10 Best Meal Delivery Services in San Jose in 2024

Meal kits and prepared meals are a great way to save time and money, but it may not be easy to decide the best fit for your needs. My colleagues and I have tested each service on this list to bring you our insights on the best meal delivery services in San Jose.

We’ve got you covered whether you want delicious prepared meals or exciting meal kits that make cooking less time-consuming. My selection includes services that offer organic, gluten-free, and vegan options, among others. There’s sure to be something to suit you whether you’re a busy professional, or need to feed a hungry family.

I’ve done the research, and my top recommendation is Factor. With a great selection of cuisines, plans to suit a range of dietary needs, and chef-prepared recipes, you can get ready to welcome a hassle-free meal experience.

The Best Meal Delivery Services in San Jose Reviewed

1. Factor – Best Meal Delivery for Specialized Diets in San Jose

Factor is a great choice if you struggle with meal planning and cooking. Every meal is delivered fresh and heat-ready. Simply store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat. I know how challenging it can be to eat healthily while also juggling a busy schedule, so zero-prep meals make all the difference.

What’s on the Menu?

What sets Factor apart is the focus on specialized diets. It offers a range of meal plans to fit various dietary needs, including Calorie Smart, Keto, and Protein Plus. You will also find a nice selection of vegetarian and vegan meals on the menu every week, such as the new Lemon Cream Tortellini and Broccoli.

You can also choose from a range of add-ons. These include breakfast options like Honey Yogurt Pancakes, delicious fruit smoothies, and desserts, including the keto-friendly Chocolate-Coconut Macaroons.

Be aware that Factor’s meals aren’t created to support those with food allergies. If you follow a gluten-free diet or have any allergies, such as soy, you’ll need to check through your upcoming menu and swap out any unsuitable dishes.

What Makes It Special?

Factor uses only the highest quality ingredients, including grass-fed meats, antibiotic-free poultry, and sustainably sourced seafood. This means you know you’re getting all the nutrients you need without any harmful additives. Plus, you're also supporting ethical and eco-friendly practices.

Meals are chock-full of protein, complex carbs, and fresh vegetables, making them a great choice for anyone looking to get more healthy meals on their plate. When we tried Factor's meals, we especially enjoyed the Spicy Sweet Potato and Peanut Sauce dish.

You have the option to tap into a team of dietitians who are available to answer any nutrition-related questions you might have.

Is It Good Value?

Factor’s meals are created by a team of culinary experts, who create dishes that are both nutritious and mouthwatering. Every meal is designed to be both delicious and healthy, fueling your body with the best nutrients.

With its flexible delivery options, you can easily manage deliveries to fit your schedule. Factor automatically selects the most suitable meals for you, but editing these is easy if you log into your online account. 

Factor pricing varies by order size, with larger orders providing the best savings. For example, you can get 18 meals for $103.41 on your first order with our link.

2. Green Chef – Best Organic Meal Delivery in San Jose

Green Chef is the first certified organic handler in the meal kit category. So if you prioritize organic ingredients in your diet, you can be assured of the highest standards of food quality in every meal. This means that you can trust that the ingredients in your box aren’t only fresh and high-quality but also traceable from the farm to your doorstep.

What’s on the Menu?

Green Chef stands out for its variety and planning. It provides over 45 recipes that rotate weekly, ensuring a broad selection of meals suitable for various diets. You can review offerings 4 weeks in advance and plan your mealtime accordingly. You can serve most dishes in 40 minutes. It also accommodates busy customers since it has 10-Min Lunch options.

Green Chef’s recipes often feature unexpected but delicious food combinations. Although picky eaters might not be impressed, it’s a fun and creative way to explore new flavors and ingredients while still enjoying delicious and healthy meals. We reviewed Green Chef and were particularly fond of the Lemon-Basil Caper Chicken dish!

