FAQs
Contact UsViva Chefs connects you with skilled personal chefs who cook fresh, homemade meals right in your kitchen. Whether you need weekly meal prep or occasional cooking help, our chefs create delicious, customized meals for your family.
- Find a Chef – Browse through our network of experienced, background-checked chefs.
- Send a Request – Make a booking request and confirm your appointment.
- Get Ready – Select from the chef's menu, download your grocery list, and have the ingredients ready.
- Enjoy Your Meals – The chef cooks everything in your kitchen, so you get fresh, home-cooked meals without the hassle.
We are currently serving all counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Each chef sets their own pricing, which is listed on their profile. The pricing is for the entire visit, not per hour. Please refer to our How It Works page for more details, or contact customer support if you have any questions.
Our chefs offer a variety of cuisines and can tailor meals to your preferences, including vegetarian, keto, Whole30, and family-friendly options. You can browse their menus before booking and even request specific dishes.
By default, customers handle their own grocery shopping using the grocery list feature in the Viva Chefs app, which clearly shows all the ingredients and quantities needed for the selected dishes.
Some chefs also offer grocery pickup as an additional service. If a chef offers this, it will be listed on their profile. Customers can select grocery pickup while placing the order, or choose it later after discussing with the chef. For grocery pickup, there is:
• A grocery pickup fee charged by Viva Chefs
• The grocery bill itself, which will be charged separately
When grocery pickup is selected, your chef will shop for all the required ingredients based on your menu selections.
Tipping is optional. Our service is designed to be simple and hassle-free, with no expectation of tips. That said, if you’d like to show extra appreciation, you can now add a tip directly through the app, and 100% of it goes to your chef.
Simply browse available chefs, check their menus and reviews, and send a booking request through our app. The chef will confirm your request, and you're all set.
No, there's no subscription required. You can book chefs as needed—whether it's for a one-time meal prep session or a recurring service.
Yes! Many customers book weekly or bi-weekly meal prep sessions with their favorite chefs. You can easily set up repeat bookings through our platform.
A One-time booking allows you to book a chef for a single cooking session. This is great if you want to try the service, need a chef for a special occasion, or only require occasional meal prep.
A Repeat Weekly booking lets you schedule a chef on a recurring basis, ensuring consistent meal prep every week without having to rebook manually. With a Repeat Weekly booking: • You get a 5% discount on every session. • You can reschedule or skip a session anytime using the app. • There is no commitment, and you can cancel the series anytime.
This is perfect for busy families, professionals, or anyone looking for a regular, stress-free meal prep solution.
Yes, the chef will clean all the utensils and the kitchen area they used during their cooking.
Chefs work with what's available in your kitchen, so basic cooking tools (pots, pans, knives, cutting boards) are recommended. If you're missing something essential, your chef can suggest an alternative.
Our pricing packages offer the following:
- 2 dishes package: provides up to 8 meals
- 3 dishes package: provides up to 12 meals
- 4 dishes package: provides up to 16 meals
- 5 dishes package: provides up to 20 meals
If something is missing, the chef will try to adapt the recipe or suggest an alternative. If a key ingredient is unavailable, the dish may not be prepared.
Yes, you can request extra quantity. The chef will assess the additional amount and provide you with a quote for the extra charge. Pricing will depend on the additional quantity requested and the time required. If you need more food, we recommend discussing it with your chef in advance to ensure they can accommodate your request.
Simply select your menu in the app, and it will generate a grocery list with the exact quantity of each ingredient needed for your chosen recipes. If you have any questions, feel free to chat with your chef or reach out to the Viva Chefs support team for assistance.
Yes, all chefs go through a background check and vetting process to ensure professionalism and quality service.
Absolutely! If you love a chef's cooking, you can book them again through the platform.
Our chefs can accommodate most dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, keto, and allergy-friendly meals. Be sure to discuss your preferences when booking.
All payments are processed securely through Stripe within the app. No cash payments are accepted.
We require 48 hours' notice for cancellations or rescheduling. If the session is canceled at least 48 hours before the scheduled time, we provide a full refund minus the transaction fees. Changes made less than 48 hours in advance may incur up to 100% of the booking fees.
You can reschedule your booking directly through the app, subject to the chef's availability.
Refunds for Canceled Sessions: If you cancel at least 48 hours in advance, you'll receive a full refund minus the transaction fee. If a chef cancels your booking, you'll receive a full refund with no deductions. • Taste Preferences: We do not offer refunds for meals that do not meet personal taste expectations, as taste is subjective. However, we want you to have the best experience with our service. If you had a disappointing meal, please contact us at [email protected], and we'll do our best to resolve the issue, potentially offering a partial or full refund on a case-by-case basis.
On average, chefs receive 80–90% of what you pay. The remaining portion helps cover platform costs such as payment processing, customer support, background checks, and technology. We believe in fair pay and flexibility for our chefs—which is why they set their own rates based on their experience and the value they provide.
When you place a booking, we don’t charge your card right away. Instead, we place a temporary hold (also called an authorization) for the full amount. This hold ensures the funds are available but you’re only charged once the chef accepts your booking. If the chef declines or doesn’t respond, the hold is automatically released—depending on your bank, it may take a few days to reflect in your account.