10 Best Meal Delivery Services in San Francisco 2024

Choosing one of the best meal delivery services in San Francisco can seem daunting. But it really doesn't have to be like that. Whether you like meal kits or prepared meals, or you want to find a service that fits your specific budget, there are options for everyone. 

My team and I have researched and tested the 10 best options for this year and have rounded up the results on this list. No matter what dietary requirements you have, I’ve found some options that will suit you or your family’s needs. Whether you like meat, veggie, vegan, pescatarian, keto, paleo, or even weight loss meals, you’ll find it all here.

Factor is my overall top pick for this year. If you don’t like cooking, it offers prepared meals you can serve in minutes. On top of that, you can choose recipes from various renowned global cuisines and get tips from expert nutritionists for free.

The Best Meal Delivery Services in San Francisco Reviewed

1. Factor – Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service

Factor could be the perfect fit for you if you’re into health and fitness. It offers several health-specific diet plans like Keto, Calorie Smart, Protein Plus, Flexitarian, and Vegan & Veggie. Its meals are also prepared, so you won’t have to spend any time cooking or cleaning.

What’s on the Menu?

Each meal contains around 350 to 900 calories, though most fall somewhere in the middle of that range. As someone who’s lost 35+ lbs myself, I appreciate not having to weigh your food and track your calories. I’ve definitely never liked doing so myself.

If you’re looking for any specific cuisines, there are a bunch to choose from. Options here include Italian, lots of classic American dishes, Latin American-inspired, Cajun/Creole, Jamaican/Caribbean, and Indian.

What Makes It Special?

The meals are also all antibiotic- and hormone-free, and they’re of higher quality than most other heat-and-eat meals, according to our tested review. Though the pricing can be a little bit higher than some other prepared meal services, I think the quality of the ingredients makes up for it.

I’d say around three-quarters of the meals could still be considered kid-friendly taste-wise. Although they’re not specifically geared toward children, none of the prepared meals are too “over-the-top”, fancy, or spicy.

Is It Good Value?

Factor offers several extras and add-ons as well. These include pancakes, keto sausage and egg skillet, chorizo verde breakfast bake, egg bites, smoothies, keto cheesecakes, keto truffles, macaroons, and cookies. You can also find meats like chicken wings, smoky pork and bison jalapeno bratwurst sausages, and roasted herb chicken.

Finally, the minimum Factor order is 6 single-serving meals per week, but you can get up to 18 every week. The more you order, the more you’ll save per serving. For example, you can get 18 meals for $103.41 on your first order with our link.

2. Green Chef – Best for Organic Ingredients

Green Chef separates itself from the competition thanks to its organic ingredients. Not everything can be labeled organic, but it promises that its produce and eggs are. It also guarantees that its animals are raised with high welfare standards.

What’s on the Menu?

You can choose from several plans, Keto, Plant Based, Mediterranean, Quick & Easy, Gluten Free, Calorie Smart, Gut & Brain Health, and Protein Packed. Green Chef offers 1 of the most varied menus I’ve seen. Meals can be mixed and matched across any of the plans, which is ideal if you don’t follow a set diet.

Specific cuisines and meals include Mediterranean, such as Mediterranean Chicken; Italian, like Shrimp Scampi; Greek, like Pork Chops with Tzatziki – and even Japanese, like Tropical Teriyaki Sockeye Salmon Bowls.

What Makes It Special?

These dishes might sound complex, but our tested review found that many of the ingredients come pre-prepped. If you want high-quality meal kits over prepared meals (yet still don’t want to spend tons of time cooking), Green Chef could be a great option for you.

You can also get tons of extras, like breakfast items and protein packs. Examples are Brioche French Toast, Red Pepper and Swiss Egg Bites, Breakfast Tacos, muffins, oatmeal. Proteins like salmon, shrimp, Barramundi filets, Bavette steaks, and a variety of chicken and ground meat products are available, too. There are a few salads, too – however, I was a bit disappointed with the lack of desserts.

Is It Good Value?

Your minimum order will have to be 3 meals for 2 people per week, but you can get as many as 4 meals for 6 people. This makes it a good option for families and larger households.

I also like that you get a pretty significant discount of nearly $2 per serving if you go for the max order. For instance, in that case, your price per serving will only be around $9.99.

