After testing over 500 meals from Australia’s top meal delivery services, I can tell you one thing: they’re nothing like the bland TV dinners of the past.
Today’s best services can deliver restaurant-quality meals right to your door, whether you’re after chef-designed meal kits or perfectly portioned ready-made dishes.
This guide brings together my hands-on experience with every major meal delivery service in Australia. I’ll help you find the perfect match, whether you’re a busy professional seeking convenient healthy meals, a foodie wanting to explore new cuisines, or a family looking to simplify weeknight cooking without compromising on quality.
Each service has been thoroughly tested, with real photos and detailed notes on taste, value, and reliability. No marketing fluff. Just honest insights from someone who’s actually eaten the food.
- My Muscle Chef – BEST PREPARED MEALS
- HelloFresh – BEST MEAL KIT
- ChefGood
- Soulara
- QuiteLike
- Marley Spoon
- YouFoodz
- Dinnerly
- Garden of Goodness
- EveryPlate
- Dinner Ladies
- Dineamic
Page Contents
How I Review Meal Delivery Services
After testing meal delivery services for over five years, I’ve developed a thorough approach to reviewing each company. Here’s what I look for:
Featured Service
Since starting Food Box Mate in 2020, I’ve made it my mission to personally test every meal delivery service in Australia. I’ve ordered hundreds of boxes, cooked thousands of meals, and spent countless hours documenting every aspect of these services to help you find the perfect fit for your lifestyle.
I regularly reorder from these companies to check their consistency and track how they evolve over time. Each service gets thoroughly evaluated across 6 different categories, from food quality to delivery reliability. I taste test every meal, check portion sizes, and calculate true value for money… exactly what I’d want to know if I were choosing a service myself.
After all this hands-on testing, here are the meal delivery services I confidently recommend, ranked by overall experience:
My Muscle Chef
My Muscle Chef has genuinely changed my expectations of what prepared meals can taste like. Their extensive menu of over 70 meals delivers consistently impressive flavors, with their unique vacuum-sealed packaging helping maintain restaurant-quality taste and texture in every dish.
The Salmon Risotto particularly stands out, coming out with perfectly cooked rice and delicious seasoning – something rarely achieved in prepared meals. You can read about all the meals I tested in my detailed My Muscle Chef review.
While available in most supermarkets, ordering online gives you access to their complete range and bulk discounts. They offer three distinct ranges to match different goals – their Standard range for everyday meals, PRO range with higher protein and complex carbs for fitness enthusiasts, and PLUS+ range with larger portions for bigger appetites.
Every meal comes with clear nutritional information, and the quality remains consistently high across their extensive menu. Even after trying dozens of different options, I’m still impressed by how they maintain proper textures and fresh flavors throughout their range. Their protein-rich meals and customizable portions make them one of our best meal delivery services for muscle gain.
Get Up To $120 Off Your First 6 My Muscle Chef OrdersClick this link and use code SAVE120
HelloFresh
HelloFresh consistently impresses me with their ability to help anyone create restaurant-quality meals at home.
With around 38 different meals to choose from each week, including vegetarian and calorie-smart options, you’re spoiled for choice. Their recipe cards are incredibly clear and well-designed, making it easy for even amateur cooks to create impressive dishes. You can read more about my experience cooking over 50 HelloFresh meals in my detailed HelloFresh review.
Every meal I’ve cooked has been delicious, taking less than 60 minutes to prepare and leaving generous portions that often provide leftovers for lunch. They offer different plans including Classic, Family-Friendly, and Vegetarian, plus the ability to customize certain meals with extra ingredients.
While they’re not the cheapest option available, the quality of ingredients and recipes makes them perfect for you if you want to expand your cooking skills with guaranteed delicious results.
ChefGood
Every meal from Chefgood feels like it was actually prepared by someone who cares about food, not just assembled in a factory. Their menu packs a real punch with flavor while keeping portions perfectly controlled for anyone watching their calories.
What really impresses me about Chefgood is their range of options, with over 40 different meals available each week including some fantastic choices for vegetarians and those avoiding gluten or dairy. You can read all about what makes their meals special in my detailed Chefgood review where I tested a bunch of their different dishes.
The quality definitely shows in their pricing, sitting at the premium end of the ready meal market. However, with regular guest chef collaborations and genuinely restaurant inspired dishes, you really do get what you pay for. Their flat rate shipping of $12 keeps things simple and predictable for your weekly meal planning. Their carefully portioned, nutritionally balanced meals also make them one of our top recommended meal delivery services for weight loss.
Soulara
Soulara stands out as Australia’s first completely plant-based prepared meals service, with over 50 different products available each week. Their extensive menu features everything from curries to pasta dishes, with particularly impressive results in their curry range. You can read about all the meals I tested in my extensive Soulara review.
