One of the many lessons lockdown taught us was that our love for restaurants is a true and real one. When found cruelly separated from our usual lives by factors outside of our control (looking at you, Coronavirus) we, along with the rest of the UK, of course missed our family and friends, but a close second factor pulling at our heart strings? Restaurants. We mourned the joy of eating food someone else has taken the time and care to consider, prepare and cook. We swore never to take them for granted again. And, finally, we began to look for ways to recreate our favourite dishes from the comfort of our own homes.
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Thankfully we didn’t have to look far. The hospitality industry is made up of a pretty creative crowd, and when owners were faced with the devastating closure of their restaurants up and down the country, they found a way to survive and to serve their customers from afar. And so was born the restaurant DIY delivery kit. These restaurant meal kits carefully distil down the essence of the eateries they’re born from to give punters like us and your good selves a signature dish or dishes from the chefs who run some of the best kitchens in the UK.
When it comes to restaurant meal kits we’re truly all spoiled for choice, with something for every mood. There are indulgent burgers made with top-class British beef as well as moreish pizza parcels that are a doddle to make in a frying pan at home. Those looking for something a little more refined can enjoy paella kits from a Michelin starred chef, or even a seafood BBQ platter from London’s floating restaurant, London Shell Co. We think it’s safe to say you could never get bored of the restaurant delivery kits now on offer across the UK.
Each restaurant DIY kit is as unique as the place it comes from, but most include readymade elements which are ready to just cook and serve. We love them as a fun date night idea or a way to mark a celebration from home, but really no excuse is needed. Below are 42 of our favourite restaurant delivery kits, but we’d love to know if you have a favourite which is missing from the list. Let us know via Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
5 of the best Italian and pasta meal kits
Carbs are king, it’s a fact of life that just isn’t worth disputing. The only thing better than a big plate of pasta is a big plate of pasta that you haven’t had to make. Enter: The pasta meal kit. During various restrictions forcing restaurant closures, plenty of our favourite Italian chefs have turned their hand to the DIY pasta kit. In our selection of the best pasta meal kits you’ll find beautifully made fresh pasta paired with moreish sauces for a simple solution to the midweek meal rut.
Petersham Nurseries La Goccia meal kit
La Goccia can be found in the Covent Garden site of Petersham Nurseries, and is a relaxed all-day Italian restaurant with a focus on wood-fired cooking and sharing plates. The meal kit from the team reflects this comforting family vibe and plies you with enough food to feed a small army. Despite the recommendation that the kit feeds two, we found it was plenty for two meals for two. Each month the menu changes but the usual rhythm is sharing starters, a pasta course, a meaty main (a vegetarian option is available too), and a little sweet something to finish everything off. Our menu included a wonderfully creamy burrata with squash and a sweet and sour Italian dressing as well as fresh rigatoni with slow cooked ragu and wood fired chicken with borlotti beans. Everything was super fresh, and a clever numbering system meant putting together the meal was simple when following the included instructions. We loved the extra little touches too – like greens tied up with a ribbon and a pair of dinner candles that helped create a cosy ambiance.
How much: £90 for two, or £80 for a vegetarian menu for two
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: restokit.co.uk
1. PASSO To Go
Why: Let’s face it, making pizza at home can be a bit of a faff. You want it to be very quick and easy, but getting the dough right often takes a while and creates a floury mess all over your kitchen surface. Well Shoreditch Italian favourite PASSO has come to the rescue with its new DIY delivery offering, PASSO to go. Its at-home pizza kits give you everything you need to quickly build the perfect pizza, with a variety of different toppings available. Simply roll out the dough, whack everything on top, pop it in the oven or a frying pan, and you’re ready to go. When we tried this kit we loved the ease of it despite our distinct lack of pizza tossing skills, and the final result tasted fantastic. PASSO to go also offers pasta kits and pre-mixed cocktails, if you’re wanting a full-on feast.
How much: Pizza from £12, pasta and sauce from £7.50
And, delivery? Nationwide next day delivery
Buy it: passotogo.com
2. Bancone's Pasta-at-Home Kits
Why: Since opening the doors to its first restaurant back in 2018, Bancone has become known across London for serving some of the finest hand-crafted pasta in the Capital. However, even with a second branch having opened earlier this year in Soho’s Golden Square, tables have a tendency to book up rather quickly. Luckily that’s no longer an issue thank you to Bancone’s new pasta-at-home kits. Although its signature silk handkerchiefs aren’t available to order, dishes including bucatini cacio e pepe and spinach and ricotta mezzaluna ravioli with sage butter can be delivered straight to your door. Arriving accompanied by simple recipe cards, you can knock up these dishes within minutes and they taste just as wonderful as you’d expect. A short list of starters and desserts are also available to order, as well as a selection of wine.
How much: Pasta from £17
And, delivery? Anywhere within a 5km radius of Bancone Golden Square
Buy it: plateaway.com
3. Lina Stores Pasta Kit
Why: So you tried to master making fresh pasta while on furlough, but it didn’t quite pan out? Us too. Instead, cut out the middle man and order direct from the famous Lina Stores, which can send its fresh pasta kits to pretty much anywhere in the UK. When we tried it out, we were most taken by the indulgent artichoke and truffle ravioli parcels, which take just a few minutes to cook in a pan. We also loved the added touches of organic salted butter and plenty of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to grate over our pasta plates as the perfect finishing touch.
How much: £32, for 8-10 plates of pasta
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: linastores.co.uk
4. Padella Pasta Kit
Why: You’ll have to be in London to get your paws on a Padella pasta kit, which makes us almost feel okay about paying our sky-high rent all these years. Known for its queues down the street, this is an easy way to skip the line and get some pasta perfection, pronto. The available recipes change regularly but you can expect classics like the Datterini tomato fettuccine or parpadelle with beef shin ragu. Each kit contains fresh pasta, sauce and garnishes in compostable packaging.
