10 Best Meal Delivery Services in San Diego in 2024

San Diego is a great place to live, but cooking healthy meals can be challenging between working, commuting, and enjoying San Diego’s year-round idyllic climate for outdoor activities.

I’m a professional meal delivery service reviewer, so I’ve studied service options and consulted with my colleagues to bring you an authoritative list of the 10 best meal delivery services in San Diego.

Factor wins my top spot for its quality prepared meals, healthy ingredients, and add-ons. But every meal delivery service on this list has something to offer. San Diego is a diverse city, and so I’ve included meals that suit every palate and specialized dietary need.

The Best Meal Delivery Services in San Diego Reviewed

1. Factor – Best Prepared Keto Meals in San Diego

Factor prioritizes sourcing high-quality, humane, and sustainably grown ingredients, with non-GMO and mostly organic produce used in every recipe. All poultry and eggs are cage- and antibiotic-free, all meats are pasture-raised or grass-fed, and the salmon is sustainably sourced. You won't have to think twice about the quality of your meals each time you heat and eat them.

What’s on the Menu?

Meal plans cover a wide range of diets with 6 plans: Chef's Choice, Vegan & Veggie, Keto, Calorie Smart, Protein Plus, and Flexitarian. These plans are more like menu filters once you enter your payment info and choose your meals.

When we tested Factor, we found that it’s among the very best services for prepared meals. Each week, the menu includes 35 recipes and 40+ add-ons available and rotates some recipes and add-on items. You mostly find American and Mediterranean recipes, with some Asian and Southeast Asian-inspired dishes like Thai Almond Chicken and Spicy Thai Cabbage.

Registered dietitians (RDs) design and approve all Factor meals to ensure they have balanced macronutrients, making them much more than your traditional microwave dinner. Factor brings convenience to omnivores as well as plant-based eaters with its Vegan & Veggie plan. You can also find fully prepared vegan-friendly juices, smoothies, and overnight oats in the Add-Ons section.

Most add-ons are suitable for keto eaters, with few accommodations for other diets. While some add-ons may not be suitable for plant-based eaters, most add-ons are fully prepared protein additions, egg-based breakfasts, and keto desserts like Strawberry Goat Cheese keto-friendly cheesecake.

What Makes It Special?

What shows Factor’s great customer service is its free consultation with a registered dietitian. You can speak to Factor’s on-call RDs who can help you determine whether Factor meals are a good fit for your diet and fitness goals. While most meal delivery services require that you confirm your first order before speaking with an RD, Factor doesn’t.

Factor's recipes are integrated into popular calorie-tracking apps like MyFitnessPal, LoseIt, and Carb Manager. This allows you to track all your macronutrients and vitamin intake by simply finding the meals you ordered in the app and adding them to your daily food log.

Is It Good Value?

Ordering and managing your Factor subscription is straightforward, with an iOS and Android-compatible mobile app available, or sign-up via the desktop website. The FAQ is easy to navigate, the chatbot provides accurate responses, and the 24/7 live chat is convenient for last-minute questions or order change requests.

You can order 6 to 18 meals per week and supplement them with protein smoothies for a complete week of fully prepared meals, allowing you to conveniently cover every meal of the week with fully prepared, high-quality food.

Prices drop with larger orders. For example, you can get 18 meals for just $103.41 on your first order using our link.

2. HelloFresh – Best Family-Friendly Meal Kits

HelloFresh is the largest meal delivery service in the world, and they've honed the craft of delivering fresh, high-quality ingredients right to your door.

What’s on the Menu? 

When you sign up for HelloFresh, you can choose from 6 different meal plans, including Meat & Veggies, Veggie, Family Friendly, Fit & Wholesome, Under 20 Minutes, and Pescatarian. You can even mix and match plans to create even more options.

With over 100+ meal kit recipes and market items available each week, HelloFresh's menu mainly features American cuisine but also has some Mediterranean and Mexican influences. It offers a wide range of recipes, from classic favorites to new and exciting dishes.

HelloFresh's latest feature, HelloCustom, lets you swap proteins on some entrees. You can swap meats for vegetarian options or double portions. And HelloFresh's new HelloFresh Market offers grocery items like fresh proteins, spices, produce, and desserts.

