my money any more.”

by The_Happy_Phantom_