How much: From £12.50, for two
And, delivery? Pick up only from Padella Shoreditch
Buy it: shop.padella.co
5. The River Café
Why: If you’ve never had the chance to dine at The River Café in London, the good news is you can now get the team’s iconic cookery by way of a meal box, anywhere in the UK. These boxes are perfect for special occasions and are packed with high end Italian cooking. Our favourite is The Cornish Roast Chicken box which includes a whole stuffed and ready-to-roast chicken, creamy sliced potatoes, braised cime di rapa and cannellini beans. You’ll also get focaccia, grissini and an Italian cheese to start, plus a delicate pistachio cake for pud and some chocolates to finish everything off. Elsewhere on the menu there are 'Simple Suppers' which give you nibbly bits to start and a pasta main dish, as well as a few sweet surprises.
How much? From £100, for a set ‘Simple Supper’ for four people
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: shoptherivercafe.co.uk
6 of the best burger meal kits
Burgers in the wrong hands can go easily wrong, which is why we like to leave them to the experts. These burger kits take the bother out of the buns and give you everything you need to make properly indulgent food from home with minimal washing up. With all the garnishes you can whip up some juicy patties in no time and have them topped with everything from homemade pickles and burger sauce to crispy bacon and melted cheese.
1. Crockers at Home The Grill Burger Box for Four
Why: If you have found yourself craving restaurant quality burgers lately, you can now enjoy the famous Crockers Henley burger at home, without having to worry about being embarrassed by spilling sauce all down yourself. This burger kit feeds four and comes with four beef fat brioche buns, four beef patties, cheddar slices, tomato, lettuce, gherkins and the secret burger sauce. You can also add sides such as triple-cooked chips or truffle mac ‘n’ cheese for an additional cost.
How much: £25
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: crockersathome.com
2. Patty & Bun’s P&B DIY Kits
Why: Burger aficionados will know Patty & Bun from the scene, you know, the burger scene. Purveyors of the finest filled buns on the market, we can’t say we were sad to see the team release their top-class burgers in DIY form to enjoy from home. There are a few different kits, including vegan alternatives and date-night bundles which come with cocktails, but each one provides all the ingredients you’ll need to make the brand’s signature burgers, less any super fresh garnishes that are better bought on the day (like lettuce and tomato, for instance), and each kit is accompanied by easy-to-follow recipe cards.
How much: From £25
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: shop.pattyandbun.co.uk
3. Mac & Wild Restaurant Kits
Why: Mac & Wild specialises in meaty Scottish fare, and its DIY kits reflect some of the restaurant’s most popular serves. Pick between the Venimoo Kit (everything you need to make the house signature burger, which combines beef and venison), the Cote De Boeuf Feast Box (for a pretty fancy steak night - salad, sides and all included) or the Dirty Brunch Burger (for a loaded egg-topped extravaganza). Whichever you choose you’ll receive enough ingredients for between two-four people along with simple instructions for how to cook your recipe perfectly. Quite the kit to impress with we say.
How much: From £28, for Venimoo burgers for four
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: restaurantkitsuk.com
4. Honest at Home
Why: Honest Burgers’ DIY kits proved so popular first time around that the mini chain has had to release the bundles on a ballot basis. Luckily, they've now upscaled so that there are burgers available for all. Each kit contains everything you need to have a properly tasty feast from the comfort of your own home, which is great if you don’t live near one of the restaurants. If you go for the classic Tribute Burger you’ll receive patties, cheese slices, burger sauce, pickles, smoky bacon rashers and soft Honest Burger baps. All you need to do is get the grill fired up and add some fresh lettuce and onion.
How much: A donation of £20, £40 or £60
And, delivery? Greater London only
Buy it: shop.honestburgers.co.uk
5. Libertine Burgers DIY Burger Kit
Why: If you’ve been craving burgers lately, but don’t want to give your money to the multinational conglomerates like McDonalds, why not support the underdogs instead? Allow us to introduce Libertine Burgers, a small operation in the West Midlands with just two locations, which has launched its burger DIY kits for nationwide delivery. Astonishingly good value at £25 for four burgers (plus buns, condiments, cheese and bacon), Libertine offers US-style buns, with the variety rotating monthly. We tried the ‘No. 4', which consisted of three strips of crispy smoky bacon, American cheese and lashings of ketchup and mustard, all underpinned by some very good quality meat. Instructions are super easy to follow and we loved the tip to cloche your burger by adding the top half of the bun onto the cooked patty, bacon and cheese for a few seconds to allow the bun to get nice and fluffy - this blows any Big Mac out of the water.
How much: £25
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: libertine-burger.myshopify.com
6. Dirty Bones' Hero Kit
Why: Sometimes there are evenings where you just don't feel like eating healthily, where you just want to stuff your face with as much meat and carbs as you possibly can and not feel at all guilty about it. Dirty Bones' hero DIY kit is made for these occasions and we certainly aren't complaining. Serving two people, the kit comes with all the ingredients you need to make the restaurant's famous mac daddy burger, which sees two beef patties topped with american cheese, espresso BBQ sauce marinated short rib AND mac n' cheese. As if this wasn't enough already, the kit also includes the components required to make miso glazed lamb belly fries, as well as a premixed 'old skool fashioned' cocktail. We tried this kit, and although we found it required a lot of different pans to cook and heat up the various elements, the final product was well worth the faff. The burgers were wonderful to eat, and we also particularly enjoyed the almost sweet jalapeno dressing drizzled over the meaty fries.