Most recipes take about 30 minutes to prepare, with prep times ranging from 10 to 50 minutes. For busy nights, HelloFresh also offers One-Pot Wonder and Quick meals that only take 10 to 15 minutes of prep time.

There are also 4 or 5 recipes labeled as "10-minute lunches" each week, which are perfect for those in a hurry. One such option is the Hoisin Pulled Pork with Lime-Marinated Cucumber and Crispy Fried Onions.

What Makes It Special?

HelloFresh makes prep as non-intimidating as possible and preps ingredients according to meal portions and specifications. Ingredients are also separated according to each recipe, which is great for minimizing food waste and decreasing prep time. However, you'll still need to do some basic prep work like chopping, trimming, washing, patting dry, seasoning, and frying.

Read our review to learn more about HelloFresh's menu and service features. 

Is It Good Value?

One downside to HelloFresh is that you can't filter the main menu by recipe type, which can be inconvenient. However, the customer support team can assist if any issues arise. In fact, their customer support has been described as "hands-down outstanding" in a review.

HelloFresh has a minimum order requirement of 2 recipes for 2 people per week, with up to 6 recipes for up to 6 people per week. As you order more meals, the per-serving price decreases. For example, new users can get 6 meals for 4 people for just $107.75 when using our link.

3. Blue Apron – Best Gourmet Meal Kits in San Diego

Blue Apron offers Signature menus for both 2 and 4 people, making it an excellent choice for singles, couples, or small families. Additionally, Blue Apron also provides a Vegetarian menu. You'll also find that most cuisine is Mediterranean-inspired and includes some classic American and Asian influences.

What’s on the Menu?

Blue Apron gives you the option to choose between meal kits and Prepared & Ready fresh prepared meals. The service also has a Wellness plan, featuring meals like Seared Chicken and Black Vinegar Pan Sauce that max out at just 500-650 calories per serving.

We reviewed Blue Apron and found it great for beginner cooks with easy step-by-step instructions. There’s also a Cook Along button for a slideshow version of the recipe and videos for additional assistance. 

Prepared meals use the same high-quality ingredients as Blue Apron's meal kits, including the Indian Style Vegetable Curry with Raisins and Mint. All recipes are best for omnivores who don’t tend to follow diets other than low-calorie and the occasional vegetarian meal.

What Makes It Special?

Blue Apron prioritizes ingredient quality, ensuring proteins are humanely sourced and produce is sustainably farmed. This attention to detail allows you to enjoy high-quality recipes without worrying about added hormones or antibiotics in your food.

It's worth noting that Blue Apron's shipping materials are only about 85% recyclable, which may be a concern for some individuals who order meal delivery regularly. However, the company provides clear recycling guidelines on its website, and its pre-portioned ingredients minimize food waste.

Is It Good Value?

For those of you with allergies or who follow a specific diet like paleo or gluten-free, Blue Apron doesn’t make accommodations. You might be better with a service like Green Chef.

Blue Apron's minimum order is 2 meals of 2 servings each per week, with pricing starting at around $4.00 per serving for the maximum order of 5 meals of 4 servings each per week. You can also order additional meals with each weekly box.

4. Green Chef – Best for Organic Ingredients

Green Chef's produce is certified organic and non-GMO, ensuring you receive fresh, healthy, whole ingredients.

What’s on the Menu?

While the recipes aren't customizable, Green Chef offers 8 diet plan options, including Plant-Based, Keto, Gluten Free, Protein Powered, Mediterranean, Calorie Smart, Gut & Brain Health, and Quick & Easy (gourmet recipes ready in under 25). All plan menus are posted for the next 3 weeks, so you can easily plan your meals.

The cuisine is classic American with a lot of Mediterranean, Mexican, and Asian influences. You'll find American-influenced recipes like the Smoky Chicken Sandwich with honey butter, candied almonds, slaw, and roasted sweet potato (pictured above).

Recipes are pretty easy to follow as meal kits arrive with pre-prepared sauces and seasonings, and pre-portioned produce. Meal kit prep takes an average of 30 to 45 minutes per meal. You can check out our tried and tested review of Green Chef's service for more information about its full service including cooking its meals.