3. Blue Apron – Best Family-Friendly Meal Delivery Service

Blue Apron lets you choose between Meal Kits and fresh Prepared & Ready meal plans. It operates a weekly menu, catering to omnivores, vegetarians, calorie-conscious, and other dieters. 

What’s on the Menu?

Categories include Chef Favorites, Wellness, and Veggies, and some of the diets on offer include low-calorie, low-carb, and high-protein, depending on the meal type. You can also customize some dishes to make them vegetarian. For example, you can make the Spicy Shrimp Lo Mein with mushroom and egg instead of shrimp.

We tried Blue Apron and found that there’s a good selection of international recipes, along with classic American-style dishes. You’ll find cuisines like Italian, Latin American-influenced, Korean, Japanese, French-style, North African/Middle Eastern, Chinese, and more.

There’s a good mix of kid-friendly meals and ones that are aimed at more sophisticated palates. If you have a severe allergy, Blue Apron may not be a good fit, though. That’s because all ingredients are processed in the same facility. However, it provides allergen information on each recipe's nutrition labels, which you can see before ordering.

What Makes It Special?

Blue Apron's app walks you through its meal kits with short cooking videos, which is great for beginner cooks. Recipes are designed to be easy to follow. This approach helps you enjoy restaurant-quality meals with minimal effort. If you follow the instructions, you’ll find yourself preparing restaurant-quality meals in no time.

In addition to your subscription, you can order additional meals. You can also switch your weekly subscription order between prepared meals and meal kits. You can even order both prepared meals and meal kits. You can add these to a Meal Kit order by choosing from a limited selection of prepared meals in the Add-ons menu, or you can place a separate order just for prepared meals.

Is It Good Value?

The minimum weekly order is 2 meal kits of 2 servings – but you can subscribe for as many as 5 weekly meals of 4 servings. If you opt for the maximum order, you’ll save more money at around $4.00 per serving. Alternatively, you can buy 4, 6, 8, or 10 Prepared & Ready meals.

Note that shipping isn’t included in the price. Shipping costs $10.99 per order, and remember that Premium dishes and customizations can increase your weekly cost, too.

4. HelloFresh – Best Family-Friendly Meal Kits

HelloFresh takes standard meal kits and gives them a unique spin. It offers a huge selection of dozens of <30-minute recipes per week, most of which are family-friendly. It even has a specific Family-Friendly meal category.

What’s on the Menu?

You can also choose from several other plans, depending on your needs. For example, there are Meat & Veggies, Veggie, Fit & Wholesome, Under 20 Minutes, and Pescatarian, all of which can be mixed and matched to your heart’s content.

HelloFresh offers a range of meal kit types, like Fast & Fresh, 10-Min Lunch, Premium Picks, and Brunch Delights. There are even a few prepared options on the menu each week, which only need 5-10 minutes to heat. I like that you don’t just have to choose items for dinner and that you can pretty much take care of any meal time.

What Makes It Special?

Each meal has been carefully designed by professional chefs. The chefs have created meals that fit vegetarian, low-calorie, and family-friendly preferences. You’ll be able to see what category each meal falls under on the main menu, as everything is labeled.

The meal kits are ideal for beginners, and they’re easy to follow, even if you don’t have a lot of experience in the kitchen. When reviewing the service, we found HelloFresh’s recipes foolproof and easy to prepare.

Is It Good Value?

If you want to add something extra to your order, you’ll have plenty of choices. You can add things like breakfast, desserts, treats, sides, extra proteins, produce, and even spices and seasonings. As far as I’ve seen, HelloFresh has one of the largest selections of add-ons out there, although you can only see the offerings once you're logged in.

Although larger boxes will cost more overall, you’ll get the best per-serving value for a larger order, with higher per-serving prices for smaller orders. For example, 6 meals for 4 people cost just $107.75 for the first order if you use our link.

5. Home Chef – Best Customization Options

Home Chef has meals that fit everyone’s taste buds and flavor preferences. There are lots of cuisines on offer, like Italian, classic American, Indian, Asian, and Middle Eastern. And the meals come in the form of easy kits or prepared meals, depending on your desire to cook (or not!).

What’s on the Menu?

It’s easy to avoid certain ingredients during the signup process. You can choose to avoid pork, beef, poultry, fish, tree nuts, and more. This doesn’t remove the ingredient from dishes, but it filters the menu so you can see appropriate recipes for your tastes and requirements. You can also choose whether you prefer calorie and/or carb-conscious meals, among others.