How much: £40
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: dirty-bones.myshopify.com
2 of the best fried chicken meal kits
We’re yet to meet a piece of fried chicken that we didn’t like, but deep-frying food at home can certainly be a faff. We’ve found the trick is to get someone else to talk you through that step in an idiot-proof fashioin, leaving you with just a little cooking at the last minute before getting to the main task in hand: eating the stuff. These delicious DIY fried chicken kits are made by some of the UK’s best restaurants and delivered to your door – perfect for a weekend treat.
1. 12:51's 'Around the Cluck' DIY Kit
Why: Someone who has certainly been busy during the lockdowns is James Cochran, who has not only created a new fried chicken takeaway sub-brand at his Islington restaurant 12:51, called Around the Cluck, but has also started offering a DIY kit too. Simply order online and you can either collect your kit or have it delivered right to your door. We had the chance to try the jerk buttermilk fried chicken burger kit, which serves four people, and were incredibly impressed with the final result. Everything from the soft brioche buns to the slightly spiced chicken, which was very easy to batter and fry, came together to form some pretty special burgers. We particularly enjoyed the blue cheese mousse and the ultra hot Scotch bonnet jam, which contrasted each other beautifully as toppings.
How much: From £25
And, delivery? UK-wide delivery
Buy it: restaurantkitsuk.com
2. Mother Clucker's D-I-Fry Strip Kit
Why: While some DIY kits only really require you to heat up the elements and assemble the dish, others involve a little more work and Mother Clucker’s D-I-Fry is one of them. However, you’ll only feel more achieved once you sit down to eat and the food will taste even better having spent some time on it. Mother Clucker has been serving up some of London’s finest fried chicken since 2013 and its ingeniously named D-I-Fry kit now provides you with everything you need to recreate the twice battered, tea brined chicken at home. All you need to provide is the oil in which you will be deep frying your chicken. When trying this kit we were surprised at just how easy it was to create that crisp coating, and found that after three minutes the chicken was perfectly cooked inside. Warning though, the hot sauce is not for the faint hearted so make sure you can handle the heat before you smother your chicken in it.
How much: From £18, for a two-person kit
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: greatfood2u.co.uk
3 of the best bao meal kits
Soft fluffy bao stuffed with deliciously moreish meat or veggies are usually only found on restaurant menus thanks to the finickity process needed to produce them. However, without as much as a steamer in sight you can get your paws on expertly made buns thanks to these tasty bao meal kits which provide you with everything you need to whip up this delicious dish at home. Consider your prayers answered.
1. Yum Bun at Home
Why: Bao buns have become all the rage among London foodies over the last couple of years, with everyone wanting to find the ultimate bao with that perfect fluffy texture. What's not so easy though, is recreating the buns at home. Until now that is. Luckily for bao fans, Spitalfields Market stall Yum Bun has created an easy to use, at-home kit which allows you to recreate its delicious buns in your own kitchen, and there are a number of different options to choose from too. We had the chance to try the mixed bun kit, which consists of four pork belly buns and four miso mushroom guys. Of the two fillings, we particularly enjoyed the pork belly which crisped up in the frying pan very easily and melted in the mouth once drenched in hoisin sauce. The buns themselves were fantastically fluffy after just four minutes in the steamer.
How much: From £25
And, delivery? UK-wide delivery
Buy it: restaurantkitsuk.com
2. Bao at Home Kits
Why: If you’ve ever tried to make bao you’ll know the pain of waiting for the dough to rise as well as all the stress shaping the buns can bring. The answer? Bao’s DIY restaurant kit which beautifully removes the slog and replaces it with fluffy ready-made bao and delicious fillings delivered straight to your door. Choices include a veggie daikon option as well as the classic pork buns the restaurant is so famous for, and each recipe comes with all the fancy odds and ends to fully garnish your bao for a final restaurant-y flourish. These kits are only available twice a week currently, and sell out routinely, so plan ahead if you fancy one, and make sure to act with speed. Bao is also selling plain buns, to fill with whatever you fancy from your own fridge, if that appeals.
How much: £20, for six
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: baolondon.com/shop/
3. Flesh & Buns
Why: There’s no getting around the fact that bao can be fiddly to make at home with all that dough to do. We’d rather leave things to the experts and let someone else take care of the tough bit. Flesh & Buns do just that for you with their fried chicken kits (they also do a crispy piglet belly one if that’s more your thing). In each box you’ll find six ready-to-steam bao, marinated chicken, seasoned flour, BBQ mayo, shiso leaves and red chilli. If you don’t have a steamer you can include that in your order. Then, all you’ll be required to do is to warm your buns, fry up your chicken, garnish everything with all the extra bits and serve. Not bad for a day’s work, and let’s just say it probably beats your usual plate of midweek pasta.
How much? £27.50, for two people
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: restaurantkitsuk.com
8 of the best Sri Lankan and Indian meal kits
If you’re yet to master the art of balancing herbs and spices with the care and attention needed to make masterful curries then why not call in a little help? Sure, it’s a shortcut, but there’s no need to be proud about this. Some of our favourite restaurant meal kits are these special Indian and Sri Lankan ones which allow you to get all the heady aromas of curries, naans and more at home, in just a few minutes.
1. Kricket Old Dheli Butter Chicken Restaurant Meal Kit
Why: Curry has to be one of the hardest things to home cook well. If you don’t have all the spices to hand (let alone the know-how for how to balance them perfectly) you’re going to be left a little disappointed. With this in mind it’s not hard to see why curry has become one of our favourite things – as the collective people of the UK - to get someone else to make for us. To take your next curry night up a notch or two why not cheat and get the experts to do the tough bit for you first, then waltz in and take all the credit by doing a bit of last-minute heating. Kricket is famed for its Anglo-Indian small plates which have kept its tables full since it opened back in 2015 as a pop up in Brixton. One of the restaurant’s most famous dishes – Old Delhi Butter Chicken – is now available as a DIY kit. This includes free-range marinated chicken thighs, the all-important curry sauce, basmati rice, pickled ginger, garnishes and a recipe card. We loved the clear instructions and the attention to detail with all the garnishes and little extras that were included.