What Makes It Special?

Recipes are tagged according to the diet plan on the main menu, so you can quickly scan which recipes are right for you. For instance, its plant-based recipes are tagged as Vegan or Veggie, so you can easily find the weekly options available. You can even find flavor-packed 10-minute lunches, such as the Hot Honey Edamame Salad with Pineapple.

Green Chef also offers an extensive Add-Ons section, with fresh high-quality meats from Good Chop, breakfast and lunch entrees, desserts, and meal bundles.

Is It Good Value?

Choosing a meal plan from Green Chef is flexible, as the service allows you to mix and match multiple plans. For example, you can combine the Plant-Based and add the Gluten-Free plan to ensure you receive gluten-free, plant-based meals.

Prices start at $9.99 per serving. This is likely to be more expensive than your standard weekly grocery shop but when you take into account that the produce is all organic and some is pre-prepped, it could be worth it. You can order 6 to 24 servings per week.

5. Home Chef – Best All-Around Meal Kit Service in San Diego

Home Chef’s prices, variety, and customizations are just as competitive as HelloFresh. While it’s hard to beat HelloFresh’s offering of 100+ recipes and other menu items per week, Home Chef still offers 30+ meal kits of primarily American comfort food with some internationally inspired dishes.

What’s On The Menu?

Its meals offer something to please just about everyone. Home Chef’s Dilly Beef Gyros with Tzatziki, pictured above will satisfy families and sophisticated palates alike. You can also swap the beef for ground beef, ground pork, ground turkey, or a double order of ground beef.

Home Chef also scores big points for its Customize-It feature, which lets you swap or double up on proteins in many recipes. You can replace pork with sirloin steaks, order an extra serving of salmon filets, or add some meat to a vegetarian dish. As we found in our tested review, customized proteins typically come with an upcharge, so be sure to double-check your order total.

Protein upgrades also include premium cuts of meat like filet mignon or sirloin steak for those wanting to prepare a gourmet meal. And for the adventurous and creative chefs – you can order enough extras from Home Chef’s menu to create complete meals with proteins, veggies, sides, and desserts.

What Makes It Special?

You can also order a different serving size for each recipe, while most standard meal kit delivery services will only let you choose 1 serving size for the whole order.

I like that you can choose your weekly delivery day. Many areas have Monday through Friday delivery day options, but you’ll need to type in your zip code to see which days are available to you. You can even sign up to receive text message updates directly from the carrier, or check your delivery status via Home Chef’s mobile app.

Is It Good Value?

Home Chef now also offers specialized diets. For example, you’ll find a few meals with Gluten-Smart and Keto-Friendly labels. Keep in mind that celiacs or those with severe gluten allergies should be wary of the Gluten-Smart tag as the dishes are not certified gluten-free.

However, you can filter the menu for vegetarian meals, of which there are about 5 or 6 each week. You can also customize proteins to make recipes pescatarian or double up on some proteins. This service is best for omnivores who have no allergies or special dietary needs.

Prices start at $9.99 per portion, and you can order 2 to 6 recipes per week for 2, 4, or 6 people. That gives you 4 to 36 portions per week, which is about 12 more portions than the average meal delivery service!

6. BistroMD – Best Low-Calorie Microwave-Ready Meals

BistroMD offers low-calorie meals designed by a Ph.D. dietitian with over 2 decades of experience in weight loss, and her team of registered dietitians who personalize your weekly meal plans. BistroMD caters to individuals looking to transition to a low-calorie diet.

What’s on the Menu?

All meals come fully cooked, frozen, and individually portioned for convenience. Defrosting, heating, and eating are all that's required. This service takes care of all meal decisions, which is convenient. Often, the hardest part of dieting is deciding what to eat, which this service removes entirely.

Recipes add up to complete a 1,200 or 1,400 calories per-day meal plan. Each meal contains 350 to 500 calories, with clear labeling of calorie counts and nutritional information on each meal. Check out our extensive review of BistroMD for more details about ordering.