There are several types of meals to choose from. You can get Meal Kits, Express, and Fast & Fresh recipes, or oven- and grill-ready prepared meals or entreé salads. The meal kits range in prep time from around 10-60 minutes – however, most fall somewhere in the middle.

What really jumped out at me, though, was the crazy number of add-ons and extras to order. These include the Cinnamon Coffee Cake Slices and Mocha Latte bundle, spreads, salads, desserts like lava cake, bisque and garlic bread, coffee cake, egg bites, and meat and seafood add-ons.

What Makes It Special?

The foolproof recipes will bring you out of your comfort zone in the kitchen, and we found the whole sign-up and delivery process to be quick and easy.

If you don’t like the protein in the meals, you can replace it using the Customize It feature. For example, take the Salmon and Wine Butter Sauce dish. You could get that with chicken breast, sirloin steak, or even ribeye instead.

Is It Good Value?

Vegans and those with allergies might find Home Chef’s menu restrictive. It does offer a few meals with a Gluten-Smart and Keto-Friendly tag. However, keep in mind that Home Chef isn’t certified gluten-free if you have severe allergies or are a celiac.

In that case, a service like Green Chef is a better choice for niche diets, as it offers meal kits with several plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. 

Finally, you can order a minimum of 2 recipes for 2 people per week up to a maximum of 6 recipes for 6 people (that’s a huge 36 servings per week). Pricing starts at around $9.99 per serving, and meals are individually priced.

6. BistroMD – Best Meals for Weight Loss

BistroMD is a service that’s targeted toward weight loss. Dietitians have carefully created meal plans that are focused on helping you reach various health-related goals using prepared meals. There are several plans to choose from. These include a plan for Men and Women, Heart Healthy, Gluten Free, Vegan, Keto Flex, Diabetic Friendly, and Menopause.

What’s on the Menu?

BistroMD's menu caters to a range of tastes while focusing on nutritious, calorie-conscious meals. I like that the menu rotates every 6 weeks, so you can change things up a bit when it comes to planning your meals. 

You can order meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – either 5 days or 7 days per week. Examples include Meatloaf with Honey Bourbon Glaze and Turkey Breast with Herbed Brown Gravy. Desserts and snacks are available too, like Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake, special Protein Punches, nut bars, cookies, nuts and seeds, and tons more.

What Makes It Special?

If you’re looking to lose weight, each program includes support from a dietitian. You’ll be able to discuss any specific issues you’re facing with them. This level of support is invaluable when starting a weight-loss diet.

BistroMD uses environmentally friendly insulation and recyclable CPET plastic trays for meal packaging, ensuring both sustainability and safety​​​​. Its commitment to eco-friendly practices extends to all the packaging components, so it’s easy to recycle your packaging at home.

Is It Good Value?

While I like the program, I wasn’t a fan of the confusing signup process. You’ll be bombarded with offers to upgrade your plan with a bunch of items that you may not necessarily want or even need. Our expert-tested review helps walk you through the process, so you'll only sign up for what you actually need.

The minimum BistroMD order is lunches and dinners for 5 days, but you can order those for 7 days as well. Alternatively, you can get the Full Program for 5 or 7 days as well, which includes breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. If you choose the maximum order, expect prices of around $6.59 per serving.

7. Purple Carrot – Best Plant-Based, Vegan Meals

Purple Carrot’s entire mission is to deliver high-quality plant-based, vegan meals that don’t rely on “fake” meat products. Each meal makes the veggies the star of the show, and you can really tell just by looking at the menu.

What’s on the Menu?

The meals come in the form of either meal kits or prepared meals. You can expect the kits to take around 20-40 minutes at most. Prepared meals can be heated in the microwave for about 2 minutes. Despite being microwave-ready, I found the prepared meals, like the Cuban Style Black Beans with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Mojo Rojo, to be high-quality. 

Purple Carrot also has a Less Prep category that doesn’t require as much of your time as standard meal kits. These meals come with pre-made sauces, pre-chopped veg, and ingredients that just need to be cooked.

What Makes It Special?

We tested Purple Carrot and were impressed by its diverse collection of meals from around the world. It takes pride in paying homage to different countries, which is a great way for long-term vegans to keep their plant-based diet exciting.

