The best food delivery services in Canberra

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Alpha Fresh delivers fresh produce direct to customers. Photo: Lean Timms.

How Canberrans eat has changed in a big way. A mere two decades ago, food delivery options were, well rather limited. Beyond pizza and the occasional stir fry there wasn’t much in the way of home delivered restaurant-quality meals.

Today, evolved consumer behaviours have driven the emergence of tech-enabled dining solutions right at our fingertips. With a simple scroll and submit, delicious and nutritious meals can be delivered straight to desk or door. From portioned fresh ingredients, meal boxes, and chef-prepared dishes that one can heat and eat the choice is yours.

Loved by workaholics, the time-poor, and health conscious alike; these providers offer the food you love without so much as leaving the house! Indeed, enjoying fabulously fresh food from the comfort of your sanctuary has never been easier. So, who are the region’s finest food delivery service providers? If you are craving some sustenance and a little more convenience read on below for our pick of Canberra’s best.

What makes a great food delivery service?

Ultimately, all great providers satisfy more than just hunger – they nourish our minds and bodies with their delightful fare. Before you place an order, it might help to keep the following in mind:

  • Convenience. The best food delivery providers are all about convenience; making it easy for customers to order anywhere, anytime. Whether it be via a website or ready to use mobile app, placing an order couldn’t be easier. Think along the lines of order history, intuitive recommendations, simple payment methods, and meal ratings or reviews.
  • Variety. A big drawcard offered by many food delivery services is that of variety. With a plethora of tasty dishes, they cater to every meal occasion from breakfast to dinner. Removing the ‘what to cook’ dilemma, this variety also extends across all manner of cuisines and dietary requirements. Be it a vegan lunch for one, or gluten-free family dinner they have it covered.
  • Quality. When it comes to food, few things are as important as quality. When thinking of quality, two main things should be top of mind. Firstly, selecting a service that won’t compromise on using the best fresh produce available. Secondly, the confidence knowing that all meals are meticulously handled to ensure food safety. Additionally, nutritional information, allergens, and clear instructions should all be a given.
  • Speedy service. When dealing with fresh produce, hot meals, or perishable components, speedy service is of utmost importance. Here, the leading providers understand that careful handling and swift delivery is key. Be it scheduled delivery windows, express options, or real time delivery tracking; they ensure clients receive orders quickly.
  • Value. While most customers are happy to pay for convenience, what they do expect is value. Hence, consider vendors offers and assess which offer the best bang for your buck. Look for things like reasonable delivery fees, bundled deals, volume discounts, or seasonal savings. Also explore memberships and any associated offers which may be of benefit.

The best food delivery services in Canberra

Riotact’s editorial team has combed through 20 years of on-site comments to compile a list of the most recommended businesses according to you.

To be listed in our Best of Canberra series, each business needs to have consistently received positive feedback on Riotact and Facebook as well as maintaining a minimum average of 4/5 stars on Google.

GMD

Proud locals, GMD, burst onto the food scene close to ten years ago, on a mission to provide a healthy and convenient meal solution for the time poor and those who simply wish to eat better.

Also known as Gym Meals Direct, they have a flawless reputation for their tasty, well portioned, quality fare. Today, GMD offers fresh, nutritious, and delicious, ready-to-eat meals delivered straight to your door.

Whether you are a health seeker, fitness enthusiast, or athlete; GMD’s pre-packaged meals are designed to save time and hassle whilst fuelling the body to thrive. Boasting over sixty main meal options, along with breakfast and snacks, they offer one of the largest ranges of dishes in the region.

Their range features nut-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options; as well as specific meal plans suited to those on keto, low-carb and low-calorie diets. With meals available in both small or large sizes and from just $8.50 per meal there really is something for everyone.

Ordering with GMD is simple as it is seamless. In four simple steps customers can select meals, place an order online, receive the delivery, then heat and serve. GMD orders close midnight each Thursday, with meals delivered on Sunday's and Monday's. For added peace of mind, meal trays and boxes are recyclable and encased in fully biodegradable wool lining and eco conscious gel packs.

As passionate Canberrans, the team at GMD also love giving back to the community, supporting OzHarvest and Meals on Wheels. And, as the official nutrition partner for the Canberra Raiders and partner for both men’s and women’s Brumbies, quality is always assured.

For made-from-scratch meals that your body will thank you, for look no further than GMD.

Happy customer Peter Martin shared this sentiment on Google, “Gym Meals Direct is incredible, the food is fresh and always delicious. The value per meal is honestly unbeatable and they have a large variety of food choices. On top of this their customer service is top notch. Can't pick a single fault with GMD, a perfect service.”