No ingredient substitutions are possible since meals are part of a meticulously planned and portioned calorie-conscious diet. However, BistroMD does accommodate some diets with its different plans. You can choose from Signature, Gluten-Free, Heart Healthy, Keto Flex, Diabetic, Menopause, or Vegan meal plans.

What Makes It Special?

BistroMD provides balanced low-calorie meals composed of whole foods. Every meal has proteins, complex carbs, and healthy fats with macro balances aligned with the meal plan you select.

However, it's unclear how long the meals remain frozen before delivery, making me skeptical of meal delivery services that rely on freezing food. I prefer receiving fresh and never-frozen meals, as offered by Factor.

Is It Good Value?

Please note the Keto Flex plan won’t get you into ketosis. It’s simply a low-carb, medium-fat program. Also, note that the Diabetic and Menopause plans are exactly the same foods. Additionally, BistroMD doesn't prioritize ingredient sourcing, so unlike Green Chef or Blue Apron, you won't see organic, grass-fed, or wild-caught options on the menu.

You can choose 2 or 3 meals for 5 or 7 days per plan. Opting for 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, means 21 meals a week, ensuring you never have to worry about having diet-friendly meals on hand. The maximum plan for 21 meals costs $6.59 per serving.

7. Marley Spoon – Best Martha Stewart-Approved Meal Kits

I’m impressed with Marley Spoon's menu offerings and sustainability efforts, especially when it offers affordable meals. For San Diego residents looking for easy comfort food meal kits, Marley Spoon's partnership with Martha Stewart offers family-friendly classic American meals and internationally-inspired recipes for more adventurous palates.

What’s on the Menu?

What sets Marley Spoon apart from other meal delivery services is its extensive menu of 100+ recipes each week, which includes entrees, Premium meals, easy prep and microwave-ready meals, and desserts. The Fast! Creamy Skillet Tuscan Shrimp with Cheesy Garlic Bread only takes 10 to 15 minutes.

One of Marley Spoon's priorities is keeping prices affordable, so you won't find diet-specific plans. The menu is really best for anyone who doesn't need a strict menu like keto or paleo.

There also aren't allergy accommodations, but Marley Spoon lets you customize proteins in some recipes. For example, you can exchange the shrimp in the above-pictured Tuscan Shrimp skillet for wild-caught shrimp, or exchange ground beef for ground chicken in the BBQ Sloppy Joe. You'll see a Customizable icon on the image of recipes for which you can customize proteins.

All ingredients are measured and pre-portioned in meal kits, so you get exactly what you need and won't have to spend time portioning each ingredient. Plus, the cooking instructions are easy to follow. We tested Marley Spoon's service and found that the recipes were among the tastiest they had tried.

For those who want to get fancy, Marley Spoon offers Premium meals with higher-quality cuts of meat, organic ingredients, and richer flavors. The Organic Truffle Butter Steak is a standout dish.

What Makes It Special?

Marley Spoon's commitment to being environmentally friendly is impressive. Meals are designed to reduce food waste by providing the exact amount of ingredients each recipe needs, resulting in less packaging use, less garbage production, and less food waste.

Plus, the service is 100% carbon neutral, with any carbon-based materials used to fuel the service being offset by carbon-eliminating projects like planting trees. So, San Diego residents focused on sustainability and environmental preservation can rest assured that their delivery will have zero carbon footprint.

Is It Good Value?

Overall, Marley Spoon's extensive menu offerings and commitment to sustainability make it a top contender in the meal delivery service industry. But it's worth noting that the entire menu is subject to allergen cross-contamination, so people with severe allergies may need to look elsewhere for a more specialized meal delivery service.

You can order 2 to 6 recipes per week for 2 or 4 people, making it a great service for couples or small families. Per serving prices start at $4.99.

8. Purple Carrot – Best Plant-Based Meals in San Diego

Purple Carrot is a top meal delivery service for plant-based dieters. You'll find 100% vegan, plant-based meal kits and microwave-ready meals. Although this service doesn't offer grab-and-go options, its meal options will make eating a plant-based diet easier for anyone wanting to fit more veggies into their weekly meals.

What’s on the Menu?

One thing I appreciate about Purple Carrot is its focus on organic produce. It sources organic ingredients from organic farms whenever possible, making sure the meals are flavorful and affordable. If any supply chain issues arise, you’ll be notified in advance of your next order, ensuring transparency and trust.

