The Best Food Subscription Boxes That Deliver Delicious Novelty

Subscription length: 1, 3, 6 or 12 months | Customizable: Choices between sweet, savory or both | Shipping: Free

What we love:

• Diverse selection of restaurant-favorite dishes
• Supports small businesses across the country
• Choice between sweet and savory items

Keep in mind:

• Not ideal for anyone with dietary restrictions

For food lovers who enjoy discovering new restaurants and traveling for great meals, the Icons of Goldbelly subscription is a gift that keeps on giving. Each month features ready-to-cook or fully prepared dishes from some of the country’s most popular restaurants, from Brooklyn cheesecakes to Chicago deep-dish pizzas. Expect restaurant-quality food from top chefs—without leaving your kitchen. Subscribers can choose between a savory, sweet or mixed subscription to suit their preferences. While deliveries arrive monthly (typically around the middle of the month), you can select how many months to purchase upfront, making this an easy, flexible gift option. The main drawback is the lack of customization for dietary needs such as gluten-free, vegetarian or dairy-free diets. It’s best suited for adventurous eaters who can enjoy a wide range of foods, especially since each month’s delivery is a surprise.

Subscription length: 1, 6 or 12 months | Customizable: Selection of three box sizes | Shipping: Free in contiguous United States

What we love:

• Quiz to help find the best fit
• Snack varieties from around the world
• Three size tiers to choose from

Keep in mind:

• No way to customize for flavor preferences

This food subscription box lets you sample flavors from destinations like Mexico, Greece and Korea—no international flight required. Universal Yums ships a selection of imported snacks from around the globe each month, with a mix of sweet and savory items to keep things interesting. Subscribers can choose the Around the World Holiday Box, which includes snacks from an array of countries, such as watermelon cookies from Japan and beef Wellington–flavored chips from the United Kingdom. Alternatively, they can opt for a destination-themed box each month, with options like Italy, Thailand, Brazil and more—an easy way to check off food bucket-list spots. Each box comes with a booklet filled with trivia and games, and subscribers can upgrade to the Yum Yum Box or Super Yum Box for additional snacks, games and recipes.

Managing editor Emmy Favilla gifted Universal Yums to her husband for Christmas last year, and after liking it so much, kept it going for months afterward. “It’s always a good mix of savory and sweet snacks, often ones I’ve never seen before—even in my travels to said country!” she says. Commerce writer Alicia Betz also gifted this subscription to her father during the holiday season and got glowing feedback. “He especially liked trying different things with his grandson,” she says. “There were so many unique flavors that we’ve never tried before, so it was a fun experience.”

Subscription length: 3, 6 or 12 months | Customizable: No | Shipping: $10 per shipment

What we love:

• Artisanal array of all kinds of tinned fish
• Thoughtful accompaniments and recipe ideas
• Includes interesting background about the makers

Keep in mind:

• Accompaniments vary with each box

Tinned fish is having a moment in the food world, lauded for its conveniently packaged servings of protein, healthy fats and micronutrients. As more brands emerge in the product landscape, the Tinned Fish Club offers the most convenient way to sample a variety every month, from classic canned tuna and smoked salmon to pickled mussels and wild-caught sardines. Each package also comes with utensils and thoughtful accompaniments to enjoy with the seafood, like sauces, seasonings, crackers and more. 

After trying this food subscription for herself, updates writer Fran Sales was impressed by the thoughtful curation and array of options offered in each box. “It introduced me to cuisine I wouldn’t have tried or found otherwise as a foodie,” she says. She also loves that, in addition to the high-quality tins and accompaniments, each package comes with information about the story behind each product, plus recipe ideas to get inspired in the kitchen.

Subscription length: 3, 6 or 12 months | Customizable: Upgrade with crackers, prosciutto or cheese paper bags | Shipping: Free

What we love:

• Curated selection from expert cheesemongers
• Diverse variety to enjoy each month
• Ample packaging to ensure it arrives fresh

Keep in mind: 

• No customization options available

Murray’s Cheese is an iconic name among turophiles, known for both its flagship cheese shop in New York City and its online store, which ships more than 300 cheese varieties nationwide. If that sounds overwhelming, subscribing to one of Murray’s Cheese Clubs is an easy way to sample its expansive selection. The Globetrotter’s Cheese Club is ideal for those who love to travel and explore unique varieties from around the world. Each box includes three half-pound pieces of cheese sourced from different destinations, along with written guidance from cheese experts covering tasting notes and pairing suggestions. Subscribers can expect a diverse mix each month, ranging from French blue cheese to Spanish goat cheese and British cheddar. There’s also the option to add prosciutto or crackers to round out a cheese board. Beyond that, however, there’s no way to customize by size or cheese preference—blue cheese skeptics, take note.

