How to compare local takeaways: hygiene ratings, delivery and value

Ordering a takeaway is a small decision, but a poor one can mean cold food, a long wait or, occasionally, an upset stomach. A few checks take a minute and make a real difference.

Check the food hygiene rating

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, run by the Food Standards Agency with local councils, gives food businesses a rating from 0 to 5 after an inspection. A 5 means hygiene standards are very good; a 0 means urgent improvement is required. In Scotland, the Food Hygiene Information Scheme uses a Pass or Improvement Required result instead.

You can look up any business on the Food Standards Agency's website. In Wales and Northern Ireland, businesses must display their rating; in England display is voluntary, so a takeaway that does not show its sticker may simply have chosen not to, but it is worth looking up.

A few things to bear in mind:

• The rating reflects the conditions on the day of inspection, and the date of the inspection is shown. A rating from several years ago tells you less than a recent one.
• The rating covers hygiene, not how good the food tastes.
• A low rating is a reason to ask questions or choose elsewhere, not proof of a problem.

Compare delivery options honestly

Many takeaways are listed on delivery apps and also take orders directly. Compare:

• Price: the same dish can cost more through an app than by ordering directly, because the app charges the business a commission. Check the menu on both.
• Delivery and service fees, and any minimum order.
• Delivery area and typical time. A takeaway that quotes a wide area may still take a long time to reach the edge of it.
• Who delivers: the takeaway's own driver or a courier from the app. This affects who to contact when something is late or missing.
• Collection discounts, which many independent takeaways offer.

Ordering directly usually helps the business more and often costs you less, but the app may offer easier tracking and refunds. Decide which matters more to you on the night.

Allergens and dietary information

Food businesses in the UK must provide information about the 14 major allergens in the food they sell, including for takeaway and delivered food. If you or someone you are ordering for has an allergy:

• Phone rather than order online, and ask specifically about the dish.
• Ask how they avoid cross-contamination, for example whether they use separate fryers.
• Be cautious if the answer is vague or the person cannot check with the kitchen.

Anyone who is unwilling to answer allergen questions should not get the order.

Judge value, not just price

• Portion sizes vary a great deal. Look for photographs from customers rather than the menu.
• Meal deals and set menus are often better value for two or more people than individual dishes.
• Check whether prices include rice, naan, chips or other sides, or whether these are extra.
• Look at what the takeaway is known for. A place that does one cuisine well is usually a better bet than one that offers pizza, curry and kebabs on the same menu.

Use ratings and reviews with care

Online reviews are useful for spotting patterns, such as repeated complaints about late delivery or wrong orders, but individual reviews can be unrepresentative in both directions. Read a spread of recent ones, and give more weight to specific comments than to a star count.

Check the basics before you order

• Opening hours, including whether the kitchen closes before the advertised time.
• Payment methods, and whether cash on delivery is accepted.
• Whether the business is a takeaway only or a restaurant that also delivers, which can affect how the food travels.
• A phone number that is answered, in case there is a problem.

Each listing on Annuvell Local shows checked contact details, so you can call the takeaway directly rather than going through an app. You can find takeaways near you and compare the basics before you order.

If something goes wrong

If an order is late, wrong or missing, contact whoever took the order first: the app if you ordered through it, otherwise the takeaway. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, food you buy must be as described and of satisfactory quality, and you are entitled to a refund or replacement if it is not. If you believe food has made you ill, report it to your local council's environmental health team, which investigates food safety complaints.

Next steps

Look up the hygiene rating and its date, compare the direct price with the app price, and phone with any allergen questions. Try one dish first from a new place before ordering for the whole household. A takeaway that gets the basics right on a busy Friday is one worth keeping on your list.