Private Chef in San Mateo
Rent one of our 244 private chefs for a unique dining experience. You choose the menu, and the cleanup is included.





















A personal chef for any occasion in San Mateo
Since the first private chef joined Take a Chef in San Mateo in April 2017, more than 244 Private Chefs have joined our platform in San Mateo and offered their services as private chefs anywhere in San Mateo.
Starting in 2017, 2,563 guests have already enjoyed a chef in San Mateo. To book your chef in San Mateo, just share your event details in our form. Receive proposals from top chefs and chat with them until you find your match.
Up until today, our chefs have shared 1,084 customized menu proposals, sending a total of 5,507 messages to their guests, who rated their experience with an average score of 4.62 out of 5.
Since the first dinner provided by Take a Chef, 2,563 guests have enjoyed unique experiences with no hassle. Our guests in San Mateo usually book menus around 26,020 USD per person, including 4.17 courses, sharing an average of 4.01 messages with their chefs. If you've never had a chef at home but want to add an extra spice to your next celebration, just rent a chef in San Mateo.












How it works
Personalize your request
Share with us the details of your dream meal, including type of cuisine, preferences, and intolerances.
Receive menu proposals
Our chefs will design menus based solely on your wants and needs.
Get chatty with your chefs
Don't be shy about exchanging some messages with your chefs until your perfect menu is ready!
Book your experience
Once you are happy with your choice, submit your payment to secure your experience.
Enjoy!
All there is left to do is count down the days till your culinary experience begins!
244 Private Chefs in San Mateo
Get to know more about our top rated Private Chefs in San Mateo












More than 2,500 guests have already enjoyed the experience
4 Chef
The guests in San Mateo have scored the experience with their Private Chef with a 4.
4.67 Food quality
The quality of the menus cooked by our Private Chefs in San Mateo received an average score of 4.67.
4.75 Presentation
Not only taste counts! The presentation of our private chefs' dishes has received a 4.75 average score.
4.92 Cleaningness
The cleanup of the kitchen and dining area in San Mateo has been scored with a 4.92 on average.
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1,084 menus personalized by our Private Chefs in San Mateo
Every occasion is unique - make sure you have the right chef and menu for it!








Catch of the day ceviche avocado roll with passion fruit sauce, cassava chips
Shrimp aguachile with totopos
Cochinita pibil tacos(slow cooked pork with achiote marinade) pickled onions
Sweet plantain empanadas filled with cheese
Black rice , diabla shrimp or oyster mushrooms ( spicy), spicy cilantro sauce
Shrimp skewers with passion fruit sauce,yuca fries and cilantro mayo
Patacon(fried green plantain) with guacamole,ribeye steak with chipotle compound butter
Yuca croquettes filled with curry chicken and pejibaye sauce
Mole chicken, heart of palm rice and pickle onions
Catch of the day wrapped with hoja santa, roasted potatoes,pejibaye sauce
Lemon sole wrapped with avocado,cilantro beurre blanc sauce,roasted pumpkin
Pork belly,tamarind jus,cauliflower purée,glazed carrots
Ribeye steak,onion gravy,potato pillows,grill asparagus
Chocolate mousse,passion fruit coulis,cookie crumble
Piña colada panna cotta,coconut tuile,pineapple compote
Sweet plantain tart with vanilla ice cream
Dulce de leche flan with dark chocolate tuile
3 leches cake,baked meringue,cocoa powder
-cucumber and crab canapé
Coconut shrimp skewers with sweet tropical sauce
Lobster dip with crispy patacones
Cured macarel fish with toasts
Crispy fish chicharrones
Chicken or shrimp home made cesar salad
Fresh shrimps carpaccio with lemon dressing
Bbq fish collars with charred chimichurri
Green mango and fish ceviche
Butter poach snook fish with parsnip
Lobster bisque with citric foam
Lobster in caribean sauce
Crispy mahi mahi with cilantro sauce
Grilled grouper with fresh avocado pico de gallo
Pasta frutti di mare