Alpha Fresh

Alpha Fresh delivers beautiful fresh produce direct to customers. This family owned and run business is reliable and sources top-quality fruit and vegetables from reputable growers and producers. For over four decades, Alpha Fresh has been making its way up the food chain, supplying Canberra locals and hospitality venues with delicious food.

A digital fresh produce market, Alpha Fresh allows customers to shop with the click of a button. That includes fruit and veg, meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, groceries and continental smallgoods. Alpha Fresh also delivers easy home-cooked meals. Groceries include milk, tea, coffee, juice, bread, eggs, oils, honey and confectionary.

The online in-season section on Alpha Fresh’s website highlights premium produce and shoppers can purchase by category. Extensive wholesale contacts mean Alpha Fresh is always well stocked with a wide range of items sourced by scouring busy markets in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Delivery is six days a week (Monday to Saturday) all year, with quality maintained in Alpha Fresh’s fleet of refrigerated vehicles. All local orders placed before 9am are delivered that day and orders after 9am the following day, covering Canberra, Queanbeyan and surrounding regions.

Alpha Fresh is run by Frank and Giuseppe Iannelli, the third generation to manage the company.

Judy Catanzariti wrote on Google, “I have been using Alpha Fresh Food for a few months now and they always deliver amazingly fresh food, packaged with care. They definitely live up to their name. 100% for quality fresh food carefully boxed and delivered with the customer in mind.

Chefgood

Founded on the desire to shake up the ready meals industry, Chefgood began its journey with a focus on convenient, healthy, and tasty meals. Specialising in prepared meals, they are known for their handcrafted chef-designed meals full to the brim of locally sourced whole foods.

Offering over forty meals, in addition to sides, snacks, breakfasts, and drinks, there are many options to satisfy the hungry. Moreover, Chefgood offers high protein, low carb, vegan, vegetarian, along with no added gluten to dairy options.

Orla Odwyer had this to say on Google, “I’m really loving Chefgood meals - they are super convenient, tasty, and nutritious. They also cater for lots of different diets and being gluten free they can cater for my needs. I have a busy schedule and these meals are a lifesaver and make meal prep for my week super-fast and easy.”

FoodSt

Founded in 2016, FoodSt is a collective of local home cooks creating homemade meals from countries and cultures around the world. What sets the apart is their focus on traditional family recipes prepared by hand at home.

Their meal delivery service is home to over forty talented cooks providing over 150 meals from 27 global cuisines. From the Mediterranean and Europe to Asia and the Americas, there is something for everyone.

Deb Curtis shared this experience on Google, “I can highly recommend Food St. Ive ordered twice now, with about 16 meals in total, and each one was tasty, delicious, and exactly as described. The ordering process was easy, delivery not a problem…. Very reasonably priced. I cannot recommend them highly enough.”

Délidoor

Founded by two dads on a mission to transform mealtimes and enable time for reconnection, Délidoor offers delicious meals designed for the whole family. Offering more than 120 ready meals they cater to many meal occasions from mid-week through to gourmet dishes worthy of the weekend.

Covering dairy and gluten free meals, vegan and vegetarian, as well as options for children and desserts. Meals are made using fresh ingredients free of additives or preservatives and are delivered frozen to your doorstep.

As Paul Hopkins says on Google, “I have tended to avoid the ready-made meals delivery services, but I took a chance on Délidoor when I saw the meals offered were quite different. We have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the meals, the customer support, and communication. Meals are decent sizes (especially some of the family ones) and of uniformly good quality - some have been outstanding. Highly recommended.”

Your experience with food delivery services in Canberra

Thanks to our commenters who have provided insightful feedback. If you believe we have got it wrong, please let us know.

Have you had experience with any of the food delivery services listed above? If so, share your feedback in the comments below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do food delivery services simply deliver food?

That all depends on their service offering! For some, yes – they are all about bringing your favourite restaurant dishes freshly cooked and piping hot directly to your door. Other providers however, both supply and deliver meals which you can enjoy at a time that suits you. As for which is best, the choice is all yours!

Are meals fresh or frozen?

Food delivery services today offer the full spectrum of meal options. From pre portioned fresh ingredients that you cook yourself; to ready-made and frozen meals that are heated and served; and fully cooked hot dishes designed to be eaten right away.

How much do food delivery services cost?

