What is a tiffin service? A guide to home-cooked meal delivery in the UK
Tue 12 May · 5 min read
A tiffin service delivers freshly cooked, home-style meals to you on a regular basis — usually daily or a few days a week. The name comes from the stacked metal lunchboxes ("tiffin" carriers) used across South Asia, but today a tiffin can be any cuisine, packed fresh and ready to eat.
How does a tiffin service work?
Most home cooks publish a daily or weekly menu. You either order meal-by-meal or set up a subscription for the days you want. The cook prepares everything fresh that morning, and you collect it or have it delivered within a local radius.
- Pick a kitchen near you and browse their menu
- Order a one-off meal, or subscribe for chosen days of the week
- Choose collection or local delivery
- Pay by card online, or cash on collection where offered
How much does tiffin cost in the UK?
Prices vary by cook and portion size, but a single home-cooked tiffin typically costs less than a restaurant main and far less than ordering takeaway every day. Subscriptions often work out cheaper per meal than one-off orders.
How to find a good tiffin service near you
Look for kitchens with a visible Food Hygiene Rating, clear allergen information, and genuine customer reviews. On Simmr you can filter by cuisine, dietary needs (Veg, Halal, Jain, Vegan and more) and your postcode to find cooks who deliver to your area.
Hungry for home-cooked food?
Find a home kitchen near you, or turn your own cooking into a business.