Buffet or school canteen? IKEA’s iftar spread sparks outrage over controlled portions

Imagine fasting all day, eagerly anticipating to feast at a buffet you booked in advance — only to arrive and find out you can’t even serve yourself. That’s exactly what happened to one netizen who attended the IKEA Special Buffet at their Cheras outlet recently.

In celebration of Ramadan 2025, IKEA rolled out a special buffet spread nationwide from 10 to 27 Mar. Tickets were available for purchase at the IKEA Cafe for RM59.90 per adult, while children under 4 years old dined for free.

The menu rotated daily but generally featured local delights like biryani and noodles, IKEA’s signature dishes, Western sides, a selection of desserts, and 3 types of beverages. Sounds promising, right? Well, not quite.

TikTok user @tunsejati took to the platform on 11 Mar to express her disappointment after attending the buffet. Instead of a regular self-serve experience, staff were in charge of scooping food — with strict portion control per customer. 

To make matters worse, they were slow to refill dishes, leaving many waiting in line with empty plates and rumbling stomachs. The famous meatballs? Still being fried while guests were already queueing.

Guests were also only allowed into the dining area 29 minutes before the adhan (call to prayer), leaving some still without food when it was time for iftar. And those drink options advertised? At the Cheras outlet, only 1 was available — and even that wasn’t refilled promptly.

Naturally, netizens had mixed reactions. A handful defended IKEA, suggesting that for RM59.90, diners should temper their expectations. Others pointed out that IKEA is primarily a furniture brand, not a full-fledged F&B company — arguing that critiques of their food service were unfair.

But the majority sided with the frustrated customer, comparing the buffet experience to a school canteen, complete with rationed portions and staff policing the food trays.

The silver lining? After the TikTok video went viral, another user reported that IKEA Cheras had improved its service, allowing guests to finally serve themselves. A small victory, perhaps — but it’s unfortunate that those who attended on that night had to endure a subpar experience before things were set right.

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