What really impresses me about Soulara is how they handle meat alternatives, using creative ingredients like jackfruit, mushrooms, and perfectly-prepared tofu. They offer both medium (350g) and large (450g) portions to suit different appetites, with clear nutritional information for every meal.
While some dishes can be a bit watery, the overall quality and taste make this an excellent choice for you if you’re looking to add more plant-based meals to your diet. As Australia’s first completely plant-based meal service, they consistently rank among our best meal delivery services for vegetarians and best vegan meal delivery services.
QuiteLike
QuiteLike takes a unique approach as an Australian-owned meal kit service backed by Coles Group, focusing on high-quality local ingredients. With 30 different recipes each week, they deliver consistently exciting flavors packed with herbs and spices that elevate dishes above standard home cooking. Find out more in my hands-on QuiteLike review.
While most meals I’ve tried have been restaurant quality, like their outstanding Tarragon and Leek Chicken Maryland, the recipes can be challenging to follow. They’re best suited for confident home cooks who can adapt timings and techniques to their kitchen.
The premium ingredients and generous portions justify the slightly higher price point, though the limited vegetarian options (4-5 per week) might not suit your preferences.
Marley Spoon
Marley Spoon offers Australia’s largest weekly menu with over 70 different meals to choose from, including plenty of options for different dietary needs. Their premium ingredients consistently impress me, particularly their fresh produce and high-quality meats that outshine typical supermarket options. See what I discovered after testing dozens of Marley Spoon meals.
While the ingredients are excellent, I find some recipes can be hit or miss with their cooking instructions. The huge variety means you can always find meals that suit your preferences, with at least 8 vegetarian options and 10 gluten-free meals available each week.
They also offer meal customization for about 20% of their menu, letting you adjust portions or swap proteins to match your needs.
YouFoodz
YouFoodz has grown to become one of Australia’s largest meal delivery providers, with over 40 different meals available each week. Since being acquired by HelloFresh in 2022, they’ve improved their meal quality while maintaining their budget-friendly prices.
Want to know what their meals are really like? Read my in-depth experience with YouFoodz where I put their meals to the test.
Their standard meals are perfectly portioned for weight management at 300-400 calories each. Their FUEL’D range, with 30g+ protein per meal, also makes them a popular choice in our best meal delivery services for muscle gain.
The menu is heavily chicken-based, making up 45% of all meals, but they’ve mastered keeping the meat juicy and flavorful. While vegetarian options are limited, their recent focus on recipe development has significantly improved the overall taste and texture of their meals.
Featured Service
Dinnerly
Dinnerly stands out as Australia’s most affordable meal kit service, with portions starting from just $5.99. Their extensive menu of over 100 weekly recipes focuses on simple, familiar dishes using 6-7 ingredients. Explore my experience cooking dozens of Dinnerly meals to see if their budget-friendly approach works for you.
Despite the low price point, ingredients arrive fresh and recipes consistently deliver good flavor. The trade-off comes with digital-only recipes and fewer premium ingredients, but the service excels at its core mission – making home cooking accessible and affordable.
With 15 vegetarian options each week and clear labeling for dietary needs, Dinnerly proves that eating well doesn’t have to strain your budget.
Garden of Goodness
Garden of Goodness sits firmly in the premium category as Australia’s first 100% certified organic prepared meal service. While their prices are among the highest in the market, they justify this through completely oil-free, gluten-free vegan meals using exclusively organic ingredients. Their commitment to 100% certified organic ingredients and gluten-free kitchen makes them a standout in our best vegan meal delivery services guide.
With 18 different meals available plus sides, they focus on quality over quantity, using seasonal ingredients to create dishes that prove plant-based eating can be both healthy and delicious. Take a closer look at my Garden of Goodness taste test to see how their organic meals stack up.
While the menu is smaller than other services, each meal delivers impressive flavors without relying on processed meat alternatives. Detailed ingredient filtering makes it easy to find meals that match your dietary requirements, though you’ll need to be comfortable with the higher price tag.
EveryPlate
EveryPlate sets the standard for affordable meal kits in Australia, offering consistently lower prices than all competitors. With over 30 recipes available each week, including 6 vegetarian options, they deliver fresh ingredients for simple, classic meals that anyone can cook.
Check out my full EveryPlate testing experience to see if this budget-friendly service is right for you.
While portions run slightly small and ingredients come unsorted in the box, the recipe cards are clear and the meals consistently deliver on flavor. Their flexible options for up to 6 people and 6 meals per week make them particularly appealing for larger families looking to save on their weekly food costs without compromising on quality.
Ultimately, their budget-friendly approach makes them a top pick in both our best meal delivery services for families and best meal delivery services for weight loss guides.
