Ikea Swedish Cafe @ Ikea Cheras

I'm sure everyone is familiar with Ikea when it comes to getting some really nice, modern furniture & fittings to refurbish, redecorate or brighten up your home...and if you're familiar with Ikea, you'd be equally familiar with their cafes too.

I had a decorating project to do recently and found ourselves visiting Ikea quite a bit the past few months...and what do you do after loads of walking, browsing and buying?  Well, you eat, of course...and like everyone else most people, we'd eat at the nearest place available too and that would be the Ikea Swedish Cafe @ Ikea Cheras, the branch we were shopping in.

I've eaten at their cafe countless times, in fact each time I shop there, I'd end up wanting to eat at their cafe.  I started eating/shopping at their Damansara branch long before the Cheras branch nearer me opened. Actually, their food is quite ordinary (and some are mere processed food) but I enjoy comfort food once in a while...and my favourite dish here is none other than their signature dish of Swedish (Beef) Meatballs @ RM6.50 (this is the kids portion actually with 5 meatballs, hehe) with mashed potatoes (very smooth) & broccoli served with lingonberry jam.

The very first time I had this (back when their only branch was in Mutiara Damansara), I was apprehensive when I saw it served with lingonberry jam...I thought how would the sweet flavours go with something savoury.  That was the first time I learned that (sometimes) sweet and savoury flavours do go well together.

This is the more appropriate adult portion which have 15 meatballs (I think) but I once had that and found it too much for me, so I get the kids size (lol) + that way I've space to eat something else.  I noticed from their website (recently) that there's a size in between with 8 meatballs @ RM12 (not sure if that's available at the cafe though).  When they're super busy (which is like all the time), presentation takes a back seat.  It's just like getting food from a canteen, you queue and push your trays along, and they scoop/plonk whatever you want onto the plate.

The meatballs have a slightly dense texture...you can choose between beef or chicken meatballs + there's also an option for plant-based meatballs but I personally prefer beef...and rolling them in that luscious brown sauce (which was pretty delicious) and a little dip in the jam (which used to be a big dip when I wasn't refraining from sweet things) took them from mundane to good enough.  If I wasn't on a low-carb/low-sugar diet, I'll cart a jar of that lingonberry jam home.

My son also likes to eat their simple Fish & Chips @ RM12.90 served with a dollop of mayo and a wedge of lemon.  This I can see would be very popular with kids.....even the picky ones!

There was a time when I was having my usual and I caught a waft of something fragrant permitting through the air and realised that it was some delicious-looking, fragrant-smelling fried chicken wings that many were having.  This is the Fried Chicken Wings with Gochujang Sauce @ RM14.90 for 4 pcs (RM21.90 for 6 pcs). RM3.50 for a whole chicken wing (that includes the drummette) is a very good price if you ask me.

I know I wanted the fried chicken wings but wasn't particularly ecstatic when I learned it was served with gochujang sauce.  Luckily the sauce was served on the side but my fears were unfounded since it didn't taste anything like an authentic gochujang but closer towards a chilli sauce we're more familiar with.  The wings were piping hot and they were fragrant all right.  I'm happy! ^.^

The reason why I order a kids portion of meatballs is when I plan to have their Mushroom Soup @ RM4.90 and Garlic Bread @ RM3.90 (2 pcs).  Their mushroom soup is just nicely thick (of course it's not among some of the better mushroom soups I've had) but it's adequately satisfactory, finished with a dash of pepper (unfortunately, they only have white pepper packets available).

Their garlic bread is also not in the conventional form of a common baguette or bread roll but in slices (and I like that they use wholemeal bread).  Well toasted with butter and parsley with a fair amount of garlic taste, they're still crispy to the bite even though you find them abundantly in a tray and prepared ahead of time.  I think the sheer crowd makes this particular item move fast that they're regularly replenished (and thus able to stay crisp).

And to crown off all that is their unlimited refills of drinks (both hot and cold)...certainly a boon to some who get to enjoy free-flow drinks while resting their tired legs after all that shopping.  For cold drinks, you pay just RM2.50 to get an empty glass and for coffee (or tea), an empty coffee cup will be given...and what's even better, it's free if you're an Ikea member.

You have a wide variety of food and snacks to choose from such as mains of baked salmon, chicken chop, roast lamb, beef steak & ribs including beef wellington, pasta, sandwiches & salads), snacks like chicken lasagna, wontons, spring roll & more, desserts of pastries, cakes, apple pie, panna cotta, etc., even plant-based dishes and a kids menu, so there's something for everyone.

Probably their most famous pastry is their Curry Puffs @ RM7.80 for 6 pcs (or RM1.40 a pc) with a generous filling which is still a steal at today's prices (used to be RM1 a pc or RM5 for 6 when I first started eating them if I remember correctly).  Definitely one of my favourite curry puffs to have...and I've had it countless times (oops) coz I'm always tempted to buy them when I'm there.  The only thing that'll deter me from buying is the super long queue! >_<

My Personal Opinion

Although their food is nothing exceptional, I thought they did a more than decent job bearing in mind that the food is mass-prepared and cooked much like in a cafeteria or canteen.  The only downside is that you have to queue and get your own food...and the queue is always extremely long (luckily it moves along fairly quickly due to their large workforce).

I know some people don't like this canteen-like food...but I fine with it! ;)  It's comfort food for me which can be enjoyed in a clean and pleasant environment...after furniture browsing/shopping.  My favourites here are the Swedish meatballs, garlic bread, mushroom soup and (recently) the gochuang fried chicken wings.

Even if the food is not extra-ordinary, we can't complain about the prices.  C'mon, breakfast prices start from RM3.50 (you can even get a nasi lemak with fried chicken for just RM5.90)...now where can you get a hearty meal at such a reasonable price?  I can certainly see why the cafe is always so crowded coz it's so popular with families! ^_~

Ikea Swedish Cafe

Ikea Cheras

No 2A Jalan Cochrane

Taman Maluri

55100 Kuala Lumpur