- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
IKEA
Categories: Shopping Home & Garden Home Decor Shopping Home & Garden Furniture Stores Shopping Home & Garden Kitchen & Bath Home Decor, Furniture Stores, Kitchen & Bath [Edit]
3200 Sweden WayRichmond, BC V6V 2A5
(604) 233-8491
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 9 pm
Sat 9 am - 9 pm
Sun 10 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
53 reviews for IKEA
Review Highlights
-
"frozen-yogurt-eating races." In 6 reviews -
"the hot dogs are my weakness." In 7 reviews -
"we also had an ice cream cone each and a cinnamon bun." In 3 reviews
Loading...
53 reviews in English
-
Review from Alexandra S.
Vancouver, BC
11/27/2011
When our future alien overlords arrive, they will destroy our civilization with special lasers that disintegrate the bolts holding up every Expedit and Billy bookcase worldwide. Every North American home and office will be buried in books, papers and housewares within 60 seconds.
Meanwhile, it's awfully handy to be able to buy, assemble and fill a bookcase for less than $100 in under 3 hours. True, 1.5 of those hours will be spent standing in line, but you can use that time to acquire the stack of Swedish chocolate, fluorescent lightbulbs and decorative candle-holders that you forgot you needed (and will cease to need as soon as you leave the store). But it's awfully nice to walk into just about any home in Vancouver and recognize at least one piece of furniture you have in common.
Yes, it's generic. Yes, it's ubiquitous. Yes, it's got a limited lifespan. But let's be honest: it fills an incredibly useful role. So just remember to start in the as-is room, to keep your "investment" as minimal as possible. -
Review from Deanna S.
5/23/2012
My name is Deanna, and I am an IKEA survivor.
Most people hate IKEA... but I LOATHE it. And above all, I loathe this location the most.
What the HECK do the employees here get paid to do?! I made the mistake coming here alone (I'm starting to tear up and get shaky just thinking about this, because it was easily the worst experience of my life) when I first moved to Vancouver. I had just arrived in the city at 9 am, with my snowboard bag and suitcase filled with all my belongings. The plan? To go to IKEA and buy everything. I was starting from scratch.
After weeks of picking things out online and making up my list and making sure that everything was in stock, I was ready to go. I was hoping that when I got there, this could be a relatively easy experience, I could find an employee to help me find everything, I'd pay for same-day delivery, and be on my way to meet them at home.
What really happened? I arrived, and walked through the whole thing looking for someone to help me. No one. I was starting to get stressed, but I am a big girl so I just took a deep breath and braved it on my own. I started looking for everything I needed in the giant warehouse. All I really NEEDED for the first night was a bed, mattress, pillows, and linens, so that was all I set out to buy.
I'm 5'3, and 120 lbs... with no upper body strength. I am not a big girl after all, and wouldn't you know it, I can't carry a F*%$ING bed from the warehouse to the cash register. I found an employee wandering around the warehouse, put on my sweetest smile, and asked him to help me out. He helped me get the pieces (including a queen sized mattress) and put them on a cart for me... and then just ditched.
I stood there hopelessly in the middle of the warehouse with a giant cart stacked like 10 ft high with all the pieces I needed (including the mattress), and I had to get to the cash.
F.M.L.
It was SO heavy, and the cart was like impossible to steer because it was so awkwardly sized and heavy... and I was so small and helpless. It had a mind of its own, and when I pushed it, it would go to the left when I needed to go to the right. It was awful.
After about a millennium of huffing and puffing my way to the cash, I paid, and took my order to the delivery station to sign up for same-day delivery (which I had read about, and called and enquired about beforehand), paid the $70, only to be told that my postal code (downtown Vancouver) was 1 km out of the "same-day delivery zone" and would have to wait an extra day. No exceptions. No matter how badly I begged, they wouldn't do anything for me. I don't drive, I don't have a car. I didn't know ANYONE living in Vancouver at this point. I accepted this news, actually cried, and went home.
That night, I slept on my (concrete) floors (I have a loft) with just a duvet, sheets, and 2 pillows, and I swear my back hasn't been the same since. I've never woken up with such PAIN in my life. I was BRUTAL.
The next day, my bed was delivered (late), and I spent the next 12 hours (after the worst sleep of my life, with an aching body), trying to assemble my bed by myself. So brutal, I will never EVER go there again. If I did end up buying something else from IKEA, it will be online, with delivery, and set up. Take my credit card and do it all yourself, jerks. -
Review from Addy W.
Surrey, BC
5/9/2012
This is really a review of the assembly service IKEA recommends (Urban Express). They arrived 3 hours late (at 8 pm, only leaving my place at 10:30 pm) and did significant damage to my floors and walls. It was obvious they had never put together 2 of the 3 articles of furniture I had ordered. It was my understanding that IKEA trained the assembly people on how to put together ALL articles.