Arroz melozo estilo vasco con mariscos
Cheese flan with nuts caramel
Tropical fruit cheese cake
Tarta de chocolate con chantily de limon y crumble
Creole fried shrimps with dipping sauce
Mix seafood crostini
Fresh tuna tataki with avocado and jalapeño salsa
Tempura fish skewer with imagine sauce
Shrimp corn dog with tartar sauce
Lobster bisque with lobster chunks
Vuelve a la vida tropical ceviche
Lobster and shrimp cake with miami alioli
Seafood and butternut squash soup
Crispy fresh red snapper with cilantro emulsion
Butternut squash and shrimp risotto
Lobster with butter sauce
Snook fish with roast corn relish
Crispy skin catch of the day with latin style gremolata
Lemon pie with whipping cream
Flambee pineapple with ice cream
Double chocolate fudge brownie
Crema catalana with local fruits and crispy bites
Costa rican ceviche with peruvian yellow chili fresh fish marinated in lime juice, red onions, cilantro, and pineapple, with a touch of peruvian yellow chili for a smooth, spicy kick, served with green plantain chi
Beef empanadas with tamarind and ají panca sauce savory beef empanadas filled with spiced meat, olives, and raisins, served with a tamarind and ají panca sauce that balances sweet and spicy flavors
Limeña causa with shrimp and mango pico de gallo traditional peruvian causa filled with fresh shrimp, accompanied by a fresh costa rican pico de gallo made with mango, cilantro, and lime
Quinoa salad with tropical fruits and passion fruit vinaigrette chilled quinoa combined with mango, papaya, and avocado, dressed with a tangy passion fruit vinaigrette and a hint of yellow chili to enhance the flavors
Tuna tartare with tamarind and lime from pica fresh tuna tartare, topped with a sweet tamarind and lime dressing from costa rica’s pica region, garnished with fresh scallions and cilantro
White fish tartare with tiger's milk and costa rican citrus fresh white fish marinated in peruvian tiger's milk with costa rican orange and lime, red onions, and cilantro, served with sweet potato chips
Pollo al ajillo with costa rican ceviche and yuca fritters garlic marinated chicken, grilled to perfection, served with a fresh costa rican ceviche and crispy yuca fritters for a perfect balance of flavors
Ceviche de camarones with spicy aji panca sauce and costa rican fried rice a refreshing shrimp ceviche made with lime and cilantro, topped with a smoky and spicy peruvian aji panca sauce, and served alongside fried rice with costa rican flair
Costillas de cerdo with peruvian aji amarillo sauce and fried yuca succulent pork ribs glazed with a flavorful peruvian ají amarillo sauce, served with crispy fried yuca and a side of pickled red onions
Pescado a la parrilla with costa rican mango salsa and peruvian potatoes grilled fish, seasoned with peruvian herbs and spices, topped with a refreshing costa rican mango salsa and served with roasted peruvian potatoes
Peruvian-style grilled octopus with costa rican coconut rice tender grilled octopus marinated in a blend of peruvian spices, served with aromatic costa rican coconut rice and a fresh side of sautéed vegetables
Costa rican chocolate mousse with peruvian quinoa crisp a smooth, velvety chocolate mousse made with high-quality costa rican cocoa, paired with crispy quinoa from peru for a delightful contrast of textures
Peruvian alfajores with costa rican coffee ganache soft shortbread cookies filled with a rich costa rican coffee-infused ganache, dusted with powdered sugar for a sweet, flavorful bite
Chocoteja with tico-style dulce de leche traditional peruvian chocoteja (chocolate-filled with caramelized nuts and fruits) infused with costa rican dulce de leche for a rich, smooth experience
Peruvian maracuya meringue with costa rican chocolate shavings a light, airy meringue flavored with peruvian maracuya (passion fruit), topped with costa rican chocolate shavings for a rich and aromatic contrast
Ceviche: made with fresh fish, seafood, or a mix, marinated in lime juice, onions, cilantro, and spices. it's fresh and light
Patacones: fried green plantain slices that are smashed. they are served with sauce or mashed beans, pico de gallo and guacamole
Fried yuca: yuca cut into pieces and fried, served with a sauce or just salted. it's a simple and tasty option