Subscription length: Monthly | Customizable: Yes, with dietary restrictions and number of items | Shipping: Free

What we love:

• Delicious, high-quality baked goods
• Gluten-free and vegan options available
• Customizable selection in each box

Keep in mind:

• Options vary each month

Fans of baked goods—and carbs of all kinds—would revel in the joy of a Wildgrain subscription. This service ships high-quality, handmade bread loaves, pasta and pastries that arrive frozen and ready-to-bake. I’ve tested this service more than once, and each time I’ve been impressed with the quality of the sourdough, cookies and other treats that come with a subscription. Since each product arrives frozen, they taste bakery-fresh after 25 minutes (or less) in the oven, filling your home with delicious smells without any baking effort required.

This subscription model ships monthly, but users can skip or pause their account at any time. Each box can be curated to suit your passing preferences, with the option to fill four, six or 12 items in each package. Opt for several different varieties of bread, mix in a whole pizza or try out a seasonal addition like pumpkin spice cheesecake. There are even subscription options that are fully vegan or gluten-free, with plenty of diet-friendly goodies for each. (I’ve personally tried the gluten-free one, and every product was delicious.) Plus, there are add-ons like slow-churned French butter, cold-pressed olive oil and more to round out each box.

Keep in mind that some items are available on a rotating basis, which means they may not all be available to order every month. Also, there’s no way to pay for a closed-ended subscription, which could make this difficult for gifting.

Subscription length: 2, 4 or 8 weeks | Customizable: Yes | Shipping: Flat rate on orders $125+

What we love:

• Variety of meats to choose from
• Sustainably and humanely raised selection
• Curated boxes are great for gifting

Keep in mind:

• Some cuts and boxes tend to sell out

We crowned Porter Road as the best meat delivery service overall, and with good reason. It offers a wide variety of humanely raised meats sourced from United States pastures—from steak and pork to BBQ-ready sausage links. All of Porter Road’s meat selection comes from family farms and ranches that prioritize humane and sustainable practices. Plus, the subscription model is flexible; users don’t even have to start a subscription to receive a delivery of meat. If you do opt for a subscription, there are plenty of customization options, including adjustable frequency and add-ons to best match it to your lifestyle.

Curated boxes, like the Butcher’s Choice Box, Best Of Porter Road and Burger Box, make excellent gifts, either as a one-time shipment or short-term subscription. In addition to a standard list of products, some feature a rotating assortment that make each delivery exciting. Just keep in mind the limited supplies mean that sometimes certain cuts and selections are not available; as of the time of this writing, chicken selection is extremely limited.

Subscription length: 2, 4 or 6 weeks | Customizable: Yes | Shipping: Free

What we love:

• Tailored curation to help match your flavor preferences
• Wide variety of bottles to choose from
• Flexible subscription

Keep in mind:

• Minimal name brands offered

Whether you’re a devoted wine lover who always knows what to order at the bar or a newbie who wants to discover their favorite variety, a wine subscription service is worth trying. Firstleaf is our top pick for the best wine subscription, because it’s cost-effective, user-friendly and offers plenty of variety.

Upon signing up for a subscription, the website guides you through a quiz to record your wine preferences, including feedback on tasting notes like nuts, mushrooms and citrus. From there, a selection will be curated for you, based on expert guidance and other subscribers’ past ratings. You can even browse descriptions of each bottle, which include flavor profiles and pairing suggestions.

It’s easy to adjust selections and deliveries as needed, and your feedback with help curate future selections even further. If you ever receive a bottle you don’t like, you can reach out to the brand and they will refund you a credit.

Subscription length: 3, 6 or 12 months | Customizable: No | Shipping: Free

What we love:

• Array of fan-favorite, new and limited-edition chocolates
• Can plan your subscription to start at any month of the year
• Shipping costs are included

Keep in mind:

• Standard selection; no substitutions

It’s hard to have a bad day when a box of chocolates was just delivered to your door—especially when they come from a brand like Compartés. Known for its artisanal handcrafted chocolate bars with unique flavors like potato chip, cinnamon toast cereal and caramelized popcorn, this brand also offers a monthly subscription to get a surprise shipment of gourmet chocolate delivered every month.

Each package features a selection of Compartés chocolate bars, truffles and fruits, including new and limited edition flavors. Regardless of the subscription package they purchase, subscribers can choose to start the subscription at any month of the year, ensuring they receive the seasonal flavors available in that timeframe. Beyond that, there’s no way to customize the subscription—which means you can’t avoid white or dark chocolate varieties if one is your least favorite—you’ll have to commit to sampling all that Compartés has to offer that month.