For instance, there’s Thai Tempeh Khao Soi, Italian Gnocchi, Korean Glass Noodles, Middle-Eastern Saffron Rice Bowl, Korean Gochujang Fried Rice, and Indian Chana Masala. I’m an omnivore but wouldn’t hesitate to try any of these meals – so Purple Carrot is good for non-vegans who just want to add more veggies to their diet, too.

Is It Good Value?

The minimum order depends on whether you buy prepared meals or kits. You’ll have to go with at least 6 single-serving prepared meals per week (order 6, 8, or 10 meals at a time), or three 2-serving meal kits per week. However, you can mix and match prepared meals and meal kits in your account.

If you go with the maximum order (3 meal kits with 4 servings each), you’ll pay around $11.00 per serving. Plus, you can order from Purple Carrot’s Plantry, that includes items like vegan cheese, beverages, plant proteins, and more.

8. Nutrisystem – Best for Couple’s Weight Loss

Nutrisystem stands as a reliable option for San Francisco residents aiming to shed some pounds. This long-standing meal delivery service provides an array of specialized dietary plans. Not only does it cater to couples through its partner plan, but it also has a rich variety of options for single individuals.

What’s on the Menu?

The company's extensive menu allows for 3 main meals a day, along with snacks and desserts. Your breakfast could range from oatmeal to waffles, and for lunch and dinner, your options include soup, pizza, and dishes rich in proteins and vegetables. What stands out about Nutrisystem is its transparent labeling of frozen items on the menu, helping you easily differentiate between fresh and frozen options.

You can choose from different programs, depending on your gender and goals. These fall into categories such as Women’s Plans, Men’s Plans, Complete 50 Plan, Partner Plans, and Advantage.

You'll be advised to adopt a distinct dietary routine that involves consuming 6 small meal replacements daily. While there are numerous prepared meals to choose from, a large part of your diet will revolve around healthy snacks, including a variety of bars and other similar snacks.

What Makes It Special?

Whatever plan you choose, you’ll have access to a specialized app. The NuMi app lets you personalize your meal plans and explore dishes inspired by popular restaurants. Our tested review goes into more detail about this.

A positive aspect of Nutrisystem's food is its extended shelf life, which ranges from 6 to 18 months. You can rest assured knowing the Best by date is about maintaining optimum freshness and not safety – ensuring you can safely consume them even after the date, provided they have been stored correctly.

Is It Good Value?

Whether you are an omnivore, vegetarian, or diabetic, Nutrisystem offers something for you. However, if you are vegan, you might want to explore options with BistroMD, which provides a tailored plan for vegans.

Finally, your daily expenditure on the plan hinges on your selection, starting as low as $9.64 . The cost depends on the plan you choose and your gender.

9. Dinnerly – Best for Meals on a Budget

Dinnerly offers the most affordable meals in San Francisco. But in my experience, just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s low quality. It offers a robust and varied menu, with several add-ons, snacks, and sides.

What’s on the Menu?

You won’t find as much on the menu as Marley Spoon or HelloFresh, but it’s still very good for the price. When testing Dinnerly, we were impressed with its variety compared to higher-end services. It’s nice to see that you don’t have to break the bank to get a good selection of filling meals.

Speaking of variety, you can also expect a healthy number of cuisines. These include Asian, classic American, Italian, French, Latin American-influenced, and even Greek. There are a number of family-friendly options as well.

What Makes It Special?

One of the ways in which Dinnerly cuts costs is by offering meal kits only (with just a couple of prepared meals sprinkled in). Each meal takes around 30-40 minutes to make and only has 5 steps. Any prepared meals will take roughly 3-5 minutes to heat up.

I like that you can customize your meals. Just look for the Customizable icon on the dishes on the menu. For example, you can order a Chicken Caesar Wrap or a Shrimp Caesar Wrap depending on your preferences.

Is It Good Value?

Dinnerly keeps its prices low by offering simple recipes and cutting back on extra packaging. In my opinion, the quality of the meals holds up against more expensive services.

The minimum order here is 2 meals for 2 people per week, up to a max of 6 meals for 4 people. Pricing starts at around $2.12 per serving, which makes it a very viable option for larger families on a budget.