The company they used to use was more reasonably priced and never damaged my property.
Really disappointed and not looking forward to the process of trying to get damages paid for. -
Review from Taylor K.
5/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is the review for the old Richmond Ikea location.
Oh Ikea. I am pretty sure almost everyone has one of their furniture in the house, maybe not by choice. We purchase most of our furniture from Ikea because it is more affordable but I hate doing the assembly. But we have done it so much that we are getting pretty good at it.
So far, the stuff we have acquired from Ikea have been good and sturdy but sometimes there are odd parts that do not fit properly or stick out like sore thumb.
If we had more money, we would love to be able to splurge on nicer furniture but in the meantime, this will do.
The Richmond location is smaller than the Coquitlam one but now with the new location that opened, I imagine that it will be pretty comparable in size. -
Review from Susan H.
Vancouver, BC
5/21/2012
Worst shopping experience EVER, with the exception of the time I got caught in a (fairly half-assed) robbery in a Cotton Ginny. Except in this case, it's the store's fault.
I drove to the new Richmond IKEA and got completely lost in the massive traffic jam in the parking lot, where a sign saying "parking this way" directed me into a one-way-only area - and, dutifully following their arrow, I was going the wrong way. I tried to get out of the way of the on-coming traffic, basically having to drive over a curb-size bump that smashed the bottom of my car. (It's still running, and hopefully will continue to do so.) I was then stuck in a near dead-end, but managed to squeeze past (with about 1/2 cm to spare) a van that had been parked in such a way as to block the way out . I finally park somewhere waaaaay out in the old parking lot.
When I get into the new building, I am completely lost. If the old IKEA felt like an exitless conveyor belt of living-room/dining-room/bedroom/living-room/dining -room/bedroom, at least I knew that maze - the new store is twice as difficult to navigate and feels like a slightly upgraded Costco. I had originally intended on picking up a specific item ( a duvet set), having a bite to eat and generally drifting around, impulsively buying crap I don't need. (They always have made more money off me than I intended to spend.) I eventually did find the bedding area, but not the item I wanted, and so I just quit in disgust and left.
I won't be back there anytime soon, if ever.
(Note: I have also copied this to the other IKEA Richmond review site, at the new address - people need to be warned!!)) -
Review from Megan S.
5/1/2012
You can't really give IKEA more than 3 stars even at the best of times. Let's face it - every time you go there, it's a pretty awful experience. Winding your way through display after display like cattle, dodging around strollers and speeding up to pass screaming children only to find yourself dodging and passing them AGAIN 5 minutes later because you stopped to look at a bookshelf.
Somehow, the staff uniforms have gotten even uglier than they used to be (think Ronald McDonald mustard yellow circa 1988), but those damn shirts are never around when you actually need one.
Here's the upside - this new Richmond store is substantially larger than its predecessor and the layout has improved.
Here's the downside - NO BEER! I don't know if they just haven't got their liquor license yet, but the lack of booze dashed our dreams of recuperating from the cattle crawl with some Sleemans and cheap, crappy food. We decided to hit up McDonald's on the way home instead for better, cheap, crappy food. -
Review from Robert H.
Vancouver, BC
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really want to give this store a MINUS 5. I checked online info on this store before going to it, nothing was mentioned that they were running a limited inventory and under some type of construction. By the time my GF and I figured out this store had NO real interesting inventory that we were looking for, it took us about 15 minutes to find the way out of the store. I am a very positive person, but getting out of that store tried every bit of my patients, It was one of the first times I ever started to feel seriously claustrophobic, I could not believe that there was no way to get out of the store. I felt like a mouse in a maze except I didn't get any cheese when I finally made it to the exit.
After this I drove over to the IKEA in Coquitlam (just so I could compare) and they were MUCH BETTER! Lots of inventory, not so claustrophobic, didn't have to stick to ONE PATH to the exit. HELLO! I don't know who is managing the Richmond IKEA but it is a good thing I didn't run into him while I was trying to find the exit.
I will not go to the Richmond IKEA again. Sorry. -
Review from Amanda H.
3/28/2012
Love/hate relationship with this location. We have been here a handful of times and most of our furniture comes from here but I don't like the quality and sometimes the prices seem way over the top.
Also, parking here is complete HELLLLLLL!!! It is pretty much not worth going most of the time. I also have never met a happy employee. Everyone acts like drones that an IKEA factory pumped out. -
Review from Isabelle G.
Vancouver, BC
3/13/2012
This is not a review of the shop itself but for the restaurant. It's self serve, however, you don't need an allen key to put together.
I went a long time ago and realized that I needed to review this place 'cause let's face it, all that shopping and walking, we all need to refuel.
I do not consider this place to be wallet friendly, however, there is a lot of options to chose from being cafeteria style so that you can make culinary dietary needs.
It's fast food, therefore, the only truly gluten items are the chicken, fries and almond tart, however, you can get a carton of milk, fruit and chips.
