My kitchen drawer is overflowing with takeaway leaflets – you name the cuisine and I betcha I have a leaflet for it. I’ve become a bit of a hoarder with some dating back years, and I often get a shock when I fancy trying something new because either they no longer exist or the prices are a lot higher. I don’t know why I keep them actually, because I only really order from about three.
JUST EAT offers a way to help me de-clutter. It’s an online takeaway service that lists the takeaway restaurants in your area. I’ve tried something vaguely similar with Deliverance, which although good, didn’t make me change my ways, mainly to do with their pricing.
Back to JUST EAT. When you land on the page you’ll notice it’s bold, unfussy, clearly laid out and very simple to use. Tap in your postcode and it’ll list all the takeaways near you. You have a choice to see everything or to list a particular cuisine, which you can then sort in order such as distance or user rating etc. The list is good, with a decent selection of takeaways to choose from, but it was a shame to see a couple of my regular haunts not listed.
I took this opportunity to try a different takeaway. I was in the mood for Chinese and had heard good things about PAYA, so decided to give it a go. You can order in advance if the takeaway is closed and be one of the first in line for when it opens, or you can order for a specific time or for as soon as possible.
You also have an option to collect or have it delivered – adding any special requirements if necessary on check-out. I drive, and will often collect myself, so it’s good to see this option. On this occasion though I opted for a delivery, which came quickly and well within the given time.
I can rarely order a Chinese without having Spare Ribs. Sadly at PAYA they were criminally bad – overly sweet, tough and expensive at £6.25, given that the going rate in the area is around £4.50 and miles better.
The meal didn’t improve much from there really. The Nasi Goreng had a nice chilli kick but had no flavour whatsoever – bland, bland, bland with only 2 measly King Prawns in it. The Soft Shell Crab was OK though, and had a nice crunch, but not good enough to save a disappointing meal. Maybe you’ll have better luck with the Chinese restaurants in your area.
Suffice to say I won’t be ordering from PAYA again, but I do like the ease and simplicity of JUST EAT and will no doubt be using their services. Especially if they get a few more of my favourite takeaways on board, then it might just be the push I need to de-clutter that drawer.
Food I Fancy was given a credit voucher to spend on a JUST EAT Meal. As usual views and opinions are our own.