It’s a great choice if you’re celiac or follow a strict gluten-free diet. You can sign up for the Gluten-Free plan, and any recipes that don’t contain gluten are clearly labeled on the menu. Other common allergens like soy, tree nuts, and shellfish are indicated on the recipe, so you know which recipes to avoid or which ingredients you need to switch out.

What Makes It Special?

Green Chef supports local farmland, family farms, and craft economies. So you know your choice benefits dozens of suppliers. This means you can feel good about enjoying delicious meals while also supporting the health of local communities and the environment.

Green Chef provides chef's tips for techniques that may require a bit more experience. This helps make the cooking process as easy as possible. These helpful tips guide your cooking experience, ensuring that your dish comes out perfectly every time.

Is It Good Value?

You’ll need to have some basic cooking skills under your belt. Dicing, chopping, peeling, and grating proficiency are needed. However, don't worry if you're new to cooking, as each recipe card includes detailed step-by-step instructions with timing and visual cues to help guide you through the process.

All recipes have been tested by both trained chefs and new chefs, so you can trust that they are high-quality and delicious. Prices start at $9.99, and there’s a minimum order of 3 meals for 2 people per week.

3. Blue Apron – Best Home-Cooked Meals in San Jose

Blue Apron is an excellent choice if you’re looking to simplify weeknight dinners. San Jose residents will be impressed with the pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes in its meal kits and its selection of fresh prepared meals. It makes it a breeze to prepare healthy, delicious, and creative meals at home.

What’s on the Menu?

I like that you can filter the menu for meal kits, prepared meals, and add-ons. This lets you scroll through the menu to get an idea of the types of recipes to expect before you sign up. For more details on the subscription process, read our full Blue Apron review.

You can choose from a selection of add-ons such as desserts and protein packs. If you want to try Blue Apron’s meals without committing first, check out its Market section for meal kits and prepared meals.

What Makes It Special?

Blue Apron offers great vegetarian options and even Beyond Meat recipes. For example, the Miso-Ponzu Beyond Burger can also be created with ground beef for meat eaters. 

In line with this, there are plenty of swaps you can make for some of the weekly recipes. This gives you the option to modify dishes to your liking. For example, you can have the Smoky Chicken & Spicy Carrot Farro with chicken or shrimp. Keep in mind that meal customizations may cost you a little extra.

One of the great things about Blue Apron is its flexibility. It’s easy to skip a week or make changes to your deliveries with its Manage Delivery button. You can skip deliveries up to 5 weeks in advance or change your delivery day. This is perfect if you have a busy schedule or need to adjust plans at the last minute.

Is It Good Value?

Blue Apron uses sustainable practices and sources its ingredients from responsible suppliers, so you can feel good about your meal choices. 

If you’re following a niche diet like keto or vegan, you might have a harder time finding suitable meals unless you are happy to substitute ingredients at home. Green Chef may be a better option for these diets.

You can order a minimum of 2 kits for 2 people or at least 4 prepared meals per week. There doesn’t appear to be a hard maximum, either, which is nice. Note that you can’t mix and match meal types in one box. For that, you’d have to order 2 separate boxes (or simply switch up the meal type each week!). The price per individual meal starts at $4.00.

4. HelloFresh – Best Meal Kits for Novice Chefs in San Jose

HelloFresh is a great choice for novice chefs. It provides detailed recipe instructions for each dish, making it easy for even those with little cooking experience to prepare delicious and healthy meals at home. For more details on the recipe cards, read our full HelloFresh review.

What’s on the Menu?

There’s a range of different meal plans to choose from. The most popular is the Meat & Veggies plan, but you can also opt for Veggie, Family Friendly, Pescatarian, Fit & Wholesome, or Under 20 Minutes. The quick and easy meals take less prep time and use fewer pots and pans, making cleaning up a breeze.

The Fit & Wholesome plan is designed to provide healthy, low-calorie meals that are packed with nutrients and flavor. This includes a variety of lean proteins, whole grains, and fresh vegetables, and is designed to help customers maintain a healthy and balanced diet.

