CookUnity: Is This The Best Meal Service Out There This Year?

Let me start with a confession: I was a die-hard Factor75 fan for months. Their meals were convenient, healthy, and tasty—at least at first.

But after a while, the magic started to fade. The menu began to feel repetitive, and the excitement of opening my weekly box turned into a shrug of indifference.

I found myself scrolling through Instagram, bombarded by ads for ready-made meal delivery services that promised gourmet experiences but mostly looked… meh. I try to eat healthy and all, but as a person of Asian descent, chicken breast and broccoli was NOT what I wanted to eat on the regular.

That’s when I stumbled upon CookUnity.

What caught my eye? The fact that their meals are crafted by actual chefs—like, chefs I actually recognize from the restaurant scene.

As someone who loves food but doesn’t always have the time (or skills… or motivation) to whip up something restaurant-quality at home, this was a major selling point. The meal selection looked incredible, but I’ll admit, I was skeptical.

Would the portions be tiny? Would the flavors live up to the hype? And most importantly, would it be worth the cost?

Spoiler: The portions were not too small, and I’ve got a lot to say about my experience over the last five weeks. From the meals that blew my mind to the one snafu that almost made me cancel, here’s my honest, no-BS review of CookUnity.

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CookUnity Menu: What I Ate Over 4 Weeks

Over the course of 4 weeks, I ordered a total of 48 meals. Not all of them are pictured here, but I did take photos of some just to give you an idea of what the meals actually looked like.

Since I started working out twice a day during the time I started CookUnity (Orangetheory class + a 45 minute walk daily), I’ve had to eat more. With that said, in some of the meal pics, you’ll notice that I added extra food to my plate (beans, kale, small additions).

Japanese Nikkei Shrimp Tacos 

Surprisingly, this meal was much better than I had originally thought. Based on the reviews on the Cook Unity website, I thought that the dish would just be OK, but it turned out to be really delicious and satisfying. Plus, it comes with tons of shrimp. There were 8 shrimp in total, and I was able to have two shrimp tacos and then two left over for me to enjoy along with the rice and my leftover bell peppers.

I had some refried beans in my refrigerator, so I added these to my tacos and along with the cilantro crema sauce that was included, it was absolutely delightful. The shrimp were not dry at all, and the crema sauce really added a whole new dimension to the taco flavor. It felt like I was eating at an actual restaurant!

Would I get it again: Yes. 

Birria Enchiladas Divorciadas by Ruben Garcia

This was one of the highest-rated meals on CU, so I was intrigued. I imagined soggy tortillas (similar to what you’d get from a frozen enchilada from the supermarket), but OMG was I totally wrong.

This meal was so good that I ended up ordering it about four more times throughout my subscription. There were even two weeks where I ordered two units of it! My partner and I would each have one, and we absolutely loved it. It truly tasted like it came from a Mexican restaurant—honestly, I’d go as far as to say it was better than most Mexican restaurants.

NOTE: The meal usually comes with rice, but I saved the rice for a different meal and subbed in kale to lessen the amount of calories I was consuming for the day. The rice is so good, though.

Would I get it again: Yes. 

Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl With Shrimp

I got this meal because I had a similar version of it by Ruben Garcia on a previous week that was really good. The bowl that I had previously had plump shrimp and asparagus and a whole medley of other complex veggies along with tzatziki sauce.

I ordered this bowl, thinking it would taste somewhat similar because the Ruben Garcia bowl was not in stock, but I didn’t actually like this one that much.

The shrimp was a little drier than I would have liked, and they weren’t as plump or juicy as the other salad bowl I had. There was a lot of quinoa and some spinach, but it would’ve been nice to have a little bit more spinach and fewer grains/carbs. Overall, it was a little salty and I probably wouldn’t get it again.

Would I get it again: No.

Crispy Tilapia Over Greek Salad With Roasted Broccolini and Brown Rice

I’ve gotten this meal by Ruben Garcia multiple times because I’m absolutely obsessed with it. It’s essentially got Filet O’ Fish flavors but is way more elevated and healthy. Each time I’ve gotten it, the tilapia has been so tender and flavorful, and the fresh veggies with the tzatziki sauce on top make it THAT much better.

I love that it comes with brown rice and broccolini (makes it feel healthier even though it tastes nothing like a bland healthy meal). Whenever I see this on the Cook Unity menu, I make sure to get at least two! I think this was the second or third-ever CU meal I ate, and it really did wonders to solidify my enjoyment of CU meals.

Would I get it again: Yes.

