Supermarket meal deals are more than just lunch in the UK — they’re a cultural institution.

So it’s no surprise that when an American traveller shared their first attempt at a Tesco meal deal online, it immediately grabbed attention.

The post appeared on the r/MealDealRates Reddit channel under the title, “Meal deal virgin travelling to the UK from the States, how did I do?” It has since been upvoted more than 300 times, sparking a lively discussion among British Redditors eager to rate the combination.

The Controversial Choice

The meal deal in question included a cheese and onion sandwich, a prawn cocktail Walkers crisps grab bag, and a Fanta orange.

While simple, the choices provoked strong reactions.

One user commented bluntly, “I hate it. Respectfully.” Others weren’t so gentle:

“Top drink. Bottom-tier crisps and sandwich… you literally will have people stay 50 yards away from you with that combo.”
“About as ‘meh’ as a meal deal gets, especially in the sandwich department! You need to up your game.”
“Horrible mate, 2/10, and that’s generous. It’s the sandwich that lets you down.”

Clearly, many felt the combination didn’t live up to the high standards of British meal deal culture.

Defenders of the Cheese and Onion

Not everyone agreed. Some Redditors came to the poster’s defense, praising the choices:

“Absolutely god tier. Cheese and Onion sandwiches are king! Don’t listen to anyone else. Fanta and Prawn Cocktail are also S Tier.”
“Personally think you’ve smashed this — well done.”
“Controversial, but that’s my favourite sandwich to have in a meal deal.”

For some, the nostalgia and classic flavors of cheese and onion, paired with prawn cocktail crisps and Fanta, were more than enough to earn high marks.

Value for Money Matters

Beyond taste, commenters also critiqued the value for money.

The cheese and onion sandwich costs just £1.50, compared with other £3.25 sandwiches available in the same £4.25 meal deal (£3.85 for Clubcard holders).

One user pointed out, “You lost value for money on that sandwich. You buy that sandwich because it’s a cheap replacement for a meal deal.

If I don’t want to spend the meal deal cost, I’ll just buy that sandwich, drink water, and have some fruit. Then I’ve spent half the money on lunch.”

It seems that in the UK, a meal deal isn’t just about taste — it’s also a strategic lunch investment.

Britain’s Favorite Meal Deal Combinations

For context, Tesco revealed earlier this year that the most popular meal deal in 2024 was the chicken club sandwich, egg protein pot, and a 500ml Coca-Cola.

In the two years prior, the go-to combination had been the sausage, bacon, and egg triple sandwich, McCoy’s flame-grilled steak crisps, and 500ml Coca-Cola.

Clearly, the British public knows what it likes, and there’s a lot of scrutiny for anyone trying to break the mold.