Subscribers can access a range of Market items. These can be added to your weekly order, making grocery shopping hassle-free. Items vary depending on your location but include breakfasts, snacks, desserts, additional proteins, and more.

What Makes It Special?

The HelloCustom feature lets you change proteins and sides in some of its recipes. But the service doesn't particularly suit specialized diets. If you’re vegan or have other types of dietary restrictions, I recommend trying out Green Chef. It offers plant-based meals as well as dishes that fit keto and paleo diets.

HelloFresh has solid sustainability practices, as almost all of its packaging can be recycled. I was pleased to discover that HelloFresh purchases carbon offsets for every delivery, which is a commendable effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

Is It Good Value?

HelloFresh is an excellent choice for picky eaters and families because it consistently has over 100 meals and market items on the menu. It also caters to novice cooks, as its recipes have a difficulty level and are easy to follow.

You can order 2 to 6 recipes per week for either 2, 4, or 6 people, which makes it a great choice if you want a high level of convenience and flexibility in your meal planning. The more you order, the lower the price. For example, using our link, new customers can enjoy 6 meals for 4 people for just $107.75

5. Home Chef – Best Family-Friendly Meal Delivery in San Jose

Home Chef is an excellent choice for families, as it offers a wide range of dishes and cuisines to suit even the pickiest eaters. Every week, Home Chef provides family recipes that are easy one-pot or one-pan dishes that feed a family of 4 with hardly any cleanup. This is great for busy parents who want to provide a nutritious meal for their family without spending hours in the kitchen.

What’s on the Menu?

Home Chef offers a variety of meal options, including classic meal kits and convenient Oven-Ready and Fast & Fresh options, which cater to your busy lifestyle. This variety means that there’s always something new and exciting to try each week, which helps keep mealtime interesting and enjoyable.

Nutritional information for each meal is clearly stated. You can find it by scrolling to the bottom of each recipe or by clicking the print icon under the meal title. This is helpful for those who want to keep track of their calorie intake or those with specific dietary needs.

Home Chef has a recipe filtering feature that allows you to filter the menu by Carb-conscious, < 30-min, Calorie-conscious, and Vegetarian options. This is really handy, and when you choose Edit Meals on your delivery, you can easily filter the available options by cooking time, protein, meal type, and more using the drop-downs at the top of the page.

What Makes It Special?

What makes Home Chef unique is its versatility and customization options. You can change your protein choice and use the Customize It tool to personalize your meals. This means you can make your meals according to your family's preferences, which is perfect for those with dietary restrictions or allergies. Read more in our in-depth Home Chef review.

Moreover, you can eliminate up to 9 common allergens when setting up your meal plan. These are pork, poultry, beef, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, and mushrooms. At the same step, you can choose dietary preferences, such as Vegetarian, Carb-Conscious, Calorie-Conscious, Keto-Friendly, Gluten-Friendly, and Paleo-Friendly. 

Is It Good Value?

One of the best things about Home Chef is its easy-to-follow recipes. You can cook delicious meals easily with step-by-step recipes that make home cooking simpler than ever. This is especially great if you’re new to cooking or if you want to try something different.

A minimum order is 2 recipes for 2 people, up to a maximum of 6 recipes for 6 people. This is great for larger families, and you can even view the menu up to 5 or 6 weeks in advance to make edits. Prices per serving start at $9.99.

6. BistroMD – Best Science-Backed Weight-Loss Meals in San Jose

Get nutritionally balanced diet meals delivered right to your doorstep with BistroMD. Its customized physician-designed weight loss programs cater to the needs of both women and men. It also covers every element of a weight loss plan, from nutritional meals to one-to-one personalized email support.

What’s on the Menu?