Herb Roasted Salmon with Truffle Mash

This meal by Stacey Bareng was one of my “trying to be healthy” picks. My thoughts for this dish are that the Brussels sprouts are a little bit overcooked (soft), and the salmon seems a little tough for two minutes of warming. The flavors are good; the hints of herb-roasted sauce and butter are tasty, and you can definitely taste the truffle mashed potatoes.

Cook Unity has a lot of good meals, and this one was just OK, so there are definitely other meals that would be picked over this one.

Would I get it again: No. 

Mediterranean Seared Salmon and Cauliflower Lentil Mujadara

If you love Mediterranean spices, this is the meal for you! Before ordering this meal, I wasn’t exactly sure what mujadara was, but after trying Cook Unity’s version, I am a fan for life. It’s super flavorful with all the spices alone, but paired with the spicy za’atar chimichurri, it tasted that much better.

If I could buy this chimichurri sauce by the tub, I would! I think the little additions to the meal (such as the chimichurri sauce and the lemon wedge on the side) complemented all the flavors amazingly.

This is a great option if you’re looking for a fish-based protein. Because I tend to get beef and chicken-based meals a lot, this was a very refreshing choice.

Would I get it again: Yes.

Middle Eastern Marinated Chicken Shawarma

Overall, the dish was pretty good. The chicken was tender and tasted flavorful, plus it was chicken thigh which is always a plus in my book! It comes with a mayo-based sauce that was pretty light in taste and made the meal a bit creamier.

I almost wish it came with a slightly brighter sauce, but it was fine as is. 

Would I get it again: Yes. 

Grilled Mojo De Ajo Flank Steak

This one looked so promising! But sadly, it was a miss for me. The sauce was good, but I found the steak to be a little too tough for my liking. (But also, through CU, I think I’ve realized that I just don’t like the texture of flank steak.)

The bigger problem? All of the veggies, including the kale, were way too watery. Honestly, I had never tasted kale so wet before.

It did come with a good amount of steak though, which is a plus for heavy lift days where more protein is needed. 

Would I get it again: No. 

Lemon Baked Tilapia with Cajun Cream Sauce & Farro Salad 

Again, another great tilapia-based dish by Ruben Garcia. Over the course of the 4 weeks I’ve been subscribed to CookUnity, the tilapia meals are always the ones I reach for first! The fish was tender, the Cajun cream sauce was so unique tasting, and the fresh arugula balanced out the meal so well. 

I was also very surprised by the farro salad. Instead of being a portion of boring plain farro, it was actually seasoned very well and contained pieces of mushroom in it. This just shows me that the CU chefs care about even side dishes and do not skimp on flavor thoughtfulness!

Would I get it again: Yes. 

Korean Flank Steak Rice Bowl (Steak Doep Bap)

This one is the one exception to my dislike of CookUnity flank steaks. Every time it’s been offered on the menu, I’ve ordered it.

I love the simplicity of the steak over rice and the yummy teriyaki sauce. There’s not much else to say, it’s simple and delightful!

Would I get it again: Yes. 

Thai Panang Curry with Beef by Stacy Bareng

This was the first-ever CookUnity meal I ate, and it completely blew me away. After getting accustomed to Factor75 flavors and moving to something as flavorful and fragrant as a Thai coconut-based curry, it was a 180-degree flavor change for my tastebuds.

This meal also freezes pretty well, so I’ve ordered it a few more times and stowed them away in the freezer as my emergency meals.

Would I get it again: Yes. 

Chicken Teriyaki with Charred Broccolini by Esther Choi

This one is a family favorite! I think throughout the course of the 4 weeks I was subscribed to CU, I ordered a total of 5 units of this one.

You can actually taste the grill taste–even though it’s a microwaved meal. Insane!

Would I get it again: Yes. 

My Takeaway: The chicken, seafood, and fish dishes were significantly better than steak meals (with the exception of Korean ones I’ve tried which are usually pretty tender). 

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The Good: When CookUnity Hits, It Really Hits

Let’s start with the highlights because, honestly, there were moments when I felt like I was eating at a Michelin-starred restaurant in my pajamas.

Chicken and seafood dishes were great

One of the first things I noticed was how consistently amazing the chicken, seafood (especially shrimp), and fish dishes were.

Unlike some meal kits where proteins can end up dry or rubbery, CookUnity’s were usually tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection. I never had to struggle through a tough piece of chicken—it was all top-notch. There were some instances I encountered tougher shrimp and fish dishes, but they were few and far between.

I loved the ethnic flavors

The Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Korean meals deserve a standing ovation. These cuisines are hard to find done well in meal kits, but CookUnity nailed them. The flavors were complex, authentic, and downright delicious.