Normally cafeteria style food and ambience would turn me off. The last time I did this was when I was visiting someone in the hospital.
It brought back high school and college memories....including the same quality of food.
If you like the Swedish meatballs....you can buy them at the Ikea marketplace the next floor down.
While I was being served my meatballs....I was singing the Swedish chef (Muppet Babies) song/imitation. It got some laughs, especially while walking on the Ikea floor with a plate of balls singing, "bork bork bork, pork bork balls."
A heads up that the prices on the food go up on the weekend. -
Review from Siobhan B.
Vancouver, BC
4/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
During renovations the kids section is GONE. Weird.
-
Review from Stephene C.
Vancouver, BC
10/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
IKEA IS SKRÄCKINJAGANDE! (That means awesome in Swedish fyi. Don't believe me?! Google translate it!)
I love to come to Ikea just to look at things. Nevermind that I don't actually need any furniture or household items. I can come here and roam the isles and showcases for hours and have a blast!
Today was no different, no furniture needed, but I did come here with purpose in mind. I wanted to buy a plant, yes a plant. I consider myself to have a fairly green thumb, I have an avid interest in the flora of things.
A while back, coming to Ikea, I saw this really cool looking plant, but at the time I was funemployed and couldn't justify buying this wondrous natural creation. This particular want never really left my mind, so once me and some friends decided to come here, I knew that I was going to purchase this particular shrubbery.
Interested in seeing what this highly sought after plant is all about? drumroll please.....check it out here: http://s3-media4.ak.ye.... It's called a Ficus Microcarpa (Ginseng Bonsai) and I think its about one of the coolest things in the world, if not the universe!
This trip to IKEA didn't end with an awesome purchase of a plant, it was topped off with two $1 frozen yogurts, deeeeeeeeeeelish!
UPDATE* (11:19pm) - I was just informed by my great friend Doris, that skräckinjagande actually means fearsome (according to wikipedia) but for some odd reason if you type SKRÄCKINJAGANDE into google translate in all CAPS letters, it comes up as AWESOME! I'm not gonna change it on this yelp regardless of what it means because I find this highly funny. I guess I don't need to emphasize the point that IKEA is neither fear inducing nor scary in any way LOL, unless of course you have some strange aversion to furniture, then in that case IKEA is skräckinjagande for you hahaha.
St3Fin -
Review from Fritz S.
10/7/2011
I don't know if you've heard of this very small furniture store called "IKEA" ... know what your thinking.. "what a stupid name" what idiot would come up with a name like that?!?! ..... i can tell your pissed off like i am!!! :P
Leave it to the Sweeds to make a simple furniture store and turn it into a huge Success. The prices are hella cheap, they got a massive showroom displaying Beds, kitchens, bathrooms, lights, couches, desks, Pretty much everything you need to pimp out your home without ur wallet doing the "anal" fandango!
OH and have you had the food there!?!? so simple yet so tasty!.. 15 meatballs with berry coulis, mash potatoes and gravy 3.99?!?!? are you kidding me? Wait What?!!? breakfasts for only 1.99??!? SERIOUSLY??! how the hell do you guys make money!??.... wait... 50c hotdogs and soft ice cream?!?!?! .... ok im done!
Mr. Ikea... you are the "shiznit"!!!!!!!!!!!Listed in: Yelps "Thirty Day Challange"
-
Review from Louise G.
11/13/2011 5 Check-ins Here
*Three and a Half Stars*
Fan of the bookshelves - great modular system. Inexpensive.
Recently purchased a leather couch and footstool from them. We opted to rent our own truck and take delivery ourselves rather than use their service ($75) or use their suggested rental service. We spent a few hours going over the various couch types; reviewing configurations and sizing, checking the comfortability and establishing availability. When it came down to it we ultimately chose a couch that wasn't one we'd shortlisted - it was just a new addition to their inventory.
All in all a decent shopping experience - no over enthusiastic sales people harrassed us while we were exploring our options. And no one seemed to mind me trying out a couch in the fashion I intend to use it: lying down with my head in my honey's lap, ready to watch tv or eyelid theatre. :-) -
Review from Edward L.
I noticed a few changes with this past visit.
1. Their round mesh trash cans are gone! They've been replaced by square mesh ones. Just not the same. *sigh*
2. Hot dogs are now.. 75c!? That's 50% more than their old price of 50c!
3. Their light bulbs (CFL) are much cheaper than Home Depot across the street. They're at $2-3 each, instead of $2-5.
Despite #3, I was ready to cry when I left. *sniff*Listed in: 2011 Cheap & Tasty
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
2/19/2011
Today I received word that you could get 10 Swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes + gravy +… Read more »
-
-
Review from Robin M.
7/6/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Really? Really, I'm writing a review about Ikea? Well, yes. Yes apparently I am.