Food delivery service costs are generally based on the type and volume of food selected, and the delivery location. Costs can start from the price of a single item, like a burger, all the way up to a full week’s worth of prepared meals and snacks. To this point, services only cover certain areas (most specify on their websites) and, generally, the closer you are to a restaurant the lower the delivery fee (some delivery is often free within a certain radius). As these charges vary by service provider, always check before placing an order.

How does delivery work?

This generally depends on whether you are ordering hot meals or not. Typically, hot meals can be ordered ahead or on demand, with delivery reflected accordingly. For other meals, delivery can often be scheduled to a given date and time frame, with meals packaged and cooled for safety. Often, delivery is accompanied by real time tracking to make staying on top of things that little bit easier.

Is a food delivery service right for me?

If you are seeking convenience, looking to save time, changing your eating habits, or just wanting to try something new, food delivery services may offer a solution. Even those with dietary requirements or families on the hunt for larger meals are now catered for – so there really is something for everyone.

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cantdance said :

It doesn’t matter where your healthy food comes from , a service like this is beneficial for many people.

It’s probably not going to be particularly healthy – unless you’re comparing it to Maccas. Restaurant quality implies to me that it’s restaurant food, which is usually tasty and rich and delicious and something you do as a treat or special occasion. Not often overly “healthy”.

To the OP, there’s a place that does a similar thing in Sydney. They slow cook one meal that changes each time. $10 delivered or $9 pick up. https://www.facebook.com/HungryMondays or http://www.hungrymondays.com.au/ for non Facebookians.

cantdance said :

Great idea, all the best with it.

For those who think it’s ‘sad’ that some people would use this service, my cousin lost his arm in an accident a year ago and lives alone – therefore he finds it extremely difficult to cook a meal with one hand. He orders in much of the time, and a service like this would be great for him.

Some people just don’t cook well – me included. It’s not a character flaw, we all have poorer skills in something!

It doesn’t matter where your healthy food comes from , a service like this is beneficial for many people.

Obviously I didn’t have your cousin in mind when I said this proposal seems sad. I just meant that the time pressures on people often take away the ability to enjoy simple pleasures, and we seem to spend so much more money on basic things.

I wonder how much cooking programs have created unrealistic ideas of what we should be eating. The fixation on ‘cooked’ food interests me too.

OP did ask us to give our opinions for or against.

I really hope the business gets off the ground and works for you.

Some suggestions for the market here in Canberra: do have proper vegetarian options (and vegan); have gluten free options; and use free-range eggs.

Great idea, all the best with it.

For those who think it’s ‘sad’ that some people would use this service, my cousin lost his arm in an accident a year ago and lives alone – therefore he finds it extremely difficult to cook a meal with one hand. He orders in much of the time, and a service like this would be great for him.

Some people just don’t cook well – me included. It’s not a character flaw, we all have poorer skills in something!

It doesn’t matter where your healthy food comes from , a service like this is beneficial for many people.

MERC600 said :

kakosi said :

A lot of people already do order meal deliveries in Canberra – an example is liteneasy and it costs about $148 for breakfast, lunch and dinner per week. They include frozen mains and fresh and frozen lunches and breakfasts with fresh fruit.

I’d love a service that supplies restaurant quality meals as home deliveries.

Any idea on the time contract you sign with Lite Easy ?

There isn’t a contract period. Just order what you want, whether thats the whole hog (breakfasts, snacks, lunch, dinner), just dinners or something in the middle, I find it great. You can set it up to automatically have a new delivery every “x” weeks, or just order ad hoc.

kakosi said :

A lot of people already do order meal deliveries in Canberra – an example is liteneasy and it costs about $148 for breakfast, lunch and dinner per week. They include frozen mains and fresh and frozen lunches and breakfasts with fresh fruit.

I’d love a service that supplies restaurant quality meals as home deliveries.

Any idea on the time contract you sign with Lite Easy ?

A lot of people already do order meal deliveries in Canberra – an example is liteneasy and it costs about $148 for breakfast, lunch and dinner per week. They include frozen mains and fresh and frozen lunches and breakfasts with fresh fruit.

I’d love a service that supplies restaurant quality meals as home deliveries.

I know several people who subscribe to the service of those diet food companies, and anecdotally hear of people, often young blokes, who also sign up for it, who’re not on diets.

We’re becoming more and more like America. They hardly cook.. they have kitchens but “cooking’ is heating stuff up, mostly. It’s really sad to see.

So gourmetdinnerservice.com.au?

bearlikesbeer7:04 pm 27 Jul 13

I’m too fat and difficult to appreciate Lite n Easy.

