A private chef service brings a professional cook into your own kitchen. Chefpost matches you with a vetted local chef who plans the menu, buys the groceries, cooks, serves each course, and leaves the kitchen spotless. Book one dinner party, a themed event, or standing weekly meal prep, all without touching a pan yourself.
A private chef service is an in-home cooking service: a vetted chef comes to you, cooks a restaurant-quality meal in your kitchen, and cleans up before leaving. Chefpost is a marketplace of background-checked chefs, so you can compare menus, read real reviews, and book online. Most in-home dinners run $65 to $150 per guest, and every quote covers the menu, the shopping, the cooking, the service, and the cleanup.
The service flexes to the occasion. Hosts book it for dinner parties and celebrations, quiet date nights, bachelorette weekends, corporate dinners, and recurring weekly meal prep. You choose the cuisine and the format, and the chef handles the rest. Browse chefs to see who is available near you, or read our full price guide first.
Two things people ask before booking: what am I paying for, and how is this different from catering or a meal kit.
The chef plans a menu around your guests and any dietary needs, does all the grocery shopping, cooks fresh in your kitchen, plates and serves each course, and cleans up so the kitchen is left the way they found it. You provide the space, plates, and glassware. There are no hidden fees, and gratuity is at your discretion.
Catering arrives in trays cooked somewhere else and reheated. A meal kit ships you boxes and leaves you to cook. A private chef cooks in front of you, to order, and serves each course at its peak. You get the experience of dinner being made, not delivered, without any of the work landing on you.
Four steps from first message to a clean kitchen. No cooking, no shopping, no cleanup for you.
Your date, city, guest count, occasion, and any allergies or dietary needs.
Latin, Mediterranean, Italian, omakase, plant-based, seafood, or a fully custom tasting menu.
We surface vetted local chefs who fit your menu, headcount, and budget, each with real reviews.
Your chef shops, cooks in your kitchen, plates every course, serves, and leaves it spotless.
One chef, many formats. Every menu is customized to your guests, your kitchen, and your budget.
A plated, multi-course dinner for a handful of friends or a full table. The most-booked service for birthdays, anniversaries, and milestone nights. See private chef for a dinner party.
A chef cooks a week of meals in your kitchen and leaves them portioned in your fridge. Ideal for busy professionals and families. Around $200 to $350 per week. Explore meal prep.
A sushi chef sets up at your counter and serves nigiri and rolls course by course. A quiet-luxury alternative to a hard reservation. See sushi chef at home.
Bigger guest counts, live-fire stations, and passed bites for showers, graduations, and holidays. Browse private events.
A chef who cooks on board or poolside for a boat day or backyard gathering. See yacht and boat dining.
A hands-on class where the chef teaches a menu in your kitchen, then you sit down and eat it. Explore in-home cooking classes.
Referential ranges for in-home private chef services in the US. Your final quote depends on the menu, the number of courses, and the ingredients. For a full breakdown, read the private chef cost guide.
| Service | Typical range | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| In-home dinner (per guest) | $65 to $150 | Menu, groceries, cooking, service, cleanup |
| Dinner party for ~10 | $900 to $1,600 | A full multi-course dinner for a table |
| Weekly meal prep | $200 to $350 / week | Several days of meals cooked and portioned |
| Cooking class (per person) | $95 | Hands-on class plus the meal you cook |
Ranges are estimates, not quotes. Premium metros and specialty menus run higher. Every chef sets their own pricing, which you see before you book.
An honest take from the Chefpost team on why so many hosts switched to it.
“For years the only ways to eat exceptionally well were a restaurant reservation or hours of your own work in the kitchen. A private chef service quietly removed that trade-off. You get restaurant-grade food and your own table, your own music, your own guests, with none of the cooking or cleanup. Once people host this way once, they rarely go back.”
We match hosts with vetted private chefs across these markets. Pick your city to see local chefs, menus, and pricing.
Related services and guides.
Tell us your date and menu, and we will match you with a vetted private chef in minutes.
The questions hosts ask us most before they book.