Fried snapper (pargo frito): a whole fried fish, very popular along costa rica’s coasts, usually served with rice and salad
Chifrijo: a dish made of rice, beans, fried pork (chicharrón), pico de gallo, and often accompanied by tortillas
Rice with seafood (arroz con mariscos): rice cooked with fresh seafood like shrimp, mussels, and squid. it’s a flavorful dish, especially popular in coastal regions
Steak in sauce (bistec en salsa): beef steak cooked in a sauce made with onions, bell peppers, and spices, typically served with rice, beans, or salad
Arroz con leche: a creamy dessert made with rice, milk, sugar, and cinnamon
Churros: often sold at fairs or by street vendors, costa rican churros are fried dough sticks sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon
Flan de leche: a creamy custard dessert made with milk, eggs, sugar, and a touch of vanilla. it’s smooth and delicious
Buñuelos: fried dough balls soaked in sugar syrup. they’re crispy on the outside and soft on the inside
Bruschetta al pomodoro (bruschetta with tomato and basil)
Insalata caprese (caprese salad with mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil)
Frittata di zucchine (zucchini frittata)
Risotto ai funghi (mushroom risotto) guarniciones: parmigiano reggiano (grated parmesan) y insalata verde (green salad)
Pollo alla cacciatora (chicken cacciatore) guarniciones: patate al rosmarino (rosemary roasted potatoes) y verdure grigliate (grilled vegetables)
Pasta alla norma (pasta with eggplant, tomato, and ricotta salata)
Frittura di pesce (fried mixed fish) guarniciones: riso pilaf (pilaf rice) y insalata di cetrioli (cucumber salad)
Tiramisu (tiramisu)
Panna cotta con frutti di bosco (panna cotta with berries)
Ricotta e pere (ricotta cheese with pears)
Crispy shrimps empanadas
Octopus chicharrones with cilantro sauce
Cured mackerel fish with pumping concentrate
Crispy rice and yellow fin tuna tarrtar
Mahi mahi green ceviche
Octopus bruschetta with diabla alioli
Lobster bisque with parsley oil a and brioche crisps
Shrimp tiradito with peach palm leche de tigre
Shrimp croquette with lizano sauce alioli and microsprouts
Lobster and grapefruit salad
Snook fish grilled collars with crispy chilli oil (recommended dish)
White wine sauted clams
Banana leaf baked lobster tail with coconut nada curry sauce
Boullavaise(seafood french stew)
Mix sseafood and corn meloso(guacho rice) rice
Nuts crusted grouper with lemon saffron sauce
Crispy skin snook with golden zuchini veloute
Small seafood grill different local seafood grilled with sides)@
Pumpking pie
Lemon pie with whipping cream
Tempura banana with french vanilla ice cream
Rum infused tres leches
Tico-peruvian ceviche fresh fish ceviche with the traditional peruvian touch of yellow chili and lime, paired with red onions, cilantro, and crispy fried yuca, topped with a hint of costa rican spicy chili
Tostones with rocoto sauce and tico guacamole crunchy tostones served with a spicy rocoto sauce from peru and creamy costa rican guacamole with fresh cilantro
Chicken anticuchos with tamarind sauce skewers of chicken marinated in panca chili, served with a costa rican tamarind sauce that balances the sweetness and heat
Quinoa salad with tropical fruits a fresh salad featuring quinoa, mango, papaya, and avocado, dressed in a passion fruit and cilantro vinaigrette
Seafood soup with coconut broth and dried fish a costa rican seafood soup with coconut broth, combined with peruvian dried fish, offering a blend of exotic and traditional flavors
Peruvian-style arroz con pollo with costa rican cilantro sauce a delicious arroz con pollo marinated with yellow chili and cumin, served with a fresh cilantro and lime sauce in the costa rican style
Lomo saltado with plantain puree and tamarind sauce a classic peruvian lomo saltado, with juicy pieces of beef stir-fried with onions and tomatoes, accompanied by a smooth plantain puree and a sweet costa rican tamarind sauce
Grilled fish with passion fruit sauce and yuca fries fresh grilled fish served with an exotic peruvian passion fruit sauce and crispy costa rican yuca fries
