Find a gourmet chef in your area

Find a gourmet chef in your area

Find a gourmet chef in your area

Confirm your location to see quality pros near you.

Zip code

Gourmet chefs near San Diego, CA

Top pros for your project

These pros consistently receive high praise in customer reviews.These popular pros are highly sought after for their quality and expertise.These pros recognize that your time is important, and are the fastest to respond to requests.These highly recommended pros are experts, ready to help with your project.

These pros consistently receive high praise in customer reviews.These popular pros are highly sought after for their quality and expertise.These pros recognize that your time is important, and are the fastest to respond to requests.These highly recommended pros are experts, ready to help with your project.

Avatar for NORR Kitchen, Craft Bar, & Premium Event Planning
Avatar for NORR Kitchen, Craft Bar, & Premium Event Planning
2.
NORR Kitchen, Craft Bar, & Premium Event Planning
2.
NORR Kitchen, Craft Bar, & Premium Event Planning

Excellent 4.9

(48)

Excellent 4.9

(48)

Personal Chef

  • 83 hires on Thumbtack
  • 4 similar jobs done near you
  • 83 hires on Thumbtack
  • 4 similar jobs done near you
Melinda H. says, "NOR kitchen provided a private chef experience for my sister’s bachelorette at our AirBnb. I cannot say enough good things about Christiann and NOR kitchen. From the first interaction, Christiann was enthusiastic about my project and transparent about pricing. There were plenty of menu options to choose from and everything they served was exceptional. The bride said “best broccoli I have ever had!” NOR kitchen was more than just great food though, they provided a relaxing, fun experience for guests with paired cocktails and table service. They even deep cleaned the kitchen when they left! I was especially impressed at their professionalism. The oven at the AirBnb wouldn’t work and they problem solved the issue without our help so we could relax. 10/10 unforgettable! Thank you Christiann and team!"See more

$85/person

Starting price

$85/person

Starting price

Melinda H. says, "NOR kitchen provided a private chef experience for my sister’s bachelorette at our AirBnb. I cannot say enough good things about Christiann and NOR kitchen. From the first interaction, Christiann was enthusiastic about my project and transparent about pricing. There were plenty of menu options to choose from and everything they served was exceptional. The bride said “best broccoli I have ever had!” NOR kitchen was more than just great food though, they provided a relaxing, fun experience for guests with paired cocktails and table service. They even deep cleaned the kitchen when they left! I was especially impressed at their professionalism. The oven at the AirBnb wouldn’t work and they problem solved the issue without our help so we could relax. 10/10 unforgettable! Thank you Christiann and team!"
Avatar for Chef Kirsten's Personal Chef Service
Avatar for Chef Kirsten's Personal Chef Service
7.
Chef Kirsten's Personal Chef Service
7.
Chef Kirsten's Personal Chef Service

5.0

(3)

5.0

(3)

Personal Chef

  • 18 hires on Thumbtack
  • 3 similar jobs done near you
  • 18 hires on Thumbtack
  • 3 similar jobs done near you
Jordan C. says, "Kirsten has been an incredible chef for our very busy family. Her service has transformed our evenings from rushing around and hoping to find some store-bought, packaged meal in the freezer to "cook" into evenings where we still rush around but now easily pop a healthy, delicious meal into the oven or microwave! It really has lowered our stress and lets us enjoy our evenings with our 3 young children - all of whom love Chef Kirsten's meals! (Seriously, is there any bigger compliment than a 4-year-old enjoying his dinner EVERY night?) Kirsten has been very receptive to feedback and has introduced us to a variety of foods we've never had before. She also accommodates different preferences - making spicy and non-spicy versions of certain meals to please everyone in the family. Each week, she emails the menu in advance so we can customize accordingly, and leaves clear instructions for how to reheat each meal. We're very happy to have found her and would recommend her to anyone! "See more

$59/person

Starting price

$59/person

Starting price

Jordan C. says, "Kirsten has been an incredible chef for our very busy family. Her service has transformed our evenings from rushing around and hoping to find some store-bought, packaged meal in the freezer to "cook" into evenings where we still rush around but now easily pop a healthy, delicious meal into the oven or microwave! It really has lowered our stress and lets us enjoy our evenings with our 3 young children - all of whom love Chef Kirsten's meals! (Seriously, is there any bigger compliment than a 4-year-old enjoying his dinner EVERY night?) Kirsten has been very receptive to feedback and has introduced us to a variety of foods we've never had before. She also accommodates different preferences - making spicy and non-spicy versions of certain meals to please everyone in the family. Each week, she emails the menu in advance so we can customize accordingly, and leaves clear instructions for how to reheat each meal. We're very happy to have found her and would recommend her to anyone! "
Check out some related services

See what else pros on Thumbtack offer—these might help you find specialty services or related jobs.

FAQs

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

Hiring a personal chef usually costs anywhere from $40-$100 or more per person. Request free cost estimates from personal chefs in your area so you’ll know exactly how much it will cost to hire one for your needs. For an accurate quote, be sure to let the chefs know the number of people they’ll need to feed, what you’d like on the menu and other relevant details. 

To learn more about the factors that impact the cost to hire a personal or private home chef, read our cost guide.

You can find local personal chefs by searching on Thumbtack. Once you enter in your details (how many guests the chef needs to feed, the date, your zip code, etc.), you’ll see a list of chefs who fit your needs.

The main difference between a personal chef and a private chef boils down to their clients. A personal chef typically prepares meals for multiple clients or households, whereas a private chef will usually work full time for one client or household. Both types of chefs can shop for your ingredients and prepare meals for formal events. 

Personal chefs typically have multiple clients, and they create customized meal plans for those clients. They’ll discuss your dietary needs, create menus, shop for ingredients and prepare the meals. Some personal chefs may also prepare a meal for a special event. They might even offer cooking lessons. 

private chef is usually employed by one household or client, and they work full time for that client. They are in charge of preparing all the meals for the day. Private chefs often cook fresh meals and prepare snacks throughout the day. 

To hire a personal chef, start by searching on Thumbtack. Here, you’ll find a list of top-rated personal chefs in your area. Read the chefs’ customer reviews and profiles so you can learn more about their specialties, quality of work, reputation and professionalism. 

Before you hire a personal chef, ask them a few questions about their process, skills, references and prices. Request price quotes from at least three chefs so you can hire one who’s great at what they do and offers reasonable prices.

There are 219 five star Gourmet Chefs in San Diego, CA on Thumbtack.

Why hire professionals on Thumbtack?
Free to use

You never pay to use Thumbtack: Get cost estimates, contact pros, and even book the job—all for no cost.

Compare prices side-by-side

You’ll know how much your project costs even before booking a pro.

Hire with confidence

With access to 1M+ customer reviews and the pros’ work history, you’ll have all the info you need to make a hire.