Shef Reviews 

237
•
TrustScore 4 out of 5

4.0

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 173 reviews, reviewers had a great experience with this company. Customers frequently share that the food is exceptionally delicious and fresh, offering a wonderful variety of diverse culinary options prepared by local chefs. People truly appreciate how convenient the meal preparation and generous portion sizes are, making busy weeknights much easier to manage without any daily stress. Some reviewers were not happy with the delivery logistics, noting occasional missing items, incorrect orders, or frustratingly late arrivals that disrupted their schedules. Additionally, a few other people also felt that the heavy reliance on black plastic containers for storing hot meals was disappointing.

What people talk about most

Product

Customers consistently note positive experiences with product, frequently praising the delicious flavors,... See more

Quality

Consumers find quality to be positive, frequently describing meals as delicious, fresh, and offering... See more

Delivery service

People report ambiguous experiences with delivery service, as some customers praise timely arrivals, helpful... See more

Order

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of order experiences, as some consumers frequently praise the delicious... See more

Service

Users describe ambiguous interactions with service, expressing delight over delicious meals and convenience,... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

After a few months using Shef, I've learned to stretch the meals further by adding extra rice, frozen veggies and fresh lettuce. Having meals delivered every 3 weeks streamlines meal prep a lot!

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The food quality at Shef is top rate! I’ve tried other services and they did not compare. They offer a wide variety of gluten free meals too and reasonably priced for what you get. I find the portio... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Everything I have tried has been absolutely delicious! I haven’t been disappointed with anything. My taste buds are so happy—very, very happy! 😋 Thank you so much for your dedication, care, and commi... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Food is delicious and offers varieties with different chefs preparing meals for you. I LOVE Shef’s effort towards reusing the insulated bag and ice packs. It greatly impacts our decision to support th... See more

Company replied


Company details

  1. Meal Delivery
  2. also in
  3. Delivery Service
  4. Online Food Ordering Service

Written by the company

Shef connects busy families with talented local chefs who cook fresh, homemade meals for small groups of nearby households each week. Think of it as having a shared personal chef—you get the care, quality and freshness of a home-cooked meal with the convenience of takeout, often at a better price. Our vetted local chefs handle all the shopping, prep and cooking, then deliver restaurant-quality meals straight to your door. It's a human-centered alternative to meal kits and traditional delivery that puts the heart back into feeding your family, while supporting local food entrepreneurs in your community.

Culinary Excellence. Guaranteed.

Written by the company

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
Local chefs submit their applications & less than 5% earn an apron.
TASTE-TESTED TO PERFECTION
Every dish is vetted for taste, quality & presentation by our culinary team.
CREDENTIALS YOU CAN TRUST
Licensed chefs & facilities — every Shef meets rigorous safety standards.
DEDICATED TO CULINARY EXCELLENCE
Every order is reviewed for the highest standards in safety and quality.

Love it, or it's on us

Money-back guarantee

If it’s not love at first bite, we’ll make it right. 100% money-back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied.

Contact info

Promotion box for Shef

Sign Up For Weekly Shef Service

Save 30% on fresh meals crafted by trusted local chefs - from $54/week

4.0

Great

TrustScore 4 out of 5

237 reviews

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Asks customers to review

This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative

Replied to 93% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 48 hours

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4.0

All reviews

(237)

178 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Personal Shef

I have gotten 2 deliveries from Shef. Pros: Can order from different chefs and cuisines. Can choose delivery date and time and so far my orders have been on time. There is enough variety for me to have mostly pescatarian meals and I love supporting local chefs. Cons: it has taken me a week or more to consume 6 dishes because I have social engagements or a craving for other food. Inconsistent quality and portion size. After my first order, I was sure to look for high ratings and portion size. Prices for dishes is comparable to what I pay for take-out. I would recommend Shef.

22 October 2025
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Reply from Shef

We appreciate you supporting our local chefs! You can always adjust your order size or frequency to match your schedule. Thanks for recommending us!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Good and convenient prepared meals

Most of the dishes I’ve ordered were good. Some I’ll order again and others, I won’t. There is a nice assortment of dishes, I just wish that they offered fish dishes as well. The dishes feel home-cooked, versus factory production. I really appreciate that.

I asked them to deliver right at my door because of my disability, and they have worked with me. Thank you.

