Cardiff takeaway options honestly can be overwhelming. With so much to choose from (just look at City Road alone) it can feel impossible to convince your friends to decide on one, or just pick the right thing to eat for your YouTube time. Here’s ten of the top options, all approved by actual Cardiff uni students and citizens (read: me).
Athenian Tree
This Mediterranean restaurant serves up a range of traditional Greek dishes such as moussaka, stifado and gyros. The homemade, warm pita really makes it feel special and like you’re being well-fed at a family friend’s house. Personally, the Soutzoukakia is my favourite with the rich sauce bringing a real sense of comfort to the dish. I’d also really recommend the desserts—they always nicely round out the meal. Takeaway is fab, but if you want to sit in for the full experience it’s located on Cowbridge Road.
Pho
Located in the city centre, this Vietnamese chain is somewhat of a classic for me. Pho is the perfect dish when you need something warm but also filling; I can imagine it being ideal when you’re feeling a bit under the weather. The portions are super generous and they have tons of vegan and gluten free choices which makes this place a good pick if you worry about having enough options. My go-to is the chicken wok-fried noodles, though the beef brisket is not to be overlooked as well.
Honest Burgers
I first went here after having already had a big lunch, which was a grave mistake. They do not cut corners at all and after valiantly eating ¾ of my meal I had to admit defeat. The pesto chicken burger is truly something special though the titular ‘honest burger’ is also pretty yum. They also have a burger local to each location, and while I haven’t personally tried the Cardiff one my friend can attest to it being worthwhile. As well as having good meals, they also ethically source all their ingredients and support British farmers. Hooray!
Wagamama
This is probably my number one choice for a nice eat-in or takeaway in Cardiff. For Christmas, my housemates and I actually ate from Wagamama rather than a traditional Christmas meal. It was so so worth it and I honestly recommend starting a similar tradition. Where to even begin with recommendations? The chicken teriyaki soba noodles are probably my regular choice, though all the ramen and rice-bowl dishes are also a choice you will not regret. In terms of side dishes, you will be fighting over the bao buns or gyozas they add so much to the meal. If you wanna make the extra effort, I would super recommend visiting the one on Cardiff Bay, which is extra pretty when it’s dark outside.
T&A Kebabs
For many I think this place will need no introduction. T&A Kebabs’ reputation certainly had circulated around before I ever stumbled in famished at 2AM after some mediocre club night. The staff are incredibly amiable and once let us pose behind the bar with the tongs for a picture. Puzzlingly, they also run a tiktok livestream, which has come up in my conversations more times than I would like to admit. They have somewhat of a cult status, and I would definitely recommend them as an affordable, quick takeaway option that stays open late.
Franco Manca
This pizza place always comes into the conversation when there’s discussion of what takeaway to order. I think pizza is just too portable; it’s easy to eat with your hands and share it with others. I once ordered from here on a sunny day out whilst I did a paint and sip and it elevated the experience so much. I reliably get the chorizo pizza but last time I had the prosciutto and funghi one which was a nice change. Like any good pizza place they also have a great tiramisu that you will polish off no matter how full you are from the pizza.
QBao
QBao is a really nice restaurant that mainly focuses on noodle dishes and, well, bao buns. It’s always super busy, and it’s not hard to see why.
You can find it in the centre of the student-living area on Salisbury Road, making it ideal if you want to collect and save yourself the delivery fee. The chili oil spill noodles are probably my number one choice here, but I love the hot sour soup dumplings too. My friends were raving about this place before we tried, and it might be making it back to the living room table this galentines!
Taco Bull
Not to be confused with a perhaps slightly more well-known restaurant with a similar name, this halal taco place on Albany Road is worth trying out all the same. One of my housemates is such a local she got asked ‘You again?’ as she walked through the door. If that isn’t a raving review I don’t know what is! This place has such good value for money, especially the birria tacos which taste as good as they look. Tacos are easy to do well but hard to perfect; I think this place has got it down.
Fireaway Pizza
This was the first takeaway I tried in Cardiff after recognising the name from back home. I wanted something that felt reliable and well established in the city, and it was on my walk from my student accom to uni so it felt subconsciously implanted in my mind. This is another place with massive portions that you might want to plan your lunch around accordingly, particularly the calzones (which are my favourite). It’s a great choice for sharing—when I got this recently they had a 2-4-1 on all the pizzas which worked out really well. It’s also just as good the next day, and I always get excited knowing I have leftover pizza in the fridge for my lunch.
Rosa’s Thai
Pad Thai and stir fry are maybe meals you make yourself every so often (maybe more than every so often) because they’re quick and ideal on a student budget. The lidl sauce packets only get you so far though, and once in a while you should treat yourself to a version of these meals that is worth paying the little bit extra for. The Pad Thai definitely is my pick here, with the fried rice coming in second. I like eating from here because it makes you remember what stir fry can be like if you have good ingredients and don’t have to do the washing up after.
All in all, Cardiff has a wide variety of takeaways options to offer, from locally-sourced ingredients to international cuisines. Many Cardiff takeaways are affordable too, making it easy to enjoy what the city has to offer, all from the comfort of your home.
FAQs about takeaway food in Cardiff
Compare portion sizes, delivery fees and bundle deals. Sharing larger mains or meal-for-two packs is often cheaper than multiple small items—especially with sides included.
Yes—filter by dietary tags and message the restaurant about cross-contact if needed. Many kitchens label allergens clearly and can suggest swaps (e.g., no soy sauce, dairy-free cheese).
Order slightly before the dinner rush, use click-and-collect if you live nearby, and enable substitutions. Keep your phone close for courier updates to prevent missed deliveries.
Extra rice, bread or salad bowls stretch mains cheaply. Add dips/spices to customise plates so everyone can build their ideal portion without over-ordering.
Cool quickly, refrigerate within 2 hours, and reheat until piping hot the next day. Label spicy items and keep allergens separate in the fridge to avoid mix-ups in a shared kitchen.
Hi, my name is Lara and I’m undertaking a degree in Journalism, Media and English Literature at Cardiff University. I’m keen on reading the classics, and I also love board games (especially social deduction ones). When I’m not studying I like to inline skate, play the guitar and crochet.