Dinner Ladies
Dinner Ladies takes a unique approach by providing frozen home-style meals that need proper reheating rather than just microwaving.
With over 60 main meals available, they focus on familiar, comforting dishes that taste like they’ve been cooked at home. Discover what I found when testing Dinner Ladies meals to see if their approach suits your needs.
While portions can run small and most meals need additional sides like rice or salad, the quality consistently impresses with proper textures and fresh flavors.
Their flexible ordering system with no subscription required and 3-6 month frozen shelf life makes it easy to stock up your freezer for those busy weeks. Their family-sized portions and flexible ordering make them one of our top recommended meal delivery services for families.
Dineamic
Dineamic brings their sports nutrition heritage to ready meals, focusing on fresh ingredients and balanced nutrition. With 42 different single-serve options plus meals for two, they deliver consistently flavorful dishes that taste homemade.
Read my complete Dineamic meal testing experience to see how their fresh approach compares to frozen alternatives. Their innovative eco-friendly packaging and clever use of herbs and spices creates meals that stand out from typical ready meals.
While some dishes can be watery and delivery options are limited, their competitive pricing and subscription discounts make them an attractive option if you’re seeking convenient, nutritious meals.
Get Healthy with DineamicExplore their range of prepared meals.
Ready to give meal delivery a try? My best advice is to test a few different services that match your priorities, whether that’s convenience, value or specific dietary needs. Each service brings something unique to the table, and finding your perfect match is worth the exploration.
Love discovering new food? Beyond meals, I also review specialty food and drink subscriptions that might interest you. Check out my favorite food box discoveries below.
Top Discovery Boxes in Australia
Good Pair Days
Good Pair Days starts with a simple wine quiz that helps match bottles to your taste preferences. After receiving over 70 bottles through their service, I’ve found their recommendations consistently hit the mark while introducing me to new varieties I wouldn’t normally try.
Each delivery includes useful tasting cards with food pairing suggestions and background on the wines. You can read about all the wines I’ve tested in my detailed Good Pair Days review.
The subscription is completely flexible allowing you to choose between 3-20 bottles per delivery, adjust your delivery frequency, and pick from different price tiers starting at $15 per bottle. When comparing prices to bottle shops, I typically save around 15% through Good Pair Days, making it solid value for exploring new wines.
They’ve recently added beer and sake subscriptions too, though I’ve only tested their wine service extensively.
Free $200 Gift For New Good Pair Days MembersExclusive to Food Box Mate readers. Just click here!
Sakuraco
Sakuraco delivers a beautifully curated box of traditional Japanese snacks and treats directly from Japan each month. After testing their service thoroughly, I’ve found each box contains around 14 different products ranging from wagashi (Japanese sweets) to savory snacks and occasional homeware items.
Every delivery follows a specific theme (either a Japanese region or cultural celebration) with a detailed guide explaining the history and significance of each item. You can explore more details in my complete Sakuraco review.
While shipping costs from Japan make this a premium subscription, the products are genuinely unique and difficult to find in Australia. They also offer subscription options from 1-12 months, with longer commitments reducing the monthly cost.
ButcherCrowd
ButcherCrowd delivers high-quality meat boxes directly from Australian suppliers, with everything from steaks to seafood. After testing their service for several months, I’ve found their meat quality consistently exceeds supermarket offerings, though at roughly double the price.
Each box can be fully customized with your choice of cuts, or you can opt for pre-curated boxes focused on specific meats. You can read about all the different cuts I tested in my detailed ButcherCrowd review.
All their meat follows strict ethical standards, being non-GMO, sustainably sourced, and humanely raised without hormones or antibiotics. While the premium pricing won’t suit everyone’s budget, the quality and ethical sourcing make it worthwhile if you’re focused on eating better meat less often.
Have any services you’d like to see added to this page? Let us know in the comments below.
What are home meal delivery services?
Having been around since 2012 when HelloFresh launched in Australia, the concept of meal delivery kits isn’t a new one to most Australians. However, you may not have given one a try before, so I wanted to quickly explain the concept.
Most services work through a subscription model where you will sign up to a number of meals/portions per week, which will be delivered in a chilled box on your chosen delivery date. These subscriptions are always totally flexible and can be cancelled at any time, also providing the ability to choose which meals you receive each week.
Meal delivery services come in two distinct types, Meal Kits and Prepared Meals.
- Meal Kits – Provides a box with all the ingredients needed to cook up a full meal at home.
- Prepared Meals – Single portion meals that have already been cooked and just need reheating in the microwave. We also summarise the best frozen meal delivery services, some of which also feature on this list.
When choosing which meal delivery service is right for you, you should be considering factors such as budget, convenience, taste and your lifestyle.
