Black Friday can feel like a mad day in the UK. You’re busy chasing deals, carrying shopping bags, or scrolling online until your eyes hurt. And at some point, you get hungry and think, “Let’s just order a takeaway.” The problem is that everyone else has the same idea. If you’ve ever tried placing a takeaway order on Black Friday, you’ll know how painful the wait can be. The apps crash, the restaurant gets hammered with orders, and you end up waiting ages for your curry.
With so many people jumping on takeaway deals Black Friday UK, it helps to plan things a bit. The aim isn’t to overthink it. You just want your food to arrive hot and on time when you order takeaway Black Friday, without sitting there refreshing your screen for an hour. A bit of timing and common sense makes a big difference.
Why Timing Matters More Than You Think
Black Friday evenings can get messy for restaurants. Indian takeaways especially get packed, because everyone wants something warm and comforting after a long day chasing discounts.
Pre-order if you can
If you want a smoother night, the smartest thing you can do is order early. A lot of places let you book slots from late morning or early afternoon. You grab your preferred time and avoid the chaos later. Some even offer takeaway booking Black Friday deals or early meal deal discounts, so you might save a few quid as well.
If you’re ordering on the day
The busiest time is always the same: around 5pm to 8pm. That’s when the online food ordering surge hits. If you’ve ever waited 90 minutes for a biryani, that’s why.
If you can, order before the rush or wait until later in the evening. You’ll get faster service and maybe even snag last-minute takeaway discount codes. If you live close to the restaurant, a collection only special offer is often quicker than delivery, and you avoid delivery fees jumping up.
How To Get the Best Black Friday Food Deals
Black Friday is a good day to order Indian food because restaurants put out loads of deals to tempt people.
Takeaway deals worth checking
You’ll see Black Friday takeaway offers like two curries for the price of one, big meal deal takeaway bundles, biryani combos, free sides, and percentage discounts if you order directly from the restaurant’s website. Delivery services sometimes drop delivery discount codes as well, they come and go through the day.
Third-party apps help too
If you don’t want to hunt around, you can check Chefonline’s offers page.
It’s a quick way to see which Indian restaurants near you are running Black Friday specials.
Delivery or Collection, Which One Is Better?
Both have their ups and downs on a busy day like Black Friday.
Delivery
Delivery’s easy when you’ve spent the whole day shopping or you’re staying in. The downside is the obvious one, delays. Drivers are overloaded, traffic slows everything down, and sometimes your food takes the scenic route through three different neighbourhoods. Also, keep an eye on delivery fees because they can go up during busy times.
Collection
Collection is usually quicker. You walk in, grab your food fresh from the kitchen, and go home to eat in peace. But you need to get there on time, and if it’s cold outside, the trip can feel long. Pre-ordering collection is a solid way to avoid having all the best time slots taken.
Top Takeaway Ideas for Black Friday
On a hectic day like Black Friday, go for food that travels well and actually fills you up.
Popular choices
Things like burgers, pizzas, and Indian dishes always top the list. If you’re craving Indian food, curries like butter chicken, tikka masala, bhuna, korma, and biryanis always hit the spot. Tandoori platters and family bundles are ideal if there are a few of you eating.
Trending Black Friday deals
Indian restaurants usually put together special Black Friday combos with starters, mains, rice, and naan for less than usual. There are normally good vegetarian, vegan, and halal options as well. If you’re feeding a group or family, these offers are worth grabbing early.
Limited-edition Black Friday food
Some places have exclusive dishes or Black Friday limited edition menu items for the day. It might be a special curry, a new biryani, a bigger sharing platter, or a dessert add-on. These go quickly, so check early if you’re interested. And for pizza lovers, a Black Friday pizza deal is almost guaranteed to show up somewhere.
Avoid These Common Black Friday Takeaway Problems
A few things tend to go wrong on Black Friday:
Items sell out, especially the popular curries.
Delivery fees sometimes jump unexpectedly.
Your driver might be delivering for half the town before getting to you.
Menus get restricted when the kitchen gets too busy.
To avoid headaches, check the menu before you order, choose a quieter time, and don’t rely on last-minute decisions unless you’re okay with waiting.
FAQs
1. Should I pre-order my Black Friday takeaway?
Yes. You get better time slots and avoid long waits.
2. What time is the worst for ordering on Black Friday?
Between 5pm and 8pm. That’s when most takeaways get flooded.
3. Are Black Friday food deals actually worth it?
Usually. Most places run proper offers, especially Indian restaurants.
4. Is collection really faster than delivery?
Most of the time, yes. You skip the driver delays.
5. Where can I check Black Friday offers quickly?
Chefonline’s discount page or your favourite restaurant’s website.
Final Tips & Call to Action
If you want Black Friday evening to run smoothly, order early, grab the deals while they’re still there, and pick a time before everything gets hectic. Check which Indian restaurants are offering bundles or special menus, and decide whether delivery or collection works better for you.
Once you’ve sorted that out, get your order in and enjoy your Black Friday meal without the long wait.