But for good reason. Ikea is one of those places that everyone knows. We've all had that crappy Lak side table, the clunky Billy bookcase, the worn-out Poang chair - we're all in it together. As I sit in one of Ikea's ready-made rooms contemplating which pseudo-modern furnishing will be best suited in my vintage-filled home, I am never really "inspired". And yet I always manage to find something that will somehow fit into my lifestyle (with the help of http://ikeahackers.net, naturally).
Also, the 50 cent frozen yogurt is pretty much worth the drive. -
Review from Trudi C.
Since moving into our new apartment, I'd say 80% of it is decked out in Ikea goods ;) I can't decide if that is good or bad.
I've been to Ikeas in England and Germany, and none have been as quiet and chilled as this one. Able to find a parking space without getting into a fist fight, never queuing to buy goods for over 20 minutes, and civilized people working in store! This is how it should be!
I mainly like to buy shelving and bookcases. We've been lucky that they've come with all the correct parts. And they actually deliver on Sundays! Welcome to the modern world! Free refill coffee, which is actually very tasty (and helps me get through the place). Stock up on meatballs and other tasty treats.
And I love watching the planes fly overhead! -
Review from Hilda L.
8/31/2011
Bills...bills....bills......Ikea 2012 catalogue!!! Is it wrong that I got so excited when I checked my mailbox last night?
Ikea for me is about the experience more than their products.
The scene in "500 Days of Summer" where Tom and Summer play house in Ikea - that's how I like to spend my lazy Sundays. I take my time roaming through each display, pretending that I live there, admiring all the useless but pretty decorations, imagining a life different than mine. Alas, Tom is not representative of most guys in the real world. So I'd either have to drag my grumpy bf or a considerate gf if I'm lucky.
The quality of their product is not that great, but I was able to furnish my whole living/dining room for the price that someone might pay for a couch. My only advice is - Don't get a sofa from here. My sofa did not last, but everything else I've owned for almost 10 years are still in good condition. Ikea is a starving student's best friend.
Oh and I also really enjoy assembling their products. It's so much fun and I feel so accomplished looking at something I put together. (I'm a dork I know.) -
Review from Allen W.
10/24/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love me some IKEA -- this one is OK, but parking can be a hassle. It also feels like a 'small' IKEA with possibly not as much selection.
Fortunately, they are building a newer, bigger store right next door and with a larger parking facility. Should open next year. -
Review from Adrian V.
Richmond, BC
7/1/2011
This review will focus on the restaurant of the store.
This restaurant has always attracted my fancy because it's a nice location within the store and convenient for hungry people who are doing a lot of (window) shopping. They also have very cheap and affordable menu items. I love that there's a lot of windows which lets tons of natural light in, and the fact that the food always looks good on both the posters/signage and when it's being served right in front of you.
Sadly, the visual appeal of the food does not equal the taste.
Around the table, we had the steamed salmon with some kind of dill sauce, steamed vegetables, veggie/potato medallions, ribs, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, garlic bread and the almond cake. The salmon was actually really moist, but it was SO bland. It depends on the sauce for it to be edible. Um hello? Ever heard of seasoning your dishes? A dash of salt and pepper goes a long way. Another thing I knew that was not going to be stellar: steamed vegetables. They could be, but when I saw it I knew it has been sitting on the steam table for over an hour. Again, more blandness happening there.
The veggie/potato medallions looked good but it's also been sitting on the steam table for a long time. I tasted more of the potato than the vegetable; in other words too much potato. The mashed potatoes were also disappointing. It tasted like one of those pre-made, ready to serve, mashed potatoes in a box. Surprisingly bland as well (considering most packaged mashed potatoes are swimming in sodium).
My brother is a huge ribs fan and he usually thinks ribs in sauce is delicious even if it really isn't. For this however, he thought the ribs were just mediocre. I thought it was tough, not the falling-off-the-bone kind and the sauce tasted like Kraft BBQ sauce. Which it might have been.
The best dish was probably the fried chicken. Well, it was the best among the rest; it wasn't exactly to die for. It was moist and the taste was there, it just wasn't impressive. This is also true for the almond cake: it really tasted like a generic cake (just a little bit of sweetness, barely enough for me) with almonds that added a nice crunch. It wasn't great but it was better than the rest. Oh and the garlic bread was also pretty good.
Overall, I wanted to give this place a 1.5/5. But since Yelp doesn't do half points, I'm bumping it up to 2/5 because it's no gourmet food (and I knew that walking in) so I shouldn't expect too much. It's tolerable if you're hungry. But seriously, invest in salt and pepper. It's really going to help.
Would I come back? Probably not. Unless someone told me they're paying for my food. Otherwise, I'd rather spend my money elsewhere. -
Review from Sam L.
