San Diego’s food scene is as vibrant as its sunsets. Think fresh seafood, international flavors, and California-style eats that define the west coast palate. When it comes to feeding a hungry team, the best catering in San Diego delivers on variety and flavor big time.
From taco spreads to build-your-own bowls, we’ve rounded up the best caterers in San Diego for reliable corporate lunches that go beyond the basic sandwich platter.
Madras Cafe
Madras Cafe brings bold Indian flavors straight to the workplace with its vegetable samosa tray: crispy, spiced pastry turnovers packed with potatoes, peas, and cumin. Need more protein? The chicken tikka kebab tray, featuring boneless chicken baked in a traditional clay oven with onions and bell peppers, is a solid pick.
Trying new flavors is part of the fun. As one reviewer puts it, “Madras Cafe has been an introduction to Indian food for several of our teammates, who love it!” Whether you’re hosting a lunch-and-learn or fueling a long training session, this spot is a standout for the best catering in San Diego when you want something satisfying and shareable.
Notable: Vegetable Samosa Tray
Thai Pepper Cuisine
Take eaters on a culinary tour from India to the Bangkok province of Thailand, where the owners of Thai Pepper Cuisine perfected their secret family recipes using the same ingredients as top local restaurants.
One of their most popular dishes? Thai fried rice, stir-fried with egg, onion, tomatoes, and green onion, plus your choice of veggies, tofu, mock duck, chicken, pork, beef, or shrimp. Reviewers rave about the “perfectly packaged” meals, “beautiful handwritten labels for everything,” and “fantastic presentation.”
Notable: Thai Fried Rice
Kebab Craft
With a solid 5-star rating, Kebab Craft isn’t just among the best catering in San Diego — it’s a fan favorite. Known for being “always fresh and on time,” this spot – like all of the restaurants featured in this list – has earned ezCater’s Reliability Rockstar status for exceptional service, consistently on-time deliveries, and zero cancellations.
You can’t go wrong with Kebab Craft’s 1, 2, or 3-protein buffet, which includes your choice of protein, basmati rice, Greek salad, hummus, pita bread, and tzatziki sauce. Select from gyro, chicken shawarma, falafel, and grilled veggies for a nutritious spread that will keep every eater on the team satisfied.
Notable: 2-Protein Buffet
Knockout Deli
The name says it all: Knockout Deli delivers winning meals, especially with its no-fuss boxed lunch. Each team member can choose from proteins like roast beef, salami, ham, tuna salad, or fresh veggies, all stacked on wheat bread or a white roll. Served with potato or macaroni salad, a small bag of chips, and a soda, the boxed lunch is an easy crowd-pleaser.
As one happy reviewer puts it, “The sandwiches are super delicious, and my diverse group of picky eaters all liked them!” End the meal with Knockout Deli’s mouthwatering dessert platter, loaded with an assortment of brownies and chocolate chip, macadamia, and nut cookies, for a sweet treat that feeds a crowd.
Notable: Boxed Lunch
Pita 22
Searching for a handheld lunch that goes beyond the usual sandwich? Pita 22 is one of the best caterers in San Diego, known for its kabobs, shawarma, and pita spreads that never disappoint. Reviewers boast about the “authentic” flavors and “great Greek food,” all crafted by a local San Diegan chef who uses family recipes passed down for over 600 years.
Bring the fresh flavors of the Mediterranean to your workplace with Pita 22’s Party Perfect Package. Choose three entrées — like shawarma, falafel, and chicken kabob — paired with rice or fries, tahini, hummus, Israeli salad, harissa, amba sauce, and pita, and round it out with three extra sides, such as tabbouleh or baba ganoush.
Notable: Party Perfect Package
Seasurf Fish Co.
Whether you’re showing employee appreciation or treating clients to a taste of the West Coast, Seasurf Fish Co. delivers the best of San Diego on a plate. Their taco spread is a fan favorite, featuring everything you need to build your own tacos, with two proteins or vegetables, like chargrilled mahi mahi or sweet potato, topped with crema, cilantro, cabbage, diced tomatoes, house salsa, and avocado salsa.
Served with Seasurf rice, black beans, and homemade tortilla chips, it’s a filling yet fresh option. Like one satisfied reviewer says, Seasurf is “a healthy-feeling alternative to some of the heavier lunches we sometimes indulge in.”
Notable: Taco Spread
The Pigs Gig BBQ
No roundup of the best catering in San Diego would be complete without top-tier barbecue, and The Pigs Gig BBQ majorly delivers. Just ask one reviewer, who said, “This BBQ was outstanding … Usually I don’t get remarks back about lunch, as catered lunches are often and with variety, but this time, spontaneously people said, ‘Good lunch today!’”
Get your team talking with the 3-meat + 2-sides BBQ plate, served with sliced bread, house BBQ sauce, and pickled jalapeños. Pick from pulled pork, BBQ chicken, brisket, house-made beer sausage, or smoked vegetarian sausage. All sides are vegetarian-friendly, from the creamy mac-n-cheese and potato salad to the BBQ baked beans and braised collard greens, so there’s something for everyone.
Notable: 3-Meat + 2 Sides BBQ Plate
Lotus Thai Downtown
Speaking of vegetarian-friendly, explore tons of inclusive cuisine at Lotus Thai Downtown. Known for catering to a variety of dietary restrictions in the workplace, Lotus Thai offers more than a dozen vegetarian entrées, plus several vegan-friendly curry, rice, and noodle dishes. One recent reviewer even calls it “our go-to Thai spot.”
The ultra-popular Panang curry with mixed vegetables — available in servings for six or 12 — features a rich coconut milk base with green beans, lime leaves, and basil. For a protein-packed option, there’s also a delicious pork pad Thai made with stir-fried rice noodles, eggs, bean sprouts, scallions, and ground peanuts.
Notable: Panang Curry with Mixed Vegetables
Chris’ Ono Grinds Island Grill
Chris’ Ono Grinds Island Grill brings the island experience to your workplace, no sand or surf required. Trusted as one of the best caterers in San Diego by ezCater customers since 2015, Chris’ dishes up authentic Hawaiian food that reviewers call “a reliable staple.”
Corporate orderers love the Huli Huli chicken, a sweet and savory Hawaiian take on teriyaki, marinated in a tangy pineapple juice mixture. Don’t forget to round out the meal with must-have sides like pineapple salsa, fluffy white rice, or classic mac salad.
Notable: Huli Huli Chicken
Filippi’s Pizza Grotto
We couldn’t end this guide to the best catering in San Diego without a pizza joint: enter Filippi’s Pizza Grotto. This family-owned favorite traces its roots to Vincent DePhilippis, a New York native raised in Naples, Italy, where he perfected the recipes San Diegans have loved for nearly 75 years. One reviewer raves, “You can never go wrong with this place for pizza!”
Keep it classic with a vegetarian-friendly cheese pizza, customizable with plenty of veggies. You can also go all in with the Fit for a King Pizza, piled high with pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, onions, mushrooms, green peppers, and black olives.
Notable: The Fit for a King Pizza
Send the best catering in San Diego straight to your workplace with ezCater
Dive into fresh flavors and crowd-pleasing meals any day of the week with ezCater by bringing the best caterers in San Diego directly to your workplace. Whether you’re fueling a meeting or celebrating a win, these top spots deliver reliable service and office lunches that never miss. Explore the best caterers on ezCater today and order with just a few clicks.