28 October 2025
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Reply from Shef

We're so glad we could accommodate your delivery needs! Thank you for the feedback about fish options. We'll definitely pass that along to our team!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Quality meals, odd customer service

The product itself is good -- and that is luck depending on where to live and the food/chefs available. The customer service is so lacking. I think they have actual customer service representatives but all their responses sound like AI. All the customer service says is "We will discuss this with our team." The first couple of months we got delivery, the food came late, sometimes almost an hour after the delivery window. It has since been resolved, but because there's no one to talk to about it, it feels very tenuous -- like at any moment, we might be getting deliveries super late again. The business is very much a marketplace/platform and it feels impersonal for a product that is very personal. All that said, it's a good meal delivery service and we have tried others and like the flexibility, quality, and price point of this one the most.

21 October 2025
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Reply from Shef

We hear you on wanting more personal support, and we're working on it! Really appreciate you sticking with us and glad the delivery timing improved. Your feedback helps us get better.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The food was amazing

The food was amazing, I think Shef Justin gets better every week! I can't wait to see what he adds to his menu!!

23 October 2025
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Reply from Shef

We love hearing that Justin keeps raising the bar! It's amazing when chefs keep innovating their menus. Can't wait for you to try what he cooks up next!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

So far, so good!

We've tried 3 dishes per week for 2 weeks and everything has been delish. It's been nicely packaged and easy to heat.

15 October 2025
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Reply from Shef

Love hearing this! Six dishes down and counting. Thanks for giving our chefs a try!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

So far so good

So far so good. The foods are fresh and flavorful. I also love that I am supporting food entrepreneurs and diverse cuisines. Taking the bags the food comes in is also a great perk.

14 October 2025
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Reply from Shef

Love that you're enjoying the fresh flavors and variety! Supporting talented chefs in your community is what it's all about. Thanks for being part of Shef!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I’m having a very difficult time with…

I’m having a very difficult time with my orders no content Twobmeals for two days. But you have sent me double orders. 4 single meals for 4 days. Plus the 2 meals. With 2 servings which I don’t want. Help. Barbara

14 October 2025
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Reply from Shef

We're sorry for the confusion with your order! This definitely needs to be sorted out right away. Please reach out to our support team at support@shef.com so we can fix the incorrect items and make sure you get exactly what you need.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Got my first order and tried 3 dishes…

Got my first order and tried 3 dishes so far. They were all great, steel containers, delivered on time. I love the concept of having home cooked meals made by a chef who specializes in their cuisine and you can pick and choose from so many options. Way better than the manufactured meals made preps that taste like cardboard after a while!

20 October 2025
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Reply from Shef

We're so happy you're loving the variety and quality! There's nothing quite like real homemade food from passionate chefs. Enjoy exploring all the different cuisines!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Convenient

I enjoy having meals already in the refrigerator that I have enjoyed.

9 October 2025
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Reply from Shef

We love that you always have something delicious ready to go! Thanks for being part of the Shef community.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Some meals are tastier than others but…

Some meals are tastier than others but overall I love that you can see the ingredients, I love the confienence and the price isn't bad. Of course, also supporting local shefs.

15 October 2025
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Reply from Shef

Love that you're enjoying the convenience and variety! Supporting local chefs while getting quality homemade meals is what we're all about. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

The service lacks variety and missing the mark on what Home cooked Food entails

The service lacks variety and options. It seems like they are constantly picking the same dishes you can find in the frozen food section or at restaurants all over the city(Chicago). I think Shef needs to make an effort with who they select for vetting the food selection process, to avoid unconscious bias in selecting the same things over and over. The platform has a saturation of Mexican+Italian Foods, which, are already in high availability at fast food, grocery stores, and restaurants. Food is subjective, and it's about what customers want! Customers go to Shef for something they can't/won't find at a restaurant, not for the same things. Especially in the city where there's a wide range of restaurant choices. Home-cooked foods are very different because of the time it takes in preparation and the flavor profile produced as a result. Vs with trying to mimic restaurant foods(Looks good, but tastes mediocre/bland due to efficiency practices), and they seem to be forgetting this. Aesthetics is being prioritized at the expense of options/flavor.

4 August 2025
Unprompted review
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Reply from Shef

Thanks for this detailed feedback! We hear you on wanting more variety beyond what's already widely available. We're always working to bring on chefs who offer unique, home-cooked flavors that you can't easily find elsewhere. Please reach out to our support team so we can share your feedback directly with our culinary team and improve our selection!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Some Meals are ok

Some Meals are ok. Some are dry. I think I will be going back to Green chef. I tried it for my hubby when I was out of town. I could see doing to if I am not there to cook.