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Aside from a few pieces, my apartment is basically an Ikea showroom. Sure I've personalized it and made it mine, but from the leather couch, the computer desk, the bed frame to the cutlery, yep, all Ikea. Then my girlfriend moved in - more Ikea.
Why is it so hard to stay away? The nonsensical Swedish names and the smell of .50 cent hot dogs are my siren song. I tell myself each time "I need a _______ but I'm not going to Ikea this time", then before you know it, there I am, thinking to myself "wow that looks pretty good, and so reasonably priced!" The only drawback is that the quality can sometimes be a little flimsy, but in this case I think you get a bit more than what you pay for - some of the stuff truly is well designed and attractive. This leads to the second drawback: well designed and cheap means lots of other people will own it. Still, Ikea is a pretty great concept.
For some reason, when I'm walking through the showroom vignettes, I can't help thinking that it's some sort of zoo on another planet, with aliens walking around behind a tour guide, who's explaining "here we see a human adult male and female in their natural habitat - notice the bored look on the male's face as his mate compares the bedding patterns."
So yeah, anyway, high-five Ikea. -
Review from Kari C.
2/17/2011
Ways to find laughs at IKEA:
*watching people discern whether or not they should buy an as-is cabinet that is missing a drawer like it's a nature documentary
*seeing kids try to jump on the beds
*racing to clickity-clack on all of the Spanish HP keyboards
*deciding whose room you're standing in (friends, family)
*careening down the aisle on a cart like it's a skateboard
*banging garbage can lids together
*I Live Here photo shoots
*trying to keep me from collapsing on all of the beds, couches, and stacks of rugs, declaring their level of nap-worthiness
*seeing who can pronounce the Swedish object names the funniest
*$1-breakfast-eating contests
*frozen-yogurt-eating races
IKEA is the place that my siblings, friends and I go to when we need to find something for home, and also need an excuse to indulge in monkeyshines and shenanigans. Today I actually needed a giant bookshelf, and it was ALMOST the most important reason we were there (see above).
Maybe one day in the future I will have big, expensive, important-looking grown-up furniture, but shopping for it will be nowhere near as fun.Listed in: House of Flying Daggers
-
Review from Evilyn T.
3/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
How to shop at Ikea:
Step 1 - go to the snack bar and get an ice cream, you wouldn't want to grocery shop on an empty stomach, so why do it when shopping for furniture?
Step 2 - with your empty hand, grab a big yellow bag, golf pencil, shopping list, and paper measuring tape. If you can't carry all of these items, you can put them in the big yellow Ikea bag.
Step 3 - wander the store looking for things you don't need, but look really cool. Ikea is really good for storage, stackable things and scented candles.
Step 4 - find furniture that could potentially be very useful in your home, and then realize you didn't take measurements of anything in your house before you left, so you aren't sure if any of these things will fit.
Step 5 - try to write down measurements of said furniture, but realize that one hand has an ice cream and the other has a big yellow Ikea bag. After unsuccessfully trying to balance your ice cream on a table, you are able to write down measurements, yes! Your ice cream is melting on the floor, no!
Step 6 - Proceed to the checkout where you will either A. be purchasing things such as scented candles, and vases that you really didn't come to Ikea to buy, but caught your eye while you were there. Or B. have a big yellow bag that says Ikea on it filled with napkins, golf pencils, and measurements that you hope you will be able to decipher later.
Some of the stuff at Ikea is good, but I find mostly, it lasts for one move and then it falls apart. If you plan on staying somewhere for a long time, this may be the place you want to go to drop hundreds of dollars on a cheap dresser, or you could always go to a second hand store and get something that's not made from compressed cardboard. -
Review from Michael P.
Burnaby, BC
8/8/2011
Never thought I'd be writing a review about Ikea, but here goes!
There are many reasons one can find themselves wandering through the vast exhibits of Ikea. To simply categorize them:
a) You're looking to buy furniture.
b) You're looking at their displays because they're fun to play house in.
c) You hunger for the cheap food in their cafeteria (yes, I am referring to those Swedish meatballs).
d) You're going to take advantage of their $0.75 hotdogs (they raised it from $0.50 recently) and/or frozen yoghurt deals.
e) All of the above.
Now, in regards to the furniture, it's not the best quality but Ikea does offer cheap and stylish ways to improve the decor and ambience of your home. From modern to retro, they have it all. The displays provide visitors with innovative ideas on how to improve their kitchen or bedroom. Often I envy them.
The food in the cafeteria is pretty standard but I love coming here because it's cheap and filling. At peak hours you might have difficulty finding a place to sit and there might be left over food and trays everywhere but don't be vexed. This is only a cafeteria after all, not a fancy dining establishment.
Last but not least, upon exiting the store, your nose will catch the luscious scent of hotdogs. Even after eating in the cafeteria when you think you're done eating, you're not. Ikea has strategically placed a food stop with even cheaper food and you've fallen for it (I always seem to).
