Great food has the power to transport the senses. Close your eyes, slurp an icy-cold oyster, and suddenly you’re sitting outside of a seafood shack, the salty wind on your cheeks.
During this period of stay-at-home guidelines, you might not be able to dine at your favorite restaurants, but you can still enjoy some of California’s best flavors. Try a treat from one of the state’s culinary artisans, or dig in with a full-on meal. As restaurants adapt to delivery-only, many of the Golden State’s beloved eateries are shipping dishes all around the country for everyone to enjoy.
Take your taste buds on a trip to one of Los Angeles’ hottest brunch spots, Monterey’s seafood restaurants, or San Francisco’s award-winning pizza joints with these made-in-California meals mailed right to your door. No reservation necessary.
Editor’s note: Cliff House, mentioned below, closed permanently at the end of 2020.
Oysters from Hog Island Oyster Co.
The briny waters of Tomales Bay make for succulent oysters, best enjoyed on the half-shell. While Hog Island’s outposts are temporarily closed, you can order a box of fresh bivalves, along with a shucking knife and glove for the perfect stay-at-home happy hour.
Seascape Strawberry & Rose Geranium Jam from Sqirl
Scoring a slice of this L.A. eatery’s famous ricotta toast typically requires an hour-plus wait, but order a few jars of Sqirl’s most popular jam and you can make your own. Simply toast a thick slice of brioche, top with ricotta, slather on this heavenly fruit mixture, and devour immediately.
Cioppino from Phil’s Fish Market & Eatery
Dubbed one of the top beach restaurants in the world by BBC Travel, Phil’s has been serving up sustainable fish in Monterey’s Moss Landing for nearly 40 years. The cioppino highlights the Pacific’s best flavors with seven different types of seafood in a single bowl.
Chorizo Breakfast Burrito from Cofax
Potatoes slow-smoked in an industrial smoker, spicy chorizo, sharp cheddar, and not one but two house-made salsas on the side: L.A.’s Cofax serves the Platonic ideal of a breakfast burrito. Trust us, you can’t DIY this recipe. The only way to get it is shipped from the source.
Classic Cheese Pizza from Tony’s Napoletana
Some of the best pizza in the world can be found in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood. This restaurant’s pie won best pizza margherita at the World Pizza Cup in Naples, making chef Tony Gemignani the first-ever American to score the top prize. Get a three pack, because who would want just one?
French Dipped Sandwich from Philippe’s
One of the oldest restaurants in Southern California, Philippe’s also has the distinction of creating the French dip, invented when a roast beef sandwich serendipitously fell into a pan of jus. Get a box of six sandwiches, plus all the fixings and a bottle of the L.A.-based restaurant’s homemade mustard.
Bloody Mary from Cliff House
Sipping a bloody while watching the ocean roar from Cliff House’s panorama-style windows is a San Francisco experience worthy of your bucket list. Get as close as you can to the real thing with the restaurant’s classic mix.
Cookie Dough Jars from B Sweet Dessert Bar
A catering company-turned-food truck-turned popular dessert bar in Los Angeles, Chef Barb Batiste’s sweet little empire continues to flourish. One spoonful of her eggless cookie dough will show you why. Enjoy it delivered straight to your door—and straight out of the jar.
