Look, this is your typical supermarket café – functional, not fancy. The Asda Express Diner in Barking serves the usual suspects: jacket potatoes, burgers, and coffee. It's the kind of place you pop into while grabbing groceries, not the kind you'd plan a trip around. The menu changes frequently (or disappears entirely), and locals will tell you to manage expectations.
Functional Supermarket Café
Let's be honest – this isn't a destination café. The Asda Express Diner at the Genoa Building serves up the standard supermarket fare: jacket potatoes, burgers, and coffee. It's positioned right where you'd expect it – inside a supermarket – and that's exactly what it feels like. The menu is basic and, according to local reviews, inconsistently stocked. One day you might find a jacket potato, the next day it's gone.
The real draw here is the practicality: free WiFi, kids eat for £1 all day, and it's conveniently located near the Roding Riverside area. If you're doing a grocery run and need a quick bite without leaving the store, it does the job. Just don't expect anything memorable. The atmosphere is purely functional – fluorescent lighting, plastic tables, the works.
For locals, this is more of a utilitarian stop than a culinary experience. The over-60s get 10% off on Wednesdays, which is a nice touch, but the food quality and consistency leave something to be desired. It's fine if you're in a rush and already shopping here, but skip it if you're looking for a proper café experience.