You must try their frozen yoghurt at the very least. The rest of the food stop is filled with unique, imported Swedish goods - also worth exploring.
Have fun touring Ikea! -
Review from Karen L.
Richmond, BC
6/22/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Oh Ikea, I LOVE this place.
I LOVE looking through their showroom, fantasizing about what other home improvements I could have. If you want to be organized, you NEED to go to Ikea! :)
This place is deadly for the wallet. I always leave with something, whether it be a new bed frame, new curtains, a new shelf, a new mirror, or food!
If you want to save time, and you know what you want, skip the showroom :) -
Review from Mira S.
Surrey, BC
4/12/2011
I always make a purchase every time I go there! It can be a $3.00 candle or $100.00 quilt cover and sheet set. I like to hit up the "as-is" section and I try not to go upstairs unless I'm going to the cafe restaurant for swedish meatballs with gravy, potatoes and their famous 'lingonberry" sauce!
The bistro downstairs is good too and when you have waited forever to get thru at the checkouts, cheap hotdogs, cinnamon rolls and ice-cream/frozen yogurt is a nice reward treat!
The weekends can be a zoo sometimes (parking lot too!) so I suggest going mid week in the evenings. -
Review from Jeff F.
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Richmond IKEA is NOT the Coquitlam IKEA. Food area is tiny compared to the amount of people coming through the place (we gave up and left and went home and I cooked instead).... It's closer here... but I'll go the extra mile to Coquitlam next time. :(
-
Review from Jay S.
6/27/2011 3 Check-ins Here
The Food's Delish! The Folks are oh so helpful and you'll be adding the Swedish touch to your Decor at very Reasonable Prices.......Congrats! You're a Wise Shopper ;)
I like to look around first, get some ideas and then I go mull it over a Fantastic IKEA meal :) -
Review from Henry B.
Vancouver, BC
7/4/2011 12 Check-ins Here
I go to Ikea for only two things, $0.5 hot dogs and $1 frozen yogurt ice-cream. Oh, sometimes I might buy some furniture too, knowing that I have to assemble them in the near future while it lies on the floor for days. Either you love it or hate it, Ikea is the biggest furniture retailer in the world. Ever wonder where the name Ikea comes from? It's an acronym : founder {I}ngvar {K}rampad from village {E}lmtaryd, {A}gunnaryd in Sweden. Or some say Ikea is Swedish for "particle board".
I think Ikea stuff is pretty cool and they are favorites of interior designers. Ever seen a showroom from a new condo development that doesn't contain all Ikea fixtures? Ever been to a friends new place without Ikea furniture? I think lots of closet Ikea lovers out there have Ikea showrooms at home. Ikea is a one stop shop for contemporary designs at a resonable price. But, how do they do make us keep coming back? They seem to create a great shopping experience instead of it being a chore. Right at the entrance, where you can drop off your kids at the playroom allowing parents more time to browse. But, as you proceed along the path of showrooms, one touch after another seduces you to spend. Do you really needed that $3.99 Jall organizer? It doesn't matter, you load up on it anyways. Or that $1.99 Omsorg shoe tree? Just toss it in the yellow bag, damn it. You had goals of buying a $50 coffee table and end up on $500 from rugs to glassware. Then you come to the restaurant allowing a breather and encouraging to keep shopping at the warehouse.
Finally comes the fun at home, or for me the agony and pain, of assembly with nothing but an Allen wrench and a bag of screws. -
Review from Kas D.
Vancouver, BC
5/28/2011
Alas, although we all yearn to be original and break out of the cookie cutter mold, that big blue building with those yellow letters calls our names and we end up living in mini Ikea showrooms. Replace all the "we(s)" into singular form, and sadly (not so sadly?) it's the story of my life. Everything is well priced and not butt fugly. I usually go around from start to finish looking at things I want, but totally don't need. At the end I'm up at the cash register with a random array of candles, wine glasses (one can never have enough wine glasses), and random kitchen utensils. And of course, all that shopping can make a girl hungry. Swedish meatballs with creamy mashed potatoes and gravy? Om nom nom nom.
And of course after the checkout there just happens to be a conveniently situated Ikea food shop. Chocolates, candies and gingersnaps oh my!
If in need of cheap stylish furniture and some comfort food then you know where to go! -
Review from Carrie v.
York, ON
10/9/2011
My whole house is ikea ! When my mom asks me to go furni shopping i would always go to cheap out the neat showrooms. And we cant go wrong with the cheap frozen yogurt :)
-
Review from shain r.
Vancouver, BC
11/2/2008
I guess I will never learn my lesson about ikea. I always go there with the biggest of expectations and then leave feeling unfulfilled and never satisfied. maybe I am just growing up.