10. Marley Spoon – Best Martha Stewart-Approved Meals

Martha Stewart has partnered with Marley Spoon in an effort to deliver some of the high-quality meal kits. In my opinion, the company has succeeded in doing so, with 100+ recipes to choose from every week.

What’s on the Menu?

Each meal kit has been carefully designed with Martha Stewart’s input and uses her sauces and spice mixes. There are a couple of “Ready Made!” prepared meals on the menu, but most are standard meal kits that take around 30 mins. 

There are plenty of cuisines you can choose from since the menu is so large and diverse. For instance, there’s Lebanese Hashweh (a one-pot rice dish), Mexican tortas, and Korean-inspired stir-fries. Read our tested review for more detail about the menu and the information you’ll find on each recipe.

What Makes It Special?

The menu has options for larger families, vegans, vegetarians, dieters, and more, so you’ll probably find something that works for you. If you’re brand-new in the kitchen, look out for <30-minute recipes. These are usually simpler to prepare and don’t require tons of equipment or experience.

While it’s not easy to filter the menu by diet, every recipe is labeled with multiple tags. These include Low Carb and Calorie, No Added Gluten, Dairy Free, Optional Spice, Veggie, Vegan, and several more. This is more variety than I’ve seen from some other competitors, so kudos to Marley Spoon.

Is It Good Value?

It’s nice to see that there are also several add-ons, which is quite a new addition to the menu. Though not the largest selection, you can still get items like rice pudding, Popcorn Chicken, cupcakes, appetizer boards, and pork buns.

You can order as little as 2 meals for 2 people and as much as 6 meals for 4 people per week. Prices start at around $4.99 per serving if you go with the maximum weekly order, though.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Services in San Francisco

When choosing the best meal delivery service in San Francisco, consider following these handy tips:

• Convenience customization: Assess your lifestyle and cooking preferences. If you enjoy the cooking process, opt for meal kits that require preparation. For those with limited time or who prefer not to cook, services offering prepared meals, such as Factor, are ideal. Evaluate the preparation time and cooking skills required for each service, ensuring they align with your daily routine and culinary comfort level.
  

• Diverse recipe selection: To keep your meals exciting, choose a service like HelloFresh, known for its wide range of weekly recipes. This variety prevents meal fatigue and allows you to explore different cuisines. If you have a penchant for specific culinary styles – be it traditional American, Italian, Latin American, Middle Eastern, Indian, Japanese, Korean, or Chinese – ensure the service offers these options. This will not only cater to your taste preferences but also provide an opportunity to explore new flavors and cooking techniques.
  

• Tailored meal preferences: Dietary requirements are crucial in selecting a meal service. Whether your household follows a gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, keto, paleo, or other specific diet, ensure the service can accommodate these needs. Green Chef offers specialized menus catering to various dietary preferences, making it easier to find options that suit your family's health and nutritional requirements.

• Budget-friendly options: Consider your budget when selecting a meal delivery service. Prices vary widely, so it's important to determine how much you're willing to spend weekly on meals. You can expect to pay more for services offering organic, premium ingredients, while Dinnerly provides more affordable, simpler recipes. Evaluate the cost per serving, delivery fees, and subscription flexibility to find a service that balances quality and affordability. Also, look out for introductory offers, discounts, and flexible subscription plans from all of the services on my list to find the best option for you.

FAQ

Which meal delivery service is the cheapest?

The most affordable meal delivery service on my list is Dinnerly. It offers high-quality, family-friendly meals at very attractive pricing. Meals start at around $2.12 per serving.

What is the most popular food delivery service in San Francisco? 

Factor came top of my list for meal delivery services that serve San Francisco. It features a wide selection of prepared meals that you can serve in a matter of minutes. It supports various diets, has international recipes, and offers free nutrition coaching.

What is the best vegan meal delivery service in San Francisco?

Purple Carrot is the best vegan meal delivery service as it’s 100% plant-based. You won’t find any sort of animal byproducts here. If you like meal kits, you can opt for those – and for those busy nights where you just want to eat, you could opt for its prepared meals instead.

How many meals are in a Dinnerly box?

The minimum Dinnerly order is 2 meals for 2 people per week, but you’re free to order as many as 6 meals for 4 people. Keep in mind that the more you order at a time, the lower your price will be per serving. For instance, if you go with the maximum order, your price per serving will only be $2.12.

Best Meal Delivery Services San Francisco in 2024 — Final Score