Even the fussiest omnivores will be pleased with Purple Carrot's meals. You can check out our in-depth review for more information about the dishes we taste-tested.

Purple Carrot's menu is smaller than most, but its complete menu rotates every week. With 12+ meal kit recipes, including 5-minute breakfasts, easy 15-minute lunches, you can cover a full day's worth of meals.

You'll also find fully prepared, microwave-ready meals, which makes eating a plant-based, vegan diet as convenient as possible. The fully prepared menu includes 16 recipes each week, and the Easy Prep menu shows all recipes from the main menu that are ready in 30 minutes or less.

You can also choose from 6 or 7 snacks and pantry staples in the Plantry, like Hand Packed Lumache noodles and homemade Fra Diavolo sauce.

What Makes It Special?

Despite the small weekly menu, Purple Carrot's cuisine options are varied, and its recipes are perfect for those with adventurous palates. You can expect a mix of Mediterranean, Indian, Asian, and Southeast Asian-inspired recipes each week, with veggies as the star flavors of each dish, all packed with herbs and spices.

Purple Carrot offers nutrient-dense meals highlighting natural plant flavors, using protein alternatives such as beans and quinoa instead of highly processed meat alternatives. It also offers the option to choose High Protein or Gluten-Free for all your meals, ensuring that each meal has at least 20 g of protein.

Is It Good Value?

While the convenience of Purple Carrot is unbeatable, it comes at a cost. The pricing for the maximum order of 12 meal kits per week starts at $11.00 per serving, while prepared meals are $13 each, regardless of how many you order.

You must order a minimum of 3 meal kits for 2 people (6 servings) but can order a maximum of 3 meal kits for 4 people per week (12 servings). Prepared meals come as single portions and can be ordered in bundles of 6, 8, or 10 meals per week.

9. Trifecta – Great Fully Prepared Meals for Athletes

Trifecta's meal delivery service is marketed toward athletes on the go who want to eat balanced meals of complex carbs, proteins, and veggies. All meals arrive fresh, fully prepared, and individually portioned so that all you have to do is store, or heat and eat.

What’s on the Menu?

Meal plans include Keto, Plant Based, Paleo Whole30 Approved, and Clean which all offer breakfasts and entrees that can be eaten for lunch or dinner. However, the menu doesn’t change completely every week – some recipes are rotated week after week.

What I like most about this service is the Meal Prep plan, which allows you to customize meals with high-quality ingredients like meat, fish, complex carbs, and veggies, which are all prepped with super simple ingredients like olive oil, garlic, onion, thyme, and rosemary.

All meals are packaged in microwave-ready trays, which are convenient for storage and reheating. One of the perks of this packaging is the ability to save food for later and reuse the trays for other food storage purposes.

What Makes It Special?

Trifecta prides itself on using only natural, unprocessed, and seasonal ingredients, without any preservatives or artificial additives. Customers can be confident that they’re receiving fresh, nutritious meals with every delivery.

You can also speak with in-house nutrition experts once you’ve made your 1st order to better optimize your meal plans with your diet goals. You can check out our review of Trifecta for more about its full range of services. 

Is It Good Value?

What’s also convenient is that Trifecta offers a nutrition-tracking app that seamlessly integrates with their recipes. For those who are health-conscious and want to track their macros, Trifecta will be a great option.

It's important to note that Trifecta is a premium meal delivery service, so it’s pretty expensive. Prices start at over $300 per week for a full week of 7 breakfasts and 14 entrees, with per-serving prices starting at $13.79 .

10. Nutrisystem – Best Weight Loss Meals in San Diego

Nutrisystem offers over 130 meal options. This expansive menu includes a wide array of items such as pizzas, soups, and pasta across different meal plans. It ensures that every palate, from the comfort food lover to the adventurous eater, finds something delightful and weight-loss-friendly. Learn more in our Nutrisystem review.

What’s on the Menu?

Nutrisystem’s menu consists of frozen and shelf-stable breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and desserts. There is a variety of cuisines and cooking styles available, but you won’t get much exposure to fresh, whole ingredients. Instead, calorie control is central to Nutrisystem’s approach.