I was there today looking for things for my new digs and I should have known better than to go on a Sunday afternoon. the crowds were obnoxious. I you wanted to look at something you would have to fight off another couple to get a good view...... and then the worst happened.... I GOT HUNGRY.... so we b-lined it straight for the restaurant to have some Swedish meat balls and when we arrived there was about 50 people in line and only one lady dishing out the balls.... now what? So we made a rash decision that we would run to the cafeteria by the checkout and have a 2 hot dog and drink special to tide us over.... disaster.. there was twice as many people in line there than there was upstairs. At that moment we made a pact to never visit Ikea unless two things occur ;
1) Go on a friday night when no one else would be around.
2) eat before we get there. -
Review from Serena P.
Richmond, BC
8/13/2009
Completely agree with all the other Yelpers about IKEA - especially making sure you don't go on an empty stomach...the hot dogs are my weakness.
I ended up strolling in the other day to purchase A photo frame and noticed they had dropped their newest catalogue and ended up coming out with 3 bags - and completely forgot the frame.
Two of the shelves on my medium-brown Billy Bookcase have been out of commission because I lost 4 of the Billy Pins that are required to hold it up so I walked over to the Returns department to take a number so I could grab a few spares. BUT instead of having to wait in line they now have a Parts Vending Machine for all you're missing parts. My 30 minute wait time was eliminated and I put in $1 and grabbed my 4 Billy Pins and ran out of there! Pure genius.
Oh and the MARKOR coffee table is a perfect fit for my 1 bedroom apartment. IKEA never seizes to surprise and hook me in to their latest product design!
Go SWEDES! -
Review from Jasmine O.
Vancouver, BC
3/29/2010
One duvet cover. black. awesome.
One 2x5' carpet runner. red. lovely.
One toilet scrubber. white... er.. scrubbalicious.
$37 and some change.. Yay! I'm a fan. -
Review from Rich B.
Updated - 9/16/2010
The bottom has dropped out of my world. On our last trip to Ikea I discovered not only that our eldest children are now too big to go in the kids' club, but they have stopped serving steamed potatoes with the meatballs. Mash just makes it all seem cheap and nasty.
I am a broken man.Listed in: End of your tether
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/17/2009
If you think any less of me after reading this review, then you probably aren't a parent - at least… Read more »
-
-
Review from Megan S.
1/7/2009
When I first moved here, I went to IKEA on a weekly basis. When I told people I went to the one in Richmond, two people told me I was going to the ghetto IKEA. Really? It seemed, and still seems, fine to me.
We found a deal on a rug in the As-Is section. Don't overlook this section, tucked away right by the warehouse. Good finds are to be found here. For instance our rug, the tag said "dirty." But it's a multi-color shag rug. There's no visible spots... We later discovered that we got it at a quarter of the original price- score! We've also gotten a display futon from this section for half off. So again, always stop in the as-is section.
The rest of the store is a little crazy. Did you know there's an elevator in the wall art section? I don't remember where it lets you out on the 2nd level (maybe the desk section), but I do consider it a good shortcut if you're going back to look at one item.
As for the cinnamon rolls by the checkout. I think IKEA has perfected the cinnamony smell, but not yet the flavor. They're good, but they are just never as good as I want them to be. If that makes any sense. I try to resist them now in favor of another one of their low-priced snacks. -
Review from Kreag S.
Vancouver, BC
1/7/2009
No point in explaining to you what Ikea is..unless you live under a rock or maybe in Saskatchewan..then I am sure you have been to Ikea..this is more or a survival guide!
1. Make sure to go either first thing in the morning or on a Friday night. You are sure to never have to be annoyed with people..walking slow..in your way..screaming kids..and generally anything else people due to piss you off at an Ikea...NOTE: this rule does not apply to Sunday mornings...Sundays are a day of rest from Ikea..DON'T DO IT!..you'll regret it!
2. Never go on an empty stomach...the shopping experience of Ikea can be a mentally trying one..if you do not have the right sustenance then you will not make it through...it's a big store..there is alot of mental stimulation..and inevitably there will be some one that pisses you off and you don;t want to be pissed of AND hungry..not cool...
3. If time permits you should have the meat ball special at the restaurant...and the Daim cake...'cause the name is funny mostly:) Also, did you know they now serve alcohol at Ikea? Beer and wine and I think cider..I thought this was brilliant..get us feed and liquored and then unleash us with our credit card..brilliant business strategy!
4. Finally, never go alone..Ikea is a joy(and pain) that should be shared..someone to stop you from buying MORE tea lights because "it's such a good deal"..someone to wait in line for a yogurt cone for you while you wait in the check out....it's always good to travel to Ikea in a pair..team work people..team work..
Bonus point - Never return anything..it's so not worth the wait..if the product is faulty it would honestly just be better to buy another then waste valuable time of your life in that line...Also..they have a vending machine for the inevitable missing screws and such...FUN! -
Review from Lori O.
