If you’re excited to host a larger gathering with friends and family this Thanksgiving, but want to make sure you’re enjoying the time rather than stressing over Thanksgiving dinner in the kitchen, we’ve got the solution. Try outsourcing all or some of the cooking! We’ve rounded up 18 local restaurants and caterers offering Thanksgiving meals for pick-up––with options ranging from smoked, roasted or apple-brined turkey, to prime rib, brisket, Italian, and even paleo-friendly, vegan, and gluten-free feasts! Prices range from very affordable to very gourmet depending on your budget. To save even more time, look for the places that will deliver a decadent dinner straight to your door! Read on for the details.

International Smoke Del Mar

International Smoke Del Mar

Wood-fired and flavorful, Del Mar’s International Smoke is offering a multi-course feast that you can pick up or get delivered.  Chow down on Parker House rolls, curry pumpkin soup, persimmon salad, roasted cauliflower skewers, and a maple-roasted turkey with all the trimmings. Orders must be placed by Sunday, November 21; the meal is $320 and serves four people.

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: no
Preparation: Minimal preheating and prep required
Place orders by: Sun. Nov. 21th
How to order: online
Pick up times: Nov. 24th or Nov. 25th 

International Smoke Del Mar
3387 Del Mar Heights Road
San Diego, CA 92130

Online: InternationalSmokeDelMar.com
Menu: InternationalSmokeDelMar.com

Seaside Market

Seaside Market in Cardiff, is known for its mouthwatering Burgandy tri-tip, infamously nicknamed "Cardiff Crack" by locals. And, this Thanksgiving, you can swap the turkey for their Tri-tip Feast which comes with sides like roasted vegetables, candied sweet potato mash, broccoli gorgonzola salad and more. Or, you can keep it traditional with their Complete Turkey Feast and side dishes. Seaside also offers a vegan meal with lasagna as the main dish. Whatever your crew is craving this holiday, you can order it at Seaside Market and sit back and relax because your meal is certain to be an utter crowd pleaser. 

Cost: $249.95 for Complete Turkey or Cardiff Crack Tri-Tip Feast, each feeds 6+ people. $89 for Vegan Feast, feeds 2-3+ people

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: yes
Preparation: Served chilled in aluminum pans with reheating and serving instructions.
Place orders by: 48 hours in advance
How to order: online
Pick up times: Call for pick up times

Seaside Market
2087 San Elijo Ave
Cardiff-by-the-sea 92007

Online: seasidemarket.com
Menu: https://seasidemarket.com/holidays/

The Great Maple

Leave the cooking to the kind folks at UTC's Great Maple by reserving your Thanksgiving meal today. The delicious dinner, made to be enjoyed at home, includes butternut squash bisque soup, thyme, and rosemary turkey breast served with brioche stuffing, mashed potatoes, pan gravy, toasted sage green beans, and pumpkin pie. The cost is $39.95 per person.

Cost: $39.95/person

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: no
Preparation: fully cooked, heat and eat
Place orders by: Before they sell out
How to order: online
Pick up times: Thursday, November 25th from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Great Maple UTC
8675 Genesee Ave Suite 1200
La Jolla, CA 92122

Online: thegreatmaple.com
Menu: explorestock.com/greatmapleutc

Black Angus

Black Angus

Bring home a Turkey Feast Meal To-Go paired with all the fixings. Available in 3 different sizes for either a family of 4, 8 or 12 servings. Each comes with the classics: roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sage dressing, sweet potatoes, broccoli with garlic butter, salad, cranberry sauce, their famous molasses bread and pumpkin pie. 

If you just want a whole dessert to go, they have other options a la carte like their well-known big mountain fudge cake, NY style cheesecake, sky-high mud pie, spiced carrot cake or chocolate flourless torte.

Cost: 4 servings for $99.95; 8 servings for $199.95; 12 servings for $299.95. 

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: no
Preparation: Hot and ready to eat
How to order: online
Pick-up times: Thurs. Nov. 26th from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Black Angus
1000 Graves Ave., El Cajon
619-440-5055

707 E St., Chula Vista
619-426-9200

296 E. Via Rancho Parkway, Escondido
Escondido, CA

Online: blackangus.com
Menu: blackangus.com/thanksgiving/

Sprouts Farmers Market

Sprouts Farmers Market

Simplify your Thanksgiving this year with fully prepared holiday meals from Sprouts, made with simple and wholesome ingredients like cage-free turkey, no antibiotics ever and organic ingredients. Fully prepared meal options that serve 6-8 include natural turkey, free-range organic turkey, USDA choice beef rib roast or spiral-sliced ham (regular or uncured & sugar-free) come with delicious seasonal sides. Or choose the 40 oz. vegan roast meal with cornbread stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and a take & bake sourdough loaf. Don’t forget to add one of their award winning pies to your checkout cart, each pie is made with real fruit and are always free from artificial preservatives.