Chifrijo with shrimp-stuffed causa and rocoto sauce a fusion of the traditional costa rican chifrijo and the peruvian causa, filled with fresh shrimp and topped with a spicy rocoto sauce for the perfect balance of flavors
Pork ribs with cane honey and ají panca sauce glazed pork ribs with cane honey and served with a peruvian ají panca sauce, paired with black bean rice and a cabbage salad
Grilled shrimp with garlic mojo and corn-stuffed potatoes fresh grilled shrimp with costa rican-style garlic mojo, served with potatoes stuffed with peruvian choclo (corn) and fresh herbs
Peruvian-style seafood rice with costa rican ceviche peruvian-style seafood rice, bursting with bold flavors from yellow chili and cilantro, served alongside fresh costa rican ceviche with pineapple and avocado
Tres leches cake with peruvian and moist tres leches cake, soaked in a creamy blend of three milks, topped with a smooth and sauce for a delightful twist
Coconut flan with passion fruit syrup creamy coconut flan, infused with a subtle tropical flavor, drizzled with a refreshing passion fruit syrup to add a citrusy and tangy contrast
Tropical fruit tart with pisco pastry cream a delicate tart filled with a smooth, peruvian-style pisco pastry cream and topped with a variety of fresh tropical fruits like papaya, mango, and passion fruit
Peruvian rice pudding with costa rican rum and raisins a creamy peruvian arroz con leche, spiced with cinnamon and clove, enriched with a touch of costa rican rum and raisins for added depth and flavor
Personalize your menu
A romantic dinner or a gathering of friends. Traditional dishes or exotic flavours. A fine dining experience or a family-style meal. Every private chef experience is unique! Submit your request and personalize yours.








Frequently asked questions
Below, you can find the most common questions about private chef services in San Mateo.
What does a private chef service include in San Mateo?
A private chef service includes everything necessary to enjoy a personalized dining experience at home. This includes:
- Customization of a menu based on your preferences;
- Purchase of ingredients;
- Mise en place (preparation of ingredients) before arrival;
- Preparation of the menu at your home;
- Complete table service;
- Set up and cleaning of the kitchen and used spaces.
Please note that tableware and glassware are not included. Gratuity is entirely at your discretion.
How much does a private chef cost in San Mateo?
The price of renting a chef in San Mateo can vary depending on the specifics, but smaller groups tend to have a slightly different price per person compared to larger gatherings.
Booking prices range from 15,764 USD to 73,471 USD. For groups of 13 people or more, the price is 15,764 USD per person. For groups of 7 to 12 people, the cost is 37,654 USD per person. For groups of 3 to 6 people, the rate is 48,971 USD per person, and for 2 people, the price is 73,471 USD per person.
Seasonal ingredients, your location, and how soon you book also affect the final price. If you're interested in getting free quotes with no obligation, fill out our form and let the best chefs near you send unique proposals for your event.
How can I hire a private chef in San Mateo?
Booking is easy! Just tell us the date of your event, number of guests, dietary preferences and any allergies, and a few details about your kitchen. Within a few hours, you'll receive customized menus from qualified chefs. Each chef's profile will include their experience, reviews, and photos of their dishes.
Feel free to chat directly with the chefs through our platform. Ask them to modify menus, discuss pricing, or get answers to any questions you might have. Once you've found the perfect chef and menu, finalize your reservation online. We'll then provide the chef's contact information to confirm any final details.
How can I find a private chef near me?
There are currently 244 chefs available in San Mateo. Fill out a form specifying your needs and the date. Take a Chef will connect you with the best available chefs in San Mateo who will send you their menu proposals. You can then choose the chef and menu that suits you best.
Is there a maximum number of guests for a private chef service?