There are 7 different plans to choose from, catering to a range of dietary requirements. There’s Signature, Heart Healthy, Diabetic, Keto Flex, Gluten Free, Menopause, and a Vegan weight loss program, so you’re sure to find something suitable for your needs.

Depending on your plan, you may have a smaller menu to choose from. The diabetes-friendly plan only includes meals with 25 grams or less of net carbs plus lean proteins to help regulate blood sugar levels. The plant-based menu, which includes only vegan dishes, is less than half the size of the full menu.

All meals arrive in microwavable containers and are also safe in the oven up to 400 F. This makes it really convenient, as a delicious lunch or dinner is ready in 6 minutes or less, with no cleanup.

What Makes It Special?

BistroMD has a team of experts who have created a variety of resources and tools to support your weight loss journey. You can access weekly program materials, newsletters, and helpful guides in your member account, giving you everything you need to succeed.

You can log into mybistroMD.com at any time to check your menu, make edits, and take control of your diet plan. This is useful if you want to avoid certain meals as each menu is repeated on a rolling 6-week program. Check out our full BistroMD review for more details.

Is It Good Value?

There’s some flexibility in the type of plan you choose. There’s a full plan of 7 days of breakfast, lunch, and dinner and a 5-day lunch and dinner only plan. You can even opt for some tasty snacks at an additional cost. These are designed to stop you from reaching for unhealthy alternatives when hunger strikes.

When you order from BistroMD, you automatically subscribe to a weekly delivery service. This is to make sure the plan has a long-term effect on your health and that you achieve your weight loss and health goals. A minimum order is 5 days of lunches and dinners per week. The price per meal for the largest order (20 portions) starts at $6.59 per serving.

7. Purple Carrot – Healthy, Plant-Based Meal Kits in San Jose

Purple Carrot is a vegan meal delivery service that's all about the veggies. Unlike some of its competitors, this service doesn't rely on imitation meats to make its meals tasty. And the best part is that you don’t have to be vegan to enjoy plant-based, delicious meals.

What’s on the Menu?

One of the best things about Purple Carrot is its weekly recipe guide, which features 16 dinner meal kits and 4 breakfast and lunch recipes each. This means you'll always have a resource of plant-based recipes to choose from, no matter your schedule or preferences.

In terms of plans, Purple Carrot offers 3 different options. The 2-serving plan is ideal for singles or small families, while the 4-serving plan is perfect for larger families. If you’re short on time, its single-serving prepared plan is a great option. Don’t forget, you can mix and match between plans for even more flexibility, but only once you've signed up. Our in-depth Purple Carrot review covers this in detail.

Purple Carrot also offers a range of extras to add even more variety to your meals. These are all 100% plant-based, and you can always find gluten-free breakfast and lunch options each week.

What Makes It Special?

Purple Carrot takes a different approach and doesn’t offer customization options for its recipes. Each dish is thoughtfully planned and cohesive, so there's no need to customize. Plus, the recipes are easy to follow and perfect for anyone who wants to try new and exciting plant-based meals.

Purple Carrot’s Less Prep plan is perfect when you want all the flavor and nutrition of plant-based meals but less work. Its expert chefs have crafted recipes that include shortcuts like pre-chopped veggies and premade sauces, so you can enjoy your meal with minimal kitchen time.

Purple Carrot takes eco-friendliness seriously. It uses recyclable and biodegradable materials for packaging and provides detailed disposal instructions. What's more, it prevents food waste by supplying precisely measured ingredients.

Is It Good Value?

It’s great for those with allergies or intolerances, as each week's menu features recipes that are clearly labeled gluten-free, soy-free, and/or nut-free. This makes choosing suitable meals much less of a headache.

With the Purple Carrot app, you can easily manage your subscription and stay up to date with new menu offerings. And while the app is currently only available for iOS systems, an Android version is in the works.

You can order a minimum of 3 meal kits for 2 people per week or 6 prepared meals. You can order a maximum of 10 prepared meals every week or 4 servings of 3 meal kits. Prices start at $11.00 per serving.