Place orders online for yourself or treat your friends or family to a meal for them to pick up at their local store or have it delivered straight to their door. Sprouts stores will be open on Thanksgiving day from 7am-4pm in case you forget something.

Cost: boneless turkey breast meal for 2 is $39.99; natural turkey meal for 6-8 is $79.99; spiral-sliced ham meal for 6-8 is $79.99; beef rib roast meal for 6-8 is $89.99; vegan roast meal for 4 is $44.99

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: Yes
Preparation: fully cooked, heat and eat
Place orders by: Before they sell out
How to order: online
Pick up times: curbside or delivery with Instacart!

Sprouts Farmers Market
Various locations

Online: sprouts.com
Menu: sprouts.com/shop/categories/434

Urban Plates

Urban Plates

Bring home a fresh scratch-made feast just like grandma used to make. Choose from a Family Feast that serves 6-8 or a Family Meal that serves 4 and you’ll get an herb roasted cage-free turkey breast, mushroom stuffing, homemade gravy, sweet cranberry relish, artisan bread and choice of two sides. Add on a scratch-made dessert made in-house by their pasty chef: mango tart, seasonal pumpkin & walnut layer cake or a Hummingbird Cake, among others.

Urban Plates offers one of the best values with quality organic produce, cage-free turkey and always free of hormones, antibiotics and GMOs. Order early, they sold out last year!

Cost: a la carte sides $13 each; desserts $32-$60; Turkey Plate serves 1, $19.95; Turkey Family Meal serves 4 for $79; Turkey Family Feast serves 6-8 for $139

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: Sides available
Preparation: chilled, fully cooked with heating instructions
Place orders by: Nov. 20th
How to order: online
Pick up times: Nov. 23rd or 24th

Urban Plates
1923 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad
760-652-5678

12857 El Camino Real, Carmel Valley
858-509-1800

8707 Villa La Jolla Dr., La Jolla Village
858-263-0818

Online: urbanplates.com
Menu: urbanplates.com/thanksgiving

Giardino

Switch up your Thanksgiving this year with an Italian feast, or choose from their traditional Thanksgiving dishes to keep it classic. Their Thanksgiving day specials include prime rib, short ribs, butternut squash ravioli or oxtail cannelloni each with complementary sides, but you can also choose from their extensive menu of gourmet pasta meals, pan seared salmon, eggplant dishes or chicken marsala among others. Your taste buds will delight in their Italian sweets like the tiramisu tray, Limoncello cake or Nutella cheesecake. If you can’t decide, just order the dessert sampler and everyone will be happy.

Cost: meals serve 6-8 people – prime rib meal $85, short rib meal $75, butternut squash ravioli meal $60, oxtail cannelloni $60

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: no
Preparation: call for details
Place orders by: call for details
How to order: online
Pick up times: based on store hours

Giardino
8131 Broadway, Lemon Grove
619-825-7112

Online: giardinosd.com
Menu: giardinosd.com/HOLIDAYtogo

 

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market

Celebrate the season with Whole Foods Market catering menu with offerings for everyone. You’ll find the classics like organic turkey,  and prime rib with all the sides, but also paleo-friendly paleo and vegan-friendly options. Holiday appetizer platters are also available. 

Cost: classic roast turkey meal for 12 is $299.99; beef wellington meal for 4 is $139.99;  prime rib meal for 8 is $229.99; you’ll find other serving sizes and options online

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: Yes
Preparation: fully cooked, heat and eat
Place orders by: All Holiday Selections orders must be placed a minimum of 24 hours ahead of pickup date and time
How to order: online
Pick up times: Nov. 19th -25th from 8 a.m.-8 p.m

Whole Foods
711 University Ave., Hillcrest
619-294-2800

8825 Villa La Jolla Dr., La Jolla Village
858-642-6700

2600 Via De La Valle, Del Mar
858-436-9800

Online: wholefoodsmarket.com
Menu: shop.wfm.com

Chart House

Chart House is big on holidays, which means you can expect a mouthwatering Thanksgiving dinner without having to lift a finger, except to carry the bags into the house. The Chart House Thanksgiving To-Go offers a choice of slow-roasted prime rib or turkey, stuffing, cranberry dressing, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes and pecan or pumpkin pie.