How much: £35, serves four
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: restaurantkitsuk.com
2. Goila Butter Chicken
Why: Claiming to be the ‘best butter chicken in the world’, we like Goila’s confidence. While we can’t confirm the award (we’d have to try a few more in order to be dishing out titles like that), we can attest to the fact that this meal kit makes a very tasty Friday night feast. Made with high-end ingredients like free-range chicken and rich French butter, Goila is more generously spiced than your average recipe, for a warming, fragrant curry. As well as the main event you’ll receive sourdough smoked-butter naan breads, cumin-scented jeera rice, black dal, coriander chutney and pickled onions. Everything is neatly packed in recyclable materials, and instructions are clear and easy to follow – meaning you’ll be tucking into your meal in just fifteen minutes.
How much? £45, for two people
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: tickettailor.com
3. Kolamba
Why: London-based Sri Lankan restaurant Kolamba is headed up by former MasterChef favourite Malin de Silva and specialises in comforting in home-style cooking. The restaurant's DIY kits follow a similar format to the dine-in offering, giving you a taste of lots of wonderfully spiced small plates. Each of the meat meal kits serve two (there are also vegan options if preferred) and include one main curry – choose from pork, mutton or chicken – and small complimentary sides like fragrant basmati rice, dhal, beetroot curry, green bean curry and homemade mango chutney.
How much? From £45, for two people for the meat feasting menus
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: kolambahome.co.uk
4. Darjeeling Express
Why: Biryani is famously labour-intensive to make, so we’re pretty pleased that Darjeeling Express has seen fit to make a meal kit version of their saffron-rich family recipe which has been handed down the generations. While you’ll have to reheat the main event, there’s little else needed from you, so this is a minimum fuss meal kit. Besides the biryani you’ll get a rich chilli and onion gravy, a beetroot raita, salad and a tomato chutney.
How much? From £42.50, for two people
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: darjeeling-express.bignight.app
5. Hoppers Sri Lankan Meal Kits
Why: As a result of the various lockdowns faced in 2020 Hoppers have adapted to the new market they’ve found themselves in, launching the brand’s “Cash&Kari” site which sells all kinds of Sri Lankan goods - from spices and drinks to full-blown meal kits. With a choice between a lamb, a veggie and a chicken feast, there’s something for everyone should you fancy a DIY dinner delivered to your door. Our favourite is the Kalupol chicken kit for four, which includes snacks, starters, a whole marinated chicken and roti dough as well as various sambols on the side and a delicious chocolate coconut pudding for afters. Add to your feast line-up with one of the brand’s readymade cocktailis or by popping extra bread in your trolly (because, is there ever enough?).
How much? £45, for starters, mains and dessert for four
And, delivery? Nationwide on Wednesdays and Fridays
Buy it: Hoppers Meal Kits
6. Clay's Hyderabadi Kitchen
Why: It can be hard to recreate the flavours of your favourite Indian recipes at home, but no longer do you have to struggle over the spice kit. Clay's Hyderabadi Kitchen will diligently package you up a care parcel of wonderfully rich and warming Indian dishes – both familiar and some more adventurous – to heat at home at your leisure. Favourite dishes of ours included the slow cooked venison Bhuna which was made indulgent thanks to generous spicing and plenty of ghee, and the mixed coloured rotis which included a wonderfully pink beetroot one which was earthy and perfectly tempered the hotter curries. Plant-based eaters are also catered for by way of a dedicated vegan menu, while if you like you can buy in bulk and freeze some of your favourites for a later date.
How much: Curries are from £9
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: clayskitchen.co.uk
7. The Cinnamon Club Feasts at Home kits
Why: If you’re like us and like to leave cooking up to the experts then the latest offering from The Cinnamon Club is perfect for you. Chef Vivek Singh has carefully curated a six course feast to enjoy with your nearest and dearest. For £90 a head you’ll be able to enjoy the likes of tandoori spiced grilled king prawns, tamarind glazed seared duck breast and milk-fed lamb leg ‘Raan’ with nutmeg and peppercorn sauce, all finished off with biryani rice, raita and 24-hour black lentil dhal. If you prefer, there is also a classic butter chicken dinner for two which includes pilau rice, black lentils and saffron breads. Each kit is carefully packaged in temperature-controlled boxes, with deliveries going out each thursday to arrive by Friday. You’ll also receive instructions for how best to heat, plate and present.
How much? £160, for a six course menu for two people
And, delivery? Nationwide, with delivery on Thursdays
Buy it: thecinnamoncollection.com
8. Dishoom’s Bacon Naan Roll Kit
Why: Dishoom’s bacon naan already enjoyed cult-like status, so we think it’s safe to say a lot of people would have been missing their favourite brunch fix come the weekend when the brand’s handful of restaurants closed during the first lockdown. Thankfully Dishoom responded quickly in a time of crisis (because life without your favourite brunch is definitely a crisis) and began making their DIY bacon naan kits. Included in the package you’ll find naan dough, bacon, chilli jam, cream cheese and a coriander garnish in quantities for two people. All you have to do is cook the included elements - which come with detailed instructions - and serve. An added bonus is the kit comes with chai tea for two, too.
How much: £16, serves two
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: dishoomathome.com
2 of the best pizza restaurant meal kits
Hold the pizza oven, hold the sourdough lesson and hold the art of getting a tomato sauce just so. There’s no need to master the art of pizza yourself when there are chefs up and down the country who have spent years perfecting their craft, and who are willing to send part-cooked pizzas to your door ready for you to finish off in a flash. If that isn’t a really rather good deal, we don’t know what is.