8. Diet-to-Go – Best for Weight-Loss Meal Delivery in San Jose

Diet-to-Go is 1 of the best meal delivery services in San Jose for people looking to lose weight. It has customizable plans and a variety of options you can choose from to tailor your mealtime.

What’s on the Menu?

Diet-to-Go meals are prepared and ready to cook. Each recipe is dietitian-designed and chef-crafted so losing weight is delicious instead of dull. The menu is so varied, and with so many recipes, you’ll never get bored. And, as each meal is properly portion-controlled, you can still enjoy the foods you love.

Diet-to-Go has a plan that prioritizes whole, nutritious foods, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, grains, fish, and lean meats. The Mediterranean menu is full of delicious, healthy options inspired by the cuisine.

All its meals are pre-portioned and properly balanced, so you know you’re eating a nutritional meal. Plus, meals include fruit, side dishes, and condiments, so you don’t need to worry about purchasing any extras. This means you can enjoy your meals without worrying about sabotaging your weight loss efforts.

What Makes It Special?

As well as meals, you get an entire team of health professionals, including registered dietitians, nutritionists, and a health coach, to support you and your goals. They'll be there to answer any questions you have, provide guidance and motivation, and help you stay on track by choosing the right meals for your dietary needs.

While Diet-to-Go doesn’t offer a vegan meal plan, it does have a range of options for those seeking healthy, balanced meals that include animal protein. For those who prefer prepared vegan weight loss meals, BistroMD may be a better option.

Is It Good Value?

The service is a great choice for people who focus on shedding pounds. We reviewed Diet-to-Go and found it effective at calorie control but lacking in flavor. The convenience of being able to heat up a quick, healthy meal without having to cook or succumb to ordering takeout was a definite plus.

You can order 2 or 3 meals per day for 5 or 7 days. If you opt for the 5-day plan, that gives you more flexibility with which days you choose to eat a Diet-to-Go meal. So you don’t have to worry about missing meals out with friends or special occasions. Prices start at $4.60 per serving.

9. Marley Spoon – Best Chef-Inspired Meals in San Jose

Marley Spoon offers over 100 meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes to choose from every week. You can rest assured that you're getting a high-quality meal, and you can customize recipes to your liking, including swaps for plant-based alternatives.

What’s on the Menu?

While there are sometimes 1 or 2 prepared meals on the menu, Marley Spoon offers meal kits that can be prepared in just 6 simple steps and in around 30 minutes. This makes it perfect for busy individuals or families who want a home-cooked meal without spending too long in the kitchen.

Marley Spoon has a great range of convenient and delicious vegetarian meal options. With around 20 different vegetarian choices available each week, there's no shortage of variety. Plus, it's easy to tailor your options to your preferences with the Edit Taste Profile feature.

What Makes It Special?

Marley Spoon is also committed to environmental sustainability, with a carbon-neutral service that offsets all direct emissions and packaging. To learn more about packaging, our tested Marley Spoon review has all the details.

You can customize most Marley Spoon meals. Look for the Customizable label to find dishes that allow ingredient swaps. Whenever I reviewed the service, there were 60 or so such recipes on the menu.

Is It Good Value?

Marley Spoon recipes may call for more pantry ingredients than other meal kit services. But its recipes are still easy enough for amateur cooks to handle. And if you need any additional items, you can check out the Market section for add-ons like protein variety packs and pantry staples.

Whether you need meals for 2 or 4 people, Marley Spoon has you covered. You can order between 2 and 6 meals per week, with prices starting from $4.99 per serving. The specially selected ingredients and spice blends gives Marley Spoon an added touch of quality that will inspire anyone to cook.

10. Dinnerly – Best Budget Meal Kits in San Jose

One of the main reasons I chose Dinnerly as my bonus meal delivery service is its affordability. Despite being 1 of the most cost-effective options on the market, it doesn’t compromise on quality or taste. This makes it a perfect choice for budget-conscious foodies or families who don't want to break the bank for home-cooked meals.