Surrey, BC
2/12/2009
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Ikea right now. I love the myriad of affordable furniture, which is making it very easy to set up my business at its new location. I hate the fact that every time I go through the place I can't help gorging myself on their affordable yet not-so-healthy restaurant offerings.
The worst offenders are those stupid hot dogs that fill the check-out area with a delicious aroma that tells me, "You thought you weren't hungry... you were wrong." Two hot dogs later and I'm stuffed with tasty badness that only cost me $2 and my self-control. Note: Don't over order. They recently increased the size of their dogs - they're pretty damn filling now!
The $1 breakfasts consisting of 2 sausages, scrambled eggs and hashbrowns, aren't as bad since I'm not usually at Ikea early enough to be tempted. Though if I'm ever in the area that early, I do make the trip. Plus, for an extra $1, you get a coffee and a cinnamon bun.
I've also been told that the meatball meal served in the restaurant is also really good for a $4.99 meal but I've never ordered it. I have bought the balls and brought them home though. They're pretty convenient for making pasta sauces and impromptu meals.
As for the furniture, some of it is better quality than others. Don't bother with the couches. They're way over-priced and go flat pretty quickly. Myself, I bought all my shelving, tables and chairs at Ikea then went to Mobler across the street for my couch.
Ikea very cleverly has their store set up in such a way that encourages you to browse through the entire store in the hopes of hooping you into impulse buys (both of the furniture and food varieties), but IF you have self-control, there are ways to go straight through to the sections you want. If you have some to spare, please lend it to me for the next time I head over there... -
Review from Paola C.
Vancouver, BC
11/27/2009
I love love love love IKEA! I just love it, I'm loving loving it!
Does that explain everything? Haha, I'm such a freak for interior design, sometimes I got to Ikea with no intention to buy anything but just to look around at their displays. I usually end up coming out with something.
Their prices are really good for the quality of products and their furniture is usually up to date and modern.
I didn't really HAVE to mention this considering everyone already has, but the food is awesome and incredibly CHEAP. Yummy hotdogs and Yogurt Cones!!! Mmmm. And what's missing from your wallet after this fulfilling meal? COINS! Oh and maybe the things you were tempted to buy.
Ikea is fun, but when it's busy, oh you better believe it, IT'S BUSY. It kinda gets annoying. Especially when you are actually there to buy something and there's inconsiderate people who stand in the tiny walkways with their carts looking around dumbfounded, meanwhile you are trying to pass them in a hurry.
Other than that, if you are looking to decorate a new place, renovate, look for presents, eat yummy cheap food, then IKEA is the place to be! =) -
Review from Larry L.
Any great ideas? Ikea! Say it again. Aii Keee yahhh!!!
Now say it again, but this time in a heavy Chinese accent.
ok. jokes not so funny. But Ikea is definately serious about feeding you and keeping you happy while you shop.
Like others, I've been to Ikea many many times and finally decided to write about the food. The Furniture stuff we all aleady know about and love most of it. The food, well,,,,doesn't everyone go to eat there? Maybe not everyone but maybe it's worth the try.
I came with a friend and decided to try out their veggie wrap and their pasta. Cheap prices and for cafeteria style food. not bad. Better than what I used to get at high school so it didn't bring back devastating memories of food fights and bad smelly food. This food here is edible. And in typical Ikea fashion it's decent for a great price.
It's also kinda fun to eat here. Bring the kids, do some shopping and eat some food, no frills, no nonsense. Just don't feed the kids first then drop them off in the ball room. You could be getting a call pretty quickly over the PA system after a few bounces and upchucks.
If you do try food here, you have to do one of two things, or do both.
Upstairs, try the meatballs.
Downstairs, try the hotdogs.
Today we had the yoghurt cones. I was in a bit of a sugar high by the end of it, but it was worth it.
Now wouldn't it really be fun if they would let Adults play in the ball room? -
Review from Cameron M.
Toronto, ON
1/8/2009
Oh Ikea. You and your wonders. I won't bother reviewing the Swedish giant itself. You're all aware of its lingon berries and Allen key furniture so I don't need to go into great detail there.
The Richmond location is one of the larger ones with two restaurants and all you'd want in the usual fare. It can really only be compared to the Coquitlam location as any other seems so far from Vancouver it ought to be reviewed on another site.
Compared to Coquitlam there is admittedly little difference. It is dinged the two stars though for two reasons:
1) Their 'as is' section is pitiful in comparison. I dont know if they wreck/drop less stuff here but it is really hurting.
2) While both locations are 'out of the way' this one is almost useless to get to if you don't have a car. Compared to the other with nice little shuttles and skytrain adjacent, this one seems to be in the middle of nowheresville. I much prefer the trek to and from Coquitlam, even though it is technically further away.
So yes, while I do appreciate the choice is completely different when you have a car and gumption, I'd say head to Coquitlam if you're being very esoteric. Otherwise, have at it. And have a bunch of hotdogs for me.
