2017
Nordic Fruit Water ($1.00.99, glass with free refills)
A self-serve range of flavoured waters.
Sparkling Nordic Pear
Aroma suggested ripe pear, though the flavour itself leaned closer to a lightly sweet, citrus-adjacent soft drink. The profile recalled New Zealand-style lemon drinks, but with reduced sweetness. The carbonation was present but subdued.
Still Lingonberry
A muted red fruit profile—mildly tart, mildly sweet, without a distinct identity on first contact. The flavour aligned with a general berry blend rather than a clearly defined fruit.
Sparkling Nordic Raspberry
A softer, more natural raspberry note, without the artificial sharpness typical of cordial-style drinks. Sweetness was restrained, though carbonation again felt underdeveloped.
Sparkling Nordic Lemon
Close to standard commercial lemonade in profile, with a familiar balance of sweetness and acidity.
Green Iced Tea
Sweetened and lightly carbonated, with a lemon-forward profile. The finish carried a noticeable artificial aftertaste that lingered.
Almondy Cake with Daim ($3.90)
An almond-based cake layered with cream and coated in milk chocolate with crushed almonds. The base lacked its intended crispness, having softened over time. Chocolate elements provided the main contrast, cutting through the density of the almond and cream layers. Additional chocolate would have improved balance.
Passionfruit Cheesecake ($3.90)
A lighter-textured cheesecake with a clear passionfruit flavour. The sauce added a sharper acidity and lifted the overall profile, preventing it from becoming too sweet.
Swedish Meatballs, Chips & Gravy ($13.90)
Meatballs were soft and uniform in texture. The gravy carried an unexpected creamy note, diverging from standard brown gravies. Lingonberry jam added a sweet contrast that sat effectively against the savoury elements. Chips were crisp and held structure.
Children’s Fish and Chips ($3.00.49)
Fish-shaped portions with a uniform interior texture, suggesting a processed base. The flavour leaned mild, with a slight vegetal note. Chips were consistent with the main offering. Value was clear at the price point.
A firm jelly with a pronounced artificial lime flavour. The included jelly frog had softened, losing its intended chew.
Marsden Park layout placed the restaurant near the entrance and snack section near the exit, creating a disconnect between the two.
The Rhodes location resolved this with a more integrated layout, allowing easier access to the snack section.
Hot Dog ($1.00)
A soft bun with a standard sausage filling. Flavour was straightforward, with condiments providing most variation. Strong value relative to cost.
Cinnamon Bun ($1.50)
Exterior leaned dry, while the centre held a dense, sticky cinnamon sugar filling. Texture contrast between soft interior and crystallised sugar pockets added interest.
2025
To mark 50 years in Australia, IKEA released a limited-edition party pie across its stores.
IKEA Meatball Party Pie
A pastry shell filled with meatballs blended into gravy and topped with lingonberry jam. The filling was smooth and uniform, resembling a standard meat pie more than a segmented meatball dish. Flavour was savoury but generalised. The lingonberry topping introduced a bright sweetness that sat above the filling rather than integrating with it. Pastry was crisp and well-layered.
IKEA Plantball Party Pie
A plant-based version with a similar structure. The filling was softer and slightly more varied in texture, with identifiable elements such as peas and potato. The flavour leaned mildly sweet and vegetal, with greater variation across bites compared to the meat version.
These party pies offered a light-hearted and playful way for IKEA to mark its half-century in Australia. The concept drew on familiar comforts—whether from the footy oval or the IKEA food hall—and reimagined them in an unexpected, yet recognisably nostalgic format.
The IKEA Party Pie appeared at IKEA locations around Australia on 31 May 2025.