What’s on the Menu?

Dinnerly takes into account fast-paced lifestyles and diverse culinary preferences, which makes it a great choice for San Jose dwellers. From classic American comfort foods to exotic international dishes, it serves up a menu that mirrors the city's vibrant cultural mix.

The meal kits themselves are simple yet satisfying. Dinnerly does an excellent job of balancing nutrition and flavor, delivering dishes that are as health-conscious as they are tasty. Options like Teriyaki Broccoli & Mushroom Stir-Fry or Tortelloni Tomato Soup could be your new weeknight go-tos. Find out more in our tried-and-tested Dinnerly review.

The service publishes its recipes 4 weeks in advance. It doesn’t categorize its offerings by meal type, like most other services do. But you can refer to tags to check each dish’s main features. Some of them are Meat, Poultry, Low Calorie, and Kid Friendly. If you’re after a meal delivery that provides clear distinctions between its dishes and a filtering system, check out Home Chef.

What Makes It Special?

This San Jose meal subscription service offers speedy delivery times, ensuring your meal kits arrive fresh and ready to whip up when you need them. What's more, each meal kit is designed to minimize cooking time and cleanup, meaning you can have a home-cooked dinner on the table in around 30 minutes, with fewer dishes to wash afterward.

I’m also impressed with Dinnerly's emphasis on sustainability. From the recyclable packaging to the efforts to minimize food waste, it's evident that it’s committed to being eco-friendly. As someone who tries to make environmentally conscious choices, this was a big plus.

Another big plus for this low-cost service is its meal personalization options. Like Marley Spoon, its parent company, it has around 60 meals every week, you can customize to some extent. You can swap ingredients in meals with the Customizable label. 

Is It Good Value?

Dinnerly caters to a range of dietary preferences. Whether you're vegetarian, gluten-free, or dairy-free, you'll find options on the menu to suit your needs. Moreover, it offers a flexible subscription service. You can easily skip a week, swap recipes, or cancel your subscription without any hassle or extra costs.

Dinnerly offers an affordable and convenient way to enjoy a variety of home-cooked meals. With prices starting at $2.12 per serving, it's a great option for those who want to eat well without spending a fortune. 

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Services in San Jose

Read my helpful tips to find one that provides delicious, healthy meals that meet your dietary requirements.

• Evaluate meal variety: The top meal delivery services in San Jose should offer an array of meal choices to maintain diet variety and introduce you to new flavors. Examine the weekly menus to make sure they have a broad range of cuisines to keep your palate pleased.
  

• Look for organic or locally sourced ingredients: If you prefer to eat organic or locally sourced food, look for meal delivery services that use these types of ingredients. This way, you can support local businesses and know that you're consuming fresh, high-quality food. Try Green Chef for organic, or HelloFresh for farm-fresh ingredients.

• Consider your dietary restrictions: Before choosing a meal delivery service, it's essential to consider your dietary restrictions. If you follow a diet such as gluten-free, vegetarian, or keto then check out Green Chef’s meal kits. If you’d prefer prepared meals then try Factor.

• Compare prices: Given that meal delivery costs can vary significantly, it’s essential to shop around. Take into account not just the price but also meal quality, delivery schedules, and ingredient sourcing. For budget-conscious options, HelloFresh is a great option, especially for couples and families.
  

FAQ

What is the best healthy meal delivery service in San Jose?

It offers a variety of plans, including keto, high-protein, and plant-based options. Plus, the meals are free from gluten, soy, hormones, and antibiotics. Factor makes it easy to eat healthy, with no cooking or clean-up required. It also offers flexible subscriptions with the ability to pause, skip, or cancel at any time.

What is the best diet meal delivery service in San Jose?

Best Meal Delivery Services in San Jose in 2024 — Final Score