1. Pizza Pilgrims Frying Pan Pizza Kits
Why: Pizza is a truly unifying food, with barely anyone (at least anyone worth knowing, we think) disliking it. In fact, it must be the most popularly cited ‘favourite food’, with enthusiasts of this bready food of the gods more often than not loyal lifelong fans. If you include yourself in the category of lifelong pizza fan then this one from Pizza Pilgrims is for you: homemade pizza dough proved over 48 hours made from flour from Naples, along with tomato sauce, fresh Fior di Latte cheese, extra virgin olive oil, basil and Parmesan for the perfect Margherita. You’ll be sent simple step-by-steps for how to assemble your pizzas at home and instructions for how cook them in a frying pan, with each kit containing enough ingredients to make two pizzas. If you like trying new things there’s also a limited-edition Franco Pepe kit which shows you how to make an intriguing sounding ‘upside down pizza’.
How much: £15
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: pizzainthepost.co.uk
2. Homeslice Take & Bake Kits
Why: The saddest part of ordering takeaway pizza is when it arrives a little bit cold. Abolishing that issue is Homeslice with its takeaway on the DIY meal kit trend. The team here will deliver pizzas ready to your door, which have been expertly made and are ready to bake by you, meaning hot, fresh pizza in minutes. Our favourite kit is the joint offering from Homeslice and Jameson whisky which plies you with pizza plus cocktail ingredients for the perfect night in.
How much? £25 for two including cocktails, plus delivery
And, delivery? London only
Buy it: plateaway.com
5 of the best Chinese, Japanese noodle and ramen meal kits
There’s something all our favourite restaurant meal kits have in common: giving you a shortcut to your next meal. While the idea of simmering a stock for hours might sound all well and good during lockdown, the reality is there’ll always be Netflix to watch instead. So why not put your feet up and let the broth boil on someone else’s time? These incredible ramen and noodle kits include all those extra special touches that make each plate or bowl so rich and delicious. For the DIY ramen kits that means you'll get broth, noodles, marinated eggs, meat and more. And if you’d rather noodles without the soup then why not tuck into one of the alternatives below, we love the sweet and sour Pad Thai number with its moreish umami kick.
1. Tattu by You
Why: With restaurants in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and Edinburgh, Tattu is a popular high-end contemporary Chinese restaurant group. Now, for the first time, you’re able to enjoy the restaurant’s signature dishes in your own home. With seasonally changing menus there’s a choice of meat, fish or vegetarian boxes as well as cocktails and sommelier-chosen wine. In keeping with the food, the packaging is luxurious with a large brochure detailing clear cooking instructions as well as giving you an intro to the sustainably minded suppliers Tattu source their ingredients from. We love the detail in this kit, from QR codes for video instructions through to pretty garnishes so your plates look as good as they taste. We think this is best for keen cooks, as it feels like you’re learning to make a whole new menu of dishes you might never have tried before – from deboning cod through to getting the perfect crispy prawn toast.
How much: From £55 for a menu for two
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: store.tattu.co.uk
2. Occasions by Hakkasan
Why: One of the only good things to have come out of lockdown is that it’s actually pretty easy to now get Michelin starred food sent to your front door. World-famous Hakkasan has recently introduced at home meal kits to its range which showcase the brand’s classic Cantonese cooking. You’re able to choose from popular dishes like dim sum, crispy duck salad, Hakka noodles and smoked beef ribs with jasmine tea. The high end presentation of this restaurant meal kit means it would also make a great gift for a loved one if you’re looking to treat them to a special evening in.
How much? From £175, for two people
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: hakkasan.slerp.com
3. Rosa’s Thai Café Pad Thai Kit
Why: At £10 a pop you can’t say fairer than the Pad Thai kit from Rosa’s Thai Café which makes this authentic noodle dish a doddle. You can choose between prawn and tofu depending on preference, and each kit contains the house signature sauce, noodles, dried turnips, beansprouts, spring onions and lime. All you need to do is provide the eggs (because those chaps don’t do too well in the post!). Inside your noodle kit you’ll find a QR code that you can scan to watch the restaurant’s owner guide you through how to make your dinner in just a few short steps. It’s worth noting that these deliveries are made weekly, on a Friday, and Rosa’s Thai are also doing green curries if you’d like to add to your order.
How much? £40, for four portions of Pad Thai
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: greatfood2u.co.uk
4. DIY Shoryu Ramen Kit
Why: Ramen feels like it should be simple, but as soon as you start looking into it you realise that the signature deep, rich flavour comes from hours of simmering and countless topping techniques from the marinated eggs to the slowly cooked meat. This cheat from Shoryu allows you to skip past the hard work and enjoy all the spoils while hardly having to lift a finger. There are a few DIY ramen kits to choose from, including vegan and gluten free options. Our favourite is the Shoryu Ganso Ramen which includes the 12-hour tonkotsu stock, ramen noodles, char siu belly pork slices, pickled red ginger, spring onions and mushrooms. In your kit you’ll receive step-by-step instructions for how to assemble your bowl, and just like that you’ll feel like a ramen master.
How much? £20 for two portions
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: japancentre.com
5. Rainbo Frozen Gyoza Kits
Why: The best kind of meal kits are the ones which include dishes that you typically wouldn’t be able to make yourself at home and the frozen gyoza kits from Rainbo offer just that. You can choose as much or as little as you like from Rainbo’s online store, but we’d definitely recommend going the whole hog with a few bags of gyozas, a helping of the chilli-laced dipping oil and some of the tantalisingly sharp pickled daikon (don’t forget the Asahi beers either - best enjoyed straight out of the fridge!) Fillings include the likes of prawns or shitake mushroom, but we were most taken with the tender pork and crispy duck varieties. There’s no need to worry about fancy equipment either - all you need is a lidded pan, oil and a splash of water, and they’re ready in under 10 minutes (yes, combining oil and water might seem a little terrifying, but cooking these beauties is far simpler than it sounds). We found this to be a fun and effective way of spicing up a lockdown dinner, but we reckon the thrill of making restaurant quality gyoza at home will endure long beyond Covid restrictions.