Cost: serves 4 people for $105 for turkey, or $130 for prime rib

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: no
Preparation: call for details
Place orders by: Nov. 19th
How to order: online
Pick up times: based on store hours, delivery available

Chart House
1201 1st St., Coronado
619-437-4474

2588 South Coast Hwy 101, Cardiff
760-436-4044

Online: chart-house.com/
Menu: chart-house.com/event/thanksgiving/

Rancho Valencia

@ranchovalencia

Bring the good life home from Rancho Valencia to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast in the comfort of your own home. This year they’ve launched “Rancho-To-Go” where you can choose from a full a la carte menu of canapés, starters and soups, choice of meats, sides and sauces; completed with pies and desserts. You can also choose from their a la carte items like crab cakes, empanadas, truffle arancini, poached pears, charcuterie boards and so much more.

Cost: full meal serves 4 for $265; or buy everything a la carte - minimum order $350, all items sold are in portions of 4 unless otherwise noted

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: Yes
Preparation: fully cooked, heat and eat
Place orders by: Thurs. November 18th
How to order: online
Pick-up times: Wed. Nov, 24th between 9 am - 1 pm.

Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
5921 Valencia Cir., Rancho Santa Fe
858-759-6216

Online: ranchovalencia.com
Menu: form.jotform.com/213005244091139

 

Giuseppe Catering

Mix and match a cornucopia of delights by choosing all of your Thanksgiving dishes a la carte. Choose from roasted & carved natural turkey and such sides as Focaccia-leek & pistachio stuffing, squash skewers, butternut squash soup, caramelized Brussels sprouts, truffle parmesan mashed potatoes or a poached pear salad among other options. It might take you a while to decide what’s for dessert from Frangelico chocolate truffle lollipops to Meyer lemon bars or pies.

Cost: Varies based on a la carte items ordered, roughly $160 for 6-8 servings

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: no
Preparation: fully cooked, heat and eat
Place orders by: noon on Monday, Nov. 22nd
How to order: online
Pick up times: Pick up or delivery on November 24th 

Giuseppe Restaurants & Fine Catering
7853 Herschel Ave., La Jolla
858-581-2205

Online: grnfc.com
Menu: grnfc.com/thanksgiving-catering

Elijah's Restaurant

@elijahs.deli

Having your Thanksgiving meal delivered doesn’t get any easier than this! Order your classic Thanksgiving meal from Elijah’s and they’ll bring it right to your front door. Choice of turkey, beef brisket, or ham served with 2 classic side dishes to choose from and add on an apple, pecan or pumpkin pie for only $14.95 extra.

Cost: all servings are for 10 people - $165 for turkey dinner, $165 for beef brisket dinner and $165 for spiral ham dinner

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: no
Preparation: all dinners are freshly cooked for your pick-up time, no reheating required! Just put it on the table and eat.
Place orders by: 48 hrs notice
How to order: call
Pick up times: schedule with restaurant, delivery available for an additional charge. 

Elijah’s Restaurant
7061 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont
858-353-5528 or 858-455-1461

Online: elijahsrestaurant.com
Menu: elijahsrestaurant.com/thanksgiving

Ranch 45

Ranch 45

Ranch 45 adds a gourmet twist to all of your favorite traditional foods. Just some of their offerings are butternut squash soup, roasted rainbow carrots, wild rice with butternut squash, herb-crusted prime rib, red wine braised short ribs, smoked turkey legs… and much more online. Don’t forget traditional desserts; are you team Apple or team Pumpkin pie? Or maybe an alternative GF carrot cake is more up your alley.

Cost: all items are ordered a la carte; approx. $160 for 3-4 servings

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: Yes
Preparation: fully cooked, heat and eat
Place orders by: Sunday, November 21st
How to order: in store, by phone, online
Pick up times: 10 am - 3 pm on Nov. 24th

Ranch 45
512 Via De La Valle, Solana Beach
858-461-0092

Online: ranch45.com
Menu: ranch45.com/holiday-pick-up-menu

 

Ruth's Chris

Take the hassle out of Thanksgiving Dinner this year and order out from Ruth’s Chris Steak House. They have a family meal that serves 4 and includes roasted turkey and all the trimmings, including 4 personal pumpkin cheesecakes.

