For Americans making meal-time tradeoffs between time and money, “yes, chef” could be an option to add to the menu.

Personal chef services are currently a $15 billion industry that’s expected to grow 6.5% between now and 2030, and chefs are working to satisfy consumers with restaurant-worthy food at (closer to) home-cooked prices.¹

On average, food accounts for 11.2% of a family’s household budget. In January, Americans spent an average of $746 at restaurants and $542 on groceries, according to Empower Personal Dashboard^TM data.

Inflation has added some heat to shoppers weighing their food options. According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), the cost of food at home in January rose 1.9% compared to a year ago, while food bought away from home jumped 3.4% over the same period.²

Different kind of delivery

Hungry consumers seeking restaurant food at home have increasingly turned to well-known names like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub that power the $242 billion online food delivery industry. The majority of Americans (60%) get takeout or food delivered weekly.³

Many people also want to keep their spending dollars going toward stores in their neighborhood. Empower research finds that three-quarters of Americans (75%) eat at local restaurants to support small businesses. For chefs who may not have their own restaurant space, one food startup is trying to bridge the gap.

Shef is an online marketplace that delivers meals made by home cooks to nearby consumers who then can heat and eat. More than 70 million people across 11 states have tried the service, either with one-off orders or through a weekly subscription.^4,5

The platform also allows chefs flexibility – letting them set menus and control cooking schedules – while the company manages logistics like online payments and customer service.⁶

Chefs in the home kitchen

Some people in areas with a higher cost of living, like New York City, have found that hiring a personal chef can actually be cheaper than takeout. A typical setup could include the chef working five hours one day a week, preparing meals for the rest of the customer’s week.⁷

The average rate for a personal chef in the U.S. is around $22 per hour.⁸

Having a chef prepping meals in the home can benefit busy families or people needing more control over the weekly menu, such as those with dietary restrictions or sensitivities. A quarter of Americans don’t buy products that contain the top nine food allergens, which include:⁹

• Fish

• Shellfish

• Milk

• Eggs

• Soy

• Wheat

• Sesame

• Peanuts

• Tree nuts

For people who have to check labels to avoid certain ingredients, chefs can also bring relief, as many often handle buying groceries.¹⁰ More than a third (36%) of Millennials would spend up to $10,000 for someone to take on in-house chores and cook meals, according to Empower research. 

Special splurge

Chefs can also bring a more luxurious dining experience home. With Americans spending an average of $139 each month on fine dining, enjoying the splurge without a commute could be a unique experience. Luxury platform Epicurate serves up private chefs and in-home add-ons like photographers and massages across 60 U.S. metro areas.¹¹ Founded by a private chef, Epicurate made around $4 million in chef services in 2024, a 112% year-over-year jump.¹²

A personal touch

With the need to eat part of daily life, personal chefs can hit the spot, providing food that feels homemade – without the need to cook.