How much: Packets of gyoza from £9.50
And, delivery? Next day delivery (London) or Friday delivery (nationwide)
Buy it: rainbofood.com
The best Mexican restaurant meal kit
Without going down the supermarket fajita kit route, making good Mexican food at home can be quite a faff with so many different elements to nail. That is, until Mexican restaurant DIY kits came along. Now it's easier than ever to produce restaurant quality versions of your favourite Mexican dishes at home.
1. Corazon Carne Asada Tacos Kit
Why: Tacos have always been a favourite when it comes to Mexican food; there's something particularly enjoyable about having all your different elements laid out in front of you and then assembling at the table. However, the best tacos are stuffed with lots of different sauces and garnishes which quite often require lots of different cooking processes. Luckily Soho Mexican Corazon has got you covered with its fantastic DIY carne asada tacos kit, which allows you to prepare incredible tacos at home with little fuss. When we tried this kit we were particularly wowed by the hanger steak itself which had a fantastic kick to it thanks to the chipotle marinade. Once topped with black beans, guac and a lovely little citrus dressing, every taco really hit the spot. We'd also particularly recommend washing down your tacos with a bottle of Estrella Galicia - the perfect tonic to a whack of spice.
How much: £35, serves four
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: restaurantkitsuk.com
The best Nigerian restaurant meal kit
Not everyone would dare trying to cook Nigerian food at home; the spicing needs to be carefully balanced, some ingredients you might not be familiar with could be required, and also it's nye on impossible to replicate the jollof rice you get in the best West African restaurants. However, Nigerian restaurant DIY kits completely change that and we certainly aren't complaining.
1. Chuku's Chop, Chat, Chill Kit
Why: West African food has finally started to get the reputation it deserves in the UK over the past few years and North London restaurant Chuku's has definitely been part of its continuing rise in popularity. The intimate spot has also now starting churning out DIY kits headlined by its 'house wrapper' kit, which contains everything you need to make four Nigerian-inspired wraps. You can also add a variety of classic Nigerian sides to your order, which simply need reheating at home, while desserts such as a yam brownie will delight those with a sweet tooth. Everything is this kit is incredibly easily to prepare and the wraps take just a few minutes to construct. We particularly recommend giving the moi moi a try, for a burst of rich umami on the side.
How much: £25 for house wrapper (serves two)
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: chukuslondon.co.uk
3 of the best kebab and Middle Eastern restaurant meal kits
If you’re sick of eating takeaway, but also can’t face making your own meal from scratch, why not meet in the middle with a Middle Eastern DIY kit? These healthy alternatives still taste delicious, but ensure you pack in at least one of your five a day byway of a salad or dip. From mezze and falafel kits through to kebabs and borek, these are our favourite Middle Eastern meal kits.
1. Arabica Feast, Falafel and Meze Kits
Why: These colourful, healthy Middle Eastern meal kits not only taste amazing, they also help to support the Red Cross in Lebanon, with 5% of sales proceeds going to the charity. We love the Arabica feast kit the most, which generously serves between 2-6 people depending on which size you pick, and includes crunchy pickles, hummus Beiruti, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, grilled halloumi, pumpkin kibbeh, hand made pita bread, Lebanese style beef short rib and a crispy, syrupy and buttery baklava selection for afters. Included in the kit you’ll find full step-by-step instructions for putting your spread together.
How much? £45, for a feast for two people
And, delivery? Nationwide every Tuesday and Friday
Buy it: Arabica Feast Kit
2. Ottolenghi Shakshuka Box for 2
Why: Why more places aren’t doing breakfast meal kits is a mystery, but Ottolenghi is filling the gap with a rather excellent option. In this little hamper you’ll receive everything you need for shakshuka for two, including a spicy sauce pouch, 4 x Clarence Court eggs, 2 x bottles of orange juice and focaccia, plus labnah and coriander for garnishing. Sounds like the perfect recipe for breakfast in bed to us (at least for someone, while the other one’s on kitchen duty).
How much? £25.50 for two
And, delivery? London only
Buy it: ottolenghi.slerp.com
3. Berenjak Kabab Kits
Why: If you’ve ever tasted the disappointment of a poor BBQ you’ll know there’s nothing sadder than inviting your friends round only to see their crestfallen faces when you offer them a plate of dry burgers and sausages. The answer doesn’t have to lie in you suddenly becoming a top chef thankfully, as BBQ Soho restaurant Berenjak has come up with a simple solution. Its at home kababs kits serve two and include both chicken and lamb marinated skewers, along with the metal skewers themselves. There are also tomatoes for grilling, a yogurt sauce, ingredients for a salad and soft clay-baked flatbreads to wrap everything up in. If that doesn’t get your heart beating a little bit faster, we don’t know what will. The kits completely sold out when they were first released, so if you see them available, snap one up quick.
How much: £25
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: berenjakbazaar.com
11 of the best fancy fine dining restaurant meal kits
We didn’t really know what to call this section, so we just went for ‘fancy’. Basically, these restaurant meal kits are made by some of the top chefs in the country and allow you to produce precise plates of foods without any faff. From fine dining menus to simple ingredient-led dishes, these are our favourite fancy meal kits for when you want to seriously impress.