Cost: 4 servings for $175

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: no
Preparation: chilled, fully cooked to heat and eat
Place orders by: 48 hours in advance
How to order: online
Pick up times: Wed. Nov. 24th, 12 pm - 6 pm

Ruth’s Chris Steak House
11582 El Camino Real, Del Mar
858-755-1454

1355 N Harbor Dr., Downtown/Embarcadero
619-233-1422

Online: ruthschris.com
Menu: ruthschris.com/menu/thanksgiving

 

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse

Celebrate at home with Fleming’s 3-course dinner for the family. Meals include Herb-Roasted Turkey paired with all the fixings, salad and a cinnamon pumpkin cream cheesecake with orange cranberry sauce. You can also substitute the turkey for petite filet mignon or prime bone-in ribeye each with peppercorn sauce or add on delectable sides like lobster mac & cheese, cauliflower mash or crispy Brussels sprouts with bacon.

Cost: $53/adult and $23/children, dishes available a la carte also

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: no
Preparation: fully cooked, heat and eat
Place orders by: call for details
How to order: online
Pick up times: call for details

Fleming’s Prime Steak House
8970 University Center Ln., UTC
858-535-0078

380 K St., Downtown/Gaslamp
619-237-1155

Online: flemigsssteakhouse.com
Menu: flemingssteakhouse.com/thanksgiving

Del’s Hideout, Pioneer BBQ or Coaster Saloon (Cohn Restaurant Group)

@delshideout

Bring this Thanksgiving BBQ Feast to your table this year from either of these 3 restaurants from Cohn’s. Choice of whole smoked turkey or brisket, 3 family size sides (bacon potato salad, coleslaw, stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy, killer beans, candied yams, mac & cheese, collard greens or green beans) and cornbread or dinner rolls. Add on pecan or pumpkin pie for dessert. You can also buy the main course a la carte (whole smoked turkey or brisket) and fix your own sides at home.

Cost: serves 6-8 servings for $189.95; add on a pie for $219.99; or even buy the main course a la carte: $114.95 for turkey or $129.95 for brisket

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: no
Preparation: fully cooked, heat and eat
Place orders by: 3 p.m. on Mon. Nov. 22nd
How to order: call
Pick up times: Thurs. Nov. 25th between 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

(all 3 Cohn Restaurants share the same Thanksgiving menu options)

Del’s Hideout
5351 Adobe Falls Rd., Del Cerro
619-255-8175

Pioneer BBQ
8622 Lake Murray Blvd., San Carlos
619-825-7787

Coaster Saloon
744 Ventura Pl., Mission Beach
858-488-4438

Online: cohnrestaurants.com/delshideout
Menu: cohnrestaurants.com/dels-hideout-thanksgiving-feast-togo

Nutmeg Bakery

Top off your day of eating this year with a non-traditional Thanksgiving pie from Nutmeg Bakery. They’ve got all kinds of cream pies: Chocolate, Banana, Boston or Coconut; as well as Key Lime and Maple Pecan (gluten-free). But if you want to go the traditional route they’ve got you covered there with Apple Lattice, Apple Crumb (GF) and Pumpkin (avail GF). Now if you want a Thanksgiving cake, well they’ve got plenty of options too with everything from Carrot Cake (avail GF) to chocolate chip cookie dough, vanilla (vegan) or lemon raspberry, orange cranberry, lemon blueberry, coconut rum (GF, V) hummingbird, Italian cream and oh so many more.

Cost: $20-$35 per pie

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: Yes
Preparation: call for details
Place orders by: 72 hrs advance notice
How to order: online only
Pick up times: based on order

Nutmeg Bakery & Café
12640 Sabre Springs Pkwy, Sabre Springs
858-486-8863

Online: https://nutmegsd.com/

Pop Pie Co.

If you want to have your Thanksgiving pie and eat it too, there are plenty of options from Pop Pie Co. That’s all they do and that’s why they’re the best. Choose from Salted Honey, Honey Bourban Pecan, Pumpkin Pie, Salted Caramel Apple Crumble or Apple Crumble (vegan).

Cost: $35 per pie

Vegan/Gluten-Free options: Yes
Preparation: pies are baked fresh the morning you pick them up
Place orders by: Sun. Nov. 21st or until they’re sold out
How to order: online only
Pick up times: Wed Nov. 24th from 11 am-5 p.m. or Thurs. Nov. 25th from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Pop Pie Co.
4404 Park Blvd., University Heights
619-501-4440

270 E 17th St., Costa Mesa
949-524-3015

Online: poppieco.com
Menu: poppieco.com/thanksgiving-pies-pre-sale

––Aimee Della Bitta & Bonnie Taylor

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