There is a gourmet Italian restaurant called Domino’s which does pizza and offers a delivery service. Unlike the more snooty restaurants, they still have Hawaiian pizzas.

apologies for the typo “their” staff

The Riverina have had this operating for a number of years successfully.

Always ensure that your trays and/or packaging materials are cleaned thoroughly using commercial cleaners and never leave meats and seafood products out for too long during change of weather. Many businesses who are starting off make this mistake when they have not trained up there staff on those two issues.

Best wishes on the success of your Business; don’t forget the leftovers for the Yellow Van to collect!

Would certainly have a look ,, as I’m going to also have a look also at that diet mob That Madam Cholet has mentioned; the bext time I see their add on the telly.

A great big hearty stew or lamb shanks with vegetables for say six On a fortnightly basis for say $120-150 and I would pay attention

Benita is talking through her hat. You can’t get a wholesome meat meal delivered in LA for five bucks!!! Large plate of healthy salad in LA from a takeaway bar, sans delivery: $15-$17. Add delivery cost to that at the US minimum wage, then triple that delivery component for Australian standards.

Canberrans should expect to pay $20-$25 for a single healthy homecooked meal delivered in Canberra. Cheaper presumably for a regular delivery contracted for a few weeks ahead.

No, not for me, I’d rather just eat avocado on toast with a side of wine.

Something about this idea strikes me as really sad; are we really that busy?

When I’m out of avocado and bread I’d rather go out, anyway, and have some fun.

Madam Cholet11:51 am 27 Jul 13

$5 is not going to get a fresh meal prepared and delivered. I believe that those diet companies deliver a weeks worth of meals for around $100 or slightly more. They include morning and arvo snacks and what not, and I am advised that they are quite tasty and enough for one person. I would expect they are frozen.

Good idea, but in Canberra it’s going to be hard to make it work unless you focus on overworked Hugh ranking public servants who don’t know how to work their kitchen appliances.

During the day I would expect that most people appreciate the 15 minutes they might spend away from their desk preparing or procuring their lunch. Not sure if many workplaces would have adequate kitchen facilities – a small micro, coffee machine and bar fridge is as good as it gets in our place.

Here’s my idea – healthy food for kids birthday parties. I can’t tell you how much my heart sinks when I encounter caramel slice laid out for 4 year olds at a Sunday morning party.

Felix the Cat10:32 am 27 Jul 13

benita_449 said :

Yes please – 3-4 times a week. 5-10 menu choices. Mostly mains for me. $5-10 each (depending on type and quality of meat – less for random cuts or chicken, more for steak etc)
Used these in L.A. and am surprised it hasn’t arrived in Canberra yet due to the large number of transient and young professionals.

Um…seriously, you are only prepared to pay $5? You can’t even get a frozen meal from Colesworth or a crappy pizza from Dominoes for thst sort of money, let alone a freshly cooked meal delivered to your house.

If such a service proved cost effective for a family, I would use it three to four times a week on an ongoing basis. Much would depend on delivery times being outside usual working hours, and at least twenty different mains. I would be prepared to pay around $40.00 per day for three main meal serves, no desserts or starters

bearlikesbeer9:57 am 27 Jul 13

My wife travels a lot, so I do a lot of cooking for one. Cooking for one is expensive, and requires that I eat a lot of my own leftovers. Restaurants have “minimum order” limits for delivery, and no one I know delivers a plate of roast beef and vegies. It would be nice to have some single-serve options in the fridge that are low-cost, and not junk food.

A takeaway curry or casserole (that I can heat up for dinner) costs me around $10 from my local. If a company delivered an equivalent product for around $15 a serve, I’d consider that good value and worthwhile. If it cost any more than that, or delivery required a minimum order of enough food to last me a month, I wouldn’t be interested.

I used the delivery services in the States too, and figured they kept their costs down by producing meals by the thousands with cheap Mexican labour. Not sure how you could price such a service similarly in Canberra.

Great idea! I know there are 2-3 businesses that already offer something like this in Canberra, but they’re quite expensive, have limited choice and limited delivery days. But I’d love to try the kind of offerings you’re proposing – keep us updated if you do decide to go for it!

Yes please – 3-4 times a week. 5-10 menu choices. Mostly mains for me. $5-10 each (depending on type and quality of meat – less for random cuts or chicken, more for steak etc)
Used these in L.A. and am surprised it hasn’t arrived in Canberra yet due to the large number of transient and young professionals.

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