If you’re living an active San Diego lifestyle, managing calorie intake is important, especially when balancing work and leisure. Nutrisystem meals require minimal preparation, with many options that need just a few minutes in the microwave or no heating at all.

Nutrisystem’s plans accommodate all adults. Recognizing the diversity of San Diego’s population, it meticulously designs meal plans catering to both men and women in various stages of adulthood, ensuring everyone has access to a plan that aligns with their unique nutritional needs and weight loss goals.

What Makes It Special?

The NuMI app integrates technology into your weight loss journey. Residents in tech-savvy San Diego will find this feature particularly handy as it helps you monitor food and water intake, track physical activity, and access a trove of resources like additional recipes and challenges to keep you engaged.

Adaptive calorie goals align with your progress. Given the dynamic and active lifestyles that San Diegans often lead, it dynamically adjusts your calorie goals, preventing weight loss plateaus and continually harmonizing with your evolving needs and progress.

Is It Good Value?

You’ll enjoy flexibility in your ordering options. Whether you’re a seasoned San Diego foodie or someone who prefers a professional’s touch, Nutrisystem caters to all. Choose the Chef’s Choice for expertly curated meals or select your own, ensuring your meals always match your comfort and experience levels.

Pricing starts at $9.64  per day for the most affordable plan. Tailoring to the varied financial capacities of San Diego residents, this includes essential ready-made meals and access to the NuMI app. You have options to add additional menu items or shakes to your order, although at an increased daily cost.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Service in San Diego

With options ranging from nutritious frozen dinners to subscription plans providing recipe cards, it can be challenging to determine which meal delivery service is most suitable for you. Here's everything you need to consider: 

• Consider meal prep time: Each delivery service offers recipes requiring different skill levels and amounts of prep time. Meal kits typically take a lot longer than prepared meals, so you’ll want to ensure you’re ordering meals that require the same amount of prep time you have available. Factor’s meals all require 2 to 3 minutes of heating in the microwave while Green Chef’s average around 30 minutes.

• Consider your dietary needs: Not all services are alike when it comes to catering to special needs and providing suitable alternatives. For example, Home Chef allows you to swap proteins in many of their meals, while Purple Carrot lets you decide if all your meals should be gluten-free.
  

• Consider recipe variety: Each service offers a different cuisine variety. Factor offers prepared meals of mostly American, Mexican, and Italian inspiration, while Green Chef’s recipes are often more on the gourmet side and include lots of variety. Green Chef tends to offer various cuisines like Japanese, Thai, Cajun/Creole, and more unique ones like that.

• Consider the size of the plans: While ordering for yourself is straightforward, not all services provide larger meal plans for the entire week. Home Chef is an excellent choice for families, offering up to 6 recipes per week for 6 people – that’s 36 meals in total. For the most family-friendly service, check out HelloFresh.
  

FAQ

What is the best meal delivery service in San Diego?

I rank Factor as the best meal delivery service in San Diego. Factor offers chef-prepared meals that are ready to heat and eat. It’s great for omnivores, vegetarians, and people following a niche diet like keto.

What is the most affordable meal delivery service in San Diego?

Marley Spoon is the most affordable meal delivery service in San Diego. With prices starting at just $4.99 per serving, Marley Spoon sends you meal kits of classic American comfort foods. You can even use our discount code to get a reduced price on your first order – Get up to 46% off on the first box + free shipping.

Which meal delivery service is best for vegetarians in San Diego?

HelloFresh offers a great vegetarian menu. While most meal delivery services offer a few vegetarian entrees, you can choose a whole plan of only vegetarian meals. HelloFresh sends you an email each week of all available recipes you can choose for your next order. It also posts menus 6 weeks in advance so you can plan all your meals.

Which meal delivery service is best for keto in San Diego?

Factor offers an excellent Keto plan and keto meal add-ons including desserts and smoothies. Following your keto diet with Factor is super easy since each meal is fully prepared, delivered fresh and never frozen, and individually packaged so you can immediately pop a meal in the microwave as soon as you receive your order.

Best Meal Delivery Service in San Diego 2024 — Final Score