Whether it was a fragrant shawarma bowl, a steak bowl, or a mujadara, I was impressed every time.

The sauces and accoutrements elevated the meals

And let’s talk about the sauces. The sauces! They were often the star of the show, adding layers of flavor that elevated the entire dish.

From zesty chimichurri to rich cilantro crema, the sauces were so good that I found myself scraping the container to get every last drop. Honestly, they made the meal most of the time.

A special shoutout to Chef Ruben Garcia—his dishes were some of my absolute favorites. Every meal I tried from him was a masterpiece, with bold flavors and creative combinations that kept me coming back for more. If you see his name on the menu, make sure to add it to your box! There wasn’t a single Ruben Garcia meal I didn’t enjoy.

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The Not-So-Good: A Few Misses and One Big Snafu

Steak dishes were meh

Now, let’s keep it real: not every meal was a home run. The steak dishes, in particular, were mostly meh. The cuts were often tough and chewy, which I guess is the risk you run with reheating steak in a microwave. It’s not exactly a medium-rare experience, and it left me wishing I’d stuck with the chicken or seafood options instead.

More veggies would have been nice

For the non-salad meals, I think the portions are really good, but it would have been nice to have some more vegetables on the side.

Here’s my personal hack: What I’ve done over the course of the last few deliveries that I’ve gotten is make extra vegetables so that I could pair along with my CookUnity meals. I’ll buy a big bag of chopped kale or broccoli and prepare that in my own way. I’ll stick it in the fridge until I’m ready to eat a CU meal and then heat up a serving of my cooked vegetables to pair with my meal. I find that this helps with fullness and also getting adequate nutrients in my diet.

Customer service could be better

The real hiccup came with a delivery snafu that was partly my fault—but also highlighted some major customer service issues.

Here’s what happened: I accidentally entered the wrong address (just one number off!) and didn’t realize it until the delivery guy texted me. Unfortunately, I was in the middle of a workout and didn’t see the text until 20 minutes later. I texted him back as soon as I could, but by then, it was too late. No response.

I immediately reached out to CookUnity’s customer service via email to explain the situation and ask if my meals could be delivered later that day, or even on a different day (since they offer multiple delivery days, Sunday through Wednesday). Cue the crickets.

I followed up two more times throughout the week, but I received zero response. No acknowledgment, no updates, no refund—just radio silence.

It wasn’t until a full week later that I finally heard back. By then, I was beyond frustrated. To their credit, once they did respond, they resolved the issue by refunding the undelivered meals and re-crediting my account with the coupon I had originally used.

I reordered with the correct address, and my meals arrived without a hitch the second time around.

Still, the experience left a sour taste in my mouth. Yes, I messed up by entering the wrong address, but the complete lack of communication from customer service for an entire week was unacceptable. A simple response within 24 hours would’ve gone a long way.

Oh, and one more thing: the live chat button on their website was completely fake at the time of writing. I clicked it multiple times, expecting to connect with someone, but nothing happened. If CookUnity wants to keep customers happy, they need to fix this ASAP.

Meals delivery packaging could be better

The packaging could definitely use some improvement. When I ordered 16 meals, I only received 2 ice packs, and for 8 meals, it was just 1 ice pack. The meals come in a reflective-lined tote bag, which feels less insulated compared to the cardboard boxes lined with thick insulation that most other meal delivery services use.

While this wasn’t a huge issue for me since I ordered during the winter in California (where the weather is mild), I can see this being a potential problem for people in hotter parts of the country during the summer.

More ice packs or better insulation would go a long way in keeping the meals fresh and safe.

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My Final Thoughts: Would I Recommend CookUnity?

CookUnity is a fantastic option for foodies who want restaurant-quality meals without leaving their houses. The pros definitely outweigh the cons for me, but it’s not without its flaws.

Yes, the meals are on the pricier side (actually, it’s comparable to other ready-made meal services), but here’s a tip: if you try to cancel or pause your subscription, they often offer 35% to 40% off your next 4 boxes. This means you won’t be paying full price for a while, which makes it much more affordable to enjoy chef-crafted meals.

If you’re okay with the price and have the ability to stow your meals in the fridge immediately upon delivery, it’s a great way to spice up your meal routine. Just keep an eye on that packaging during the summer months!

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. It’s FAR better than any other major meal service I’ve tried thus far! If you’re curious, give it a try and see if it works for you. After all, life’s too short for boring food.

Just make sure you don’t goof up and enter the wrong address like I did. And if you can avoid needing to chat with customer service, you’ll be golden.

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