1. Crockers at Home Chef’s Table Menu Box
Why: One of four ‘finish at home’ boxes offered by the Crockers restaurant group, this Chef’s Table Menu Box allows you to recreate a mini tasting menu for yourself at home, so is perfect for a fancy date night or a special occasion such as a birthday or wedding anniversary. The three-course menu is bookended by bread, an amuse bouche and a sweet treat at the end, with dishes you can expect to try including salt-aged pork belly with celeriac, apple, mustard and cabbage (dedicated vegetarian menu also available).
How much: £60 per person
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: crockersathome.com
2. Crockers at Home Dining Room Menu Box
Why: This three-course finish at home menu from the Crockers restaurant group is homey and comforting, making it ideal for a cosy night in when you don’t want to have to do too much prep in the kitchen. The meal kit includes starters, mains and desserts, as well as a snack, an additional sweet treat and side dishes. Highlights include braised lamb shoulder with crispy polenta and a lamb and lentil sauce, while on the dedicated vegetarian version you can find the likes of a leek and Baron Bigod tart with truffle and honey dressing.
How much: £45 per person
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: crockersathome.com
3. Crockers at Home The Grill Menu Box
Why: Most of us aren’t blessed with a restaurant-quality grill at home, so thank goodness for this The Grill Menu Box from Crockers Henley. This classic three-course menu features a few deluxe extras including a starting snack, bread and a sweet treat at the end, and there is the option to mix meat and vegetarian dishes in one order (perfect if you’re a meat eater and your dining partner is veggie.) On the menu, you can find tempting dishes such as Creedy Carver duck on sourdough with rhubarb and pistachio, or coal fired broccolini with smoked teriyaki tofu.
How much: £45 per person
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: crockersathome.com
4. Galvin at Home
Why: To mark those big occasions, you can’t get much more special than Michelin starred dining. Galvin at Home allows you to impress loved ones with aforementioned Michelin level cookery with just a little heating and plating needed from you. The boxes include three course menus, and these flex with the seasons to give you the best produce of the moment. You can expect bread and olives to start, followed by something like agnolotti of Jersey Royals with wild garlic and truffle; and a duck breast with broccoli and beetroot for mains. Dessert might bring an apple tarte tatin with crème fraiche. While the regular menu features meat and fish, there is also a vegetarian selection available. Each box comes with video instructions to help you nail those finishing touches with confidence.
How much: From £50 per person
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: galvinlachapelle.slerp.com
5. Lyle's Menu Boxes
Why: Michelin-starred Lyle’s in Shoreditch is often touted as one of London’s best restaurants, and now – instead of having to pre-book weeks in advance of a visit – you’re able to enjoy the kitchen’s world class cookery from the comfort of your own home. As with many of our favourite meal kits, Lyle’s cook at home boxes were created as a way to combat lockdown restrictions, allowing the team to keep doing what they do best - feeding people. The results are a wonderful mix of high-quality food and simple instructions for a fuss-free feast you can make in minutes. Boxes change seasonally and act as a way for Lyle’s to support their suppliers despite a lack of dine-in consumers, so you can expect plenty of British seafood and wonderful game like venison and duck. Everything arrives beautifully wrapped with detailed online cooking and plating instructions, making this as much a gorgeous gift idea as it would be a treat to yourself. There are signature six course menus as well as lighter mid-week boxes if you’d prefer something a little simpler.
How much: From £70 for two
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: lylesprovisions.com
6. London Shell Co.’s Fish Boxes
Why: If you’re feeling fancy and nothing but the best will do, let us gently point you in the direction of London Shell Co. While this London floating restaurant was safely moored up in lockdown the kitchen got cracking on some seriously tempting takeaway options. Our favourite is the ready to eat picnic box which changes from week to week but always includes a bottle of something nice along with bread, pickles, mayonnaise and some freshly cooked or cured seafood elements, which when combined are perfect for creating a posh picky lunch from. Other options include a BBQ box with marinated fish plus sides and salads and a ready-to-cook fish pie with extras like prawns and mayonnaise for starter and a side of greens, plus wine.
How much: From £45
And, delivery? London only
Buy it: shop.londonshellco.com
7. Arros QD’s Paella Kits
Why: If Michelin dining is the level you’re aiming for with your restaurant meal DIY kit then skip past the pizzas and the pastas (although, no shade here, those guys are fantastic Friday night fodder), and head straight for the paella. Yep, this humble rice dish has had a makeover and is now mingling with the best in the bizz at Arros QD, the London restaurant specialising in paella, which is headed up by Quique Dacosta (who holds a casual three Michelin stars for his eponymous restaurant in Spain). The restaurant’s DIY kits include a choice of house stocks as well as carefully sourced paella rice, so you can produce an intricately curated dish in the time it takes to cook your grains. Other options include a set which comes with a paella pan and spoon if you want the full kit, and a ‘paella in the pan’ product, where you can go to the restaurant and pick up ready-cooked rice.
How much: From £76 for a paella kit which includes rice, stocks, pan and spoon
And, delivery? Nationwide, or collection in London only for ready-cooked pans of paella
Buy it: appaway.eu
8. Norma's feasting boxes
Why: There's most definitely a difference between the average dinner and a feast, and as the name suggests, Norma's DIY kit offering certainly falls into the latter category, and that's no bad thing. Each box contains a generous selection of cheeses, meats, olives and bread, as well as stuffed peppers, to begin. This is then followed by a gorgeous slow cooked lamb shoulder served with a pomegranate and mint dressing, pumpkin, a swiss chard and ricotta gratin, and rosemary roasted potatoes. Finally, the feast is finished with a tiramisu and cannoli, and that's before we even get onto the drinks; there is premixed negroni to begin, followed by a bottle of red and limoncello to finish. We hugely enjoyed this box when we tried it and liked the fact that it required minimal effort in terms of heating the food up before serving it. It was certainly a lot of food for two people but that wasn't a problem! We also loved the fact it came with a copy of Ben Tish's cookbook Moorish, which we'll certainly now be delving into.