13 October 2025
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Reply from Shef

Sorry some meals didn't hit the mark! Quality is our top priority, so please contact our support team with details about which dishes were dry. We'll make it right under our Love it, or it's on us guarantee and help you find chefs whose style matches what you're looking for!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Consistently late delivery as nd half…

Consistently late delivery and half of deliveries have been broken or spilled in the cooler.

6 October 2025
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Reply from Shef

We're really sorry about the late deliveries and damaged orders. That's definitely not the experience we want you to have! Please contact our support team so we can make this right under our Love it, or it's on us guarantee and figure out what's going wrong with your deliveries.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Portions are great

Portions are great, taste is good.

1 October 2025
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Reply from Shef

Great to hear you're enjoying the portions and taste! Our chefs put a lot of care into making sure every meal is satisfying. Thanks for sharing your feedback!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Affordable Meal Service

The meal service offers affordable, flexible meal plans.
A good variety of cuisines and eating preferences are offered.
The meals are tasty and homemade.

30 September 2025
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Reply from Shef

Thanks for the kind words! We're happy you're enjoying the variety and homemade quality. That's what our shared personal chef model is all about - bringing you delicious meals from talented local chefs at a price that works!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

the weekly meal choices good

the weekly meal choices good
if i miss cutoff time, the profile meal preferences are NOT honored in automated meals

23 September 2025
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Reply from Shef

Thanks for the feedback! We hear you on the automated meal selections not matching preferences when you miss the cutoff. That's definitely something we're working on improving. Please reach out to our support team so we can help make sure your next orders better match what you love!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I don't have time and this actually helps me eat.

I've tried many different meal services. I usually get sick of them after a while. Shef has lasting power for me so far because the price is competitive, the portion sizes are appropriate for my appetite, there is endless variety because I live in an area with many chefs, and the food is actually good. This helps me to relieve so much stress around eating: full time jobs, many young children, and just so little time and bandwidth to spare. I'm outsourcing my meals with Shef right now and it is very worth it. Customer service has been good. There were some hiccups with deliveries in the beginning but they've been ironed out.

18 September 2025
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Reply from Shef

Really appreciate you sharing this! So happy Shef is helping take the stress out of mealtime with your busy schedule. The variety from our local chefs definitely makes a difference. Thanks for sticking with us through those early delivery hiccups!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Intime delivery

Intime delivery, good quality and tasty food

12 September 2025
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Reply from Shef

Thanks for the kind words! Really happy the food hit the spot and arrived right on time. Enjoy your next order!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

The Chef's need a New Shef Management System

Downgrading our experience. The MEALS are VERY GOOD - this poor rating is NOT about the Chef's food. I think Shef's Company need new Management. The Admin is horrific and the system shortchanges customers each time a meal (or serving) is missed during delivery. One MUST save every itemized order receipt via screenshots to know exactly what is paid for each meal, each upcharge, and each extra side dish. Our original good review was on the food only - which IS very, very good. I feel bad for the chef's that work for Shefs but distribution has missed two items in four total weeks of ordering. We could live with that if the system wasn't cheating and applying a lower refund than paid for the missing meal. Their CS people have to manually override and fix the wrong credit. And chat drags on a LONG time while they "research". They know the customer is correct but Admin are cheating customers with a refund process that is inaccurate - expecting the customer not to know what they paid. I no longer believe reduced refunds than actual costs to the customer are an accident since it has now happened twice. We just quit the service. Not worth the time or effort.

9 September 2025
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Reply from Shef

We're really sorry about these issues with missing items and incorrect refunds. That's completely unacceptable and we understand your frustration. Please contact our support team so we can make this right under our Love it, or it's on us guarantee and address the refund process problems you experienced!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We love Shef! It changed our life

We love Shef! It solved a big problem for us. Food is delicious, healthy, doesn't feel heavy on the stomach. The shefs are amazingm you can feel the love in the food, perfectly packaged, delicious, always on time. I don't have time to cook and I used to eat out always, it was unhealthy and very expensive, and the food was not great.

12 September 2025
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Reply from Shef

So happy to hear Shef has made such a difference for you! That's exactly what we're here for - quality homemade meals that fit into your life. We'll make sure to pass your kind words along to your chefs!

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