I couldn’t believe it when I saw some of their menus
14:36, 24 Aug 2025Updated 14:48, 24 Aug 2025
I tried supermarket cafes at Tesco, Asda, Morrison’s and M&S and I’d never go back to one
They’re easy, a fun treat for the kids on a shopping trip and a break for mum (or dad, or both) from tackling the supermarket aisles. But how do supermarket cafes compare? I visited four of the biggest to find the best one, focusing on value for money, cleanliness, suitability for children and, of course, how good the food is.
I headed to Asda, M&S, Morrisons and Tesco and all of them shocked me, one for the wrong reasons. The last time I ate in a supermarket café I would have been about 12 and with my nan. I would have chosen a hot chocolate 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, it’s a whole different world. Supermarket cafes now boast menu items such as strawberry iced matcha lattes and posh brunch options such as eggs royale. Tesco and M&S, particularly, 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 and nothing was too much trouble. But will a supermarket cafe become my new go-to? I have ranked my experiences from best to worst.
1. M&S
The staff running the M&S Cafe really made the experience
My favourite was 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. It was 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 strawberry iced matcha latte.
I found the healthiest, and freshest food in M&S
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 time I had ever tasted matcha before it tasted of grass but something about the strawberry matcha was special. I loved it!
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 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. M&S does however boast an affordable kids’ menu, where children can grab a main, snack, and drink for just £4.50.
2. Tesco
It always appears to be busy at Tesco’s ‘The Cafe’
Second on my list is Tesco, and 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 lush 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 full English was delicious. The best part was the hash-browns
I have developed a newfound love for iced matcha!
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. Morrisons
There is something in Morrison’s for the whole family.
Dining at 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.
I was really impressed with the portion sizes.
The small fish and chips cost £6.50, and it was super tasty.
The value for money here really stood out to me, and the jacket potato was actually nicer than the one I had in MandS, while being £2.50 cheaper. 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 MandS, but it still offers a restaurant level of dining with cafe-style value for money.
So, don’t be fooled by its ranking. For me, (a 23-year-old with no children or financial responsibilities), I’d prefer somewhere I can grab an over-priced barista style iced beverage to post a picture of it on my Instagram story, but if I was a mum looking for somewhere I could take my kids, Morrison’s would easily be in the number one spot.
4. Asda
Lots of the tables were dirty, and there was rubbish on the floors
I was debating not including my experience in Asda in this review, as 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.
The carrot cake was quite possibly, in my opinion, the worst I have ever had
There was no hot food, other than toasties, on offer
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 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 MandS just around the corner.