While there's no strict limit on guest count, private chef experiences are designed to create a more intimate atmosphere, perfect for gatherings of friends and family. Since most homes have limited space to accommodate large groups, parties typically don't exceed 15 people.
Does the chef cook at my house?
Yes, the chef always prepares the menu at your home for a more personalized experience. However, some prep work might be done beforehand for complex dishes.
Can I cook along with the chef?
Absolutely! Many guests are passionate about food and relish the chance to learn from the chef. You can pick up new kitchen skills and get a behind-the-scenes look at each dish on the menu. Feel free to jump in and cook alongside the chef for a truly interactive experience!
Are the ingredients fresh?
Yes, they're 100% fresh. Unlike restaurants with pre-made dishes, private chefs prioritize using the freshest ingredients possible. This is because the chef creates a customized menu specifically for you, then goes out and sources the finest ingredients to bring your chosen dishes to life.
Are drinks included in the personal chef service?
Drinks are not typically included, but you can discuss adding them to the menu proposal with the chef.
How much should I tip my private chef in San Mateo?
Tipping for private chefs is entirely at your discretion. Our goal is for you to have an unforgettable experience, and the chef always appreciates a nice tip. However, the decision and amount are completely up to you.
Key information about our chefs in San Mateo
Discover more details about our private chefs and their services.
The average age of our private chefs in San Mateo
Percentage of our women chefs in San Mateo.
The average wait time from submitting the request and receiving the first menu.
Our very first private chef service in San Mateo.
Percentage of services with kids in San Mateo.
Maximum number of bookings for a personal chef by a single client in San Mateo.
Increase in the number of bookings for a chef from last year in San Mateo.
Languages spoken by our personal chefs in San Mateo.
Percentage of guests that hired a chef more than once.
Average number of days booked for multiple services at home with a private chef.
Photos uploaded to the platform by our private chefs in San Mateo.
Average timeframe from sending the request to booking.
How many chef services are booked in San Mateo each month?
Private chef reservations can vary seasonally depending on the destination. In San Mateo, for example, demand often increases during special dates like Valentine's Day or Mother's Day, so it's best to book in advance.
If you're wondering about the best time to hire a chef, any month is perfect for enjoying a private chef. Just keep in mind that prices may vary, especially for last-minute bookings. So, don't wait—book your chef early to secure your unique dining experience in San Mateo.
Cost of a private chef in San Mateo
The cost of hiring a private chef in San Mateo can vary based on several factors, including the number of people in your group or seasonality. Larger groups tend to have a different average rate per person compared to smaller groups that hire a chef:
Booking prices range from 15,764 USD to 73,471 USD per person.
For 13 people or more: 15,764 USD
For 7 to 12 people: 37,654 USD
For 3 to 6 people: 48,971 USD
For 2 people: 73,471 USD.
Additionally, prices can fluctuate depending on the time of year, location, and how soon you book your personal chef. If you want to get free quotes, just fill out our form and receive tailored proposals for your event. No committment at all.
Private chefs registrations
After many years of offering our services, we are lucky to have a fantastic team of chefs that keeps growing in San Mateo!
2 personal chefs register with us every month. Our verification team reviews these new chef profiles daily to categorize them, allowing you to discover incredible new chefs every month.
What is the most reserved type of cuisine in San Mateo?
We mainly offer six types of cuisine in San Mateo: Mediterranean, Italian, French, Japanese, Mexican, and surprise. The type of cuisine with the highest number of bookings is the Surprise, but you can have anything you want (our surprise menu will cover that!).
Beyond these six types of cuisine, our private chefs personalize diverse menus for their clients every day, adjusting every detail to find the perfect menu for every occasion and every group. Our private chefs can accommodate any allergy or dietary restriction and suggest other cuisines or fusion dishes. Submit your request and hire a chef in San Mateo!






Talk to our chefs in San Mateo
Each of our chefs is one-of-a-kind, with professional culinary training and years of experience in diverse restaurants. Craving Italian pasta, Spanish paella, or traditional sushi in San Mateo? You’ll get it. Tell us about your event in San Mateo, and discover the best chefs who will customize every detail of your experience.










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