How much: £100
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: normalondon.com
9. Bermondsey Larder
Why: Irish chef Robin Gill is famed for his seasonal produce-led cooking, and his at home meal kits are no different. Championing ingredients like Yorkshire rhubarb and Cashel Blue cheese the menu is a celebration of the UK and Ireland. While the dishes change regularly you can expect combinations like chicken liver mousse with blood orange jam, beef short rib with celeriac gratin and bay leaf panna cotta with poached fruit. At the moment the Bermondsey Larder only delivers within four miles of its Tower Bridge location, but you’re able to pick up if you fall out with that radius.
How much? From £30 per person
And, delivery? Click and collect or delivery within four miles of SE1 only
Buy it: order.storekit.com
10. The Wolseley
Why: For giving a special occasion the gravitas it deserves, you can’t beat a night at The Wolseley (even if 'at' means the meal takes place at your own table rather than in the restaurant’s own dining room). We love that The Wolseley’s meal kits are completely customisable, so you are able to choose your own combination of starters, mains and desserts. On the menu you’ll find all your comfort food needs catered for by way of dishes like schnitzel, duck confit and fish pie as well as black forest gateau and chocolate mousse.
How much? From £5.50 per dish
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: thewolseley.com
11. Riding House at Home
Why: If you’re missing holidays as much as you’re missing your friends and family, it’s time – we think – to treat yourself to a meal that will transport you to sunnier shores. Riding House Cafe’s Soul Ride meal kits are Caribbean-inspired and range from full weekend menus through to cocktail kits. For us, the soul veggie dinner makes plant-based eating exciting and includes pina coladas, and a sharing-style menu of small plates which range from artichoke dip with flatbreads through to crispy new potatoes with mustard and chill. Dessert is grilled pineapple and spiced rum cream. There are meat menus too, if you prefer. And if even the thought of finishing a meal off at home is a little too much, Londoners can order the same menu as takeaway.
How much? From £55, for a set dinner two people
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: ridinghouseathome.com
4 of the best roast dinner and meat restaurant meal kits
Sometimes when the craving kicks in, there’s nothing that will satisfy our hunger other than a big piece of perfectly cooked meat. These meal kits for roast dinners and delicious cuts of meat – from steak to chops – are perfect for taking your time over come the weekend.
1. Hawksmoor at Home
Hawksmoor, without a doubt, has been one of the best restaurant meal kits we have tried. Packed with generous servings of starters, mains and desserts, this is a recipe box that is worthy of special occasions. Steak options range from fillet to T-bone while sides are incredibly crispy chips cooked in beef fat, nutmeg-spiced creamed spinach and a rich peppercorn sauce. Everything is simple to assemble, with handy video tutorials provided to help you get the best results from your steak cookery. The meat itself is top-quality, melt-in-the-mouth and full of flavour, making this the perfect way to get restaurant-quality cooking in your own home in mere minutes.
How much: From £70, for a meal for two
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: shop.thehawksmoor.com
2. Blacklock at Home
Why: London’s most famous chop house, Blacklock, has jumped on the bandwagon and is now doing home delivery kits, and aren’t we glad it is? In your pack you’ll receive a mix of pork, beef and lamb cops as well as bread, beef dripping chips, various sides and a rich chop sauce. Not forgetting those with a sweet tooth, there’s also a white chocolate cheesecake to tuck into afterwards. Blacklock is also doing steak night kits and Sunday roasts with all the trimmings, which allow you a taste of the good life without the usual two-month waiting list that the restaurant requires punters to go on typically for its Sunday lunch. Also, for each kit sold the restaurant will plant a tree which is nice.
How much? £45 for two, including dessert
And, delivery? Nationwide, on Fridays
Buy it: shop.theblacklock.com
3. SMOKESTAK's DIY Bun Boxes
Why: Meat lovers’ dreams might have just come true in the form of SMOKESTAK’s brand new DIY bun boxes. The buns at David Carter’s Shoreditch joint have always been somewhat of a legendary London dish and now you can indulge in some of that smoky goodness without even leaving your home. You have the choice of either beef brisket, pork belly or pulled pork to fill the fluffy buns, with all the meat having been smoked on site before being vac packed and sent fresh to your door, ready for reheating and assembly. We couldn’t get enough of the beef brisket buns when we tried this kit. It took just 20 minutes to reheat the meat in the oven and it sliced like butter. Once drenched in SMOKESTAK’s house barbecue sauce, topped with the provided pickled chilli, and shoved inside the buns, it took every ounce of restraint not to jump straight in a cab and head round to the restaurant for more.
How much: Bun boxes from £26, meat packs also available from £29
And, delivery? London only
Buy it: smokestakshop.co.uk
4. Townsend’s Sunday Roast Kits
Why: If you’ve found yourself missing restaurant quality Sunday lunches during lockdown restrictions (sorry Mum) then check out the DIY roast kits from Whitechapel restaurant, Townsend. We chose to try out the pork belly option and were thoroughly impressed. Super simple cooking instructions come with your kit (mainly involving heating things up and peeling veg), but you still end up with a mighty roast, featuring high-quality pork belly sourced from Paddock Farm and a moreish hazelnut and cider stuffing. The kit is designed for two people, but we found that it happily fed three - just note that the pork belly needs to be brined overnight, which is why Townsend wisely delivers its kits on Saturdays.
How much: From £20
And, delivery? Nationwide
Buy it: townsendrestaurant.co.uk
If even heating up your meal seems like a stretch then why not order takeaway from one of these restaurants now doing delivery.