San Diego Catering Cost: 2026 Pricing Guide
If you’re pricing out catering for a San Diego office or corporate event, here’s the short answer: expect roughly $20–$27 per person for family-style trays, and $21–$28 per person for individually packed boxed lunches. The bigger your headcount, the lower your per-person cost trends. Below we break down the exact tray packages, the per-person math, what moves the price up or down, and how to lock in an exact quote.
Pricing verified July 2026.
How much does catering cost per person in San Diego?
At Shawarma House, our family-style tray packages land between about $20 and $27 per person depending on group size. We’re a family-owned, halal-sourced Iraqi-Mediterranean restaurant in Ocean Beach, and we cater across San Diego County, from a 15-person team lunch to events of 100+ guests. Here are our exact tray packages, served family-style:
| Package | Feeds | Price | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Spread | 15 | $399 | ≈ $26.60 |
| Office Spread | 25 | $599 | ≈ $24.00 |
| Full Spread | 50 | $1,199 | ≈ $24.00 |
| Banquet Spread | 75 | $1,649 | ≈ $22.00 |
| Grand Spread | 100 | $1,999 | ≈ $20.00 |
The pattern is straightforward: a 15-person Small Spread works out to about $26.60 a head, while a 100-guest Grand Spread drops to roughly $20 a head. Scaling up is where you get the best value per person. You can see the full lineup and what comes in each spread on our catering packages page.
How much do boxed lunches cost?
If you’d rather hand each person their own meal, individually packed boxed lunches run $21–$28 per person. Falafel and veggie boxes sit at the lower end; combo and beef boxes are toward the top. There’s a 15-box minimum per order, and you can mix proteins and vegan boxes in the same order, so one delivery can cover meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegan guests without a separate order.
What changes the cost of your catering?
Two events with the same guest count can land at different prices. Here’s what moves the number:
- Headcount. Per-person cost drops as the group grows. The Grand Spread (100 guests) is your most economical option per head.
- Service style. We offer pickup, delivery, or staffed service. Drop-off trays arrive with disposable serving ware, ready to eat, which keeps things simple and affordable. Staffed full service is a step up.
- Protein mix. A spread or box selection leaning on chicken shawarma, falafel, and veggie options sits lower; beef shawarma, beef kebab, and combo builds push toward the top of the range.
- Delivery distance. Delivery is available across San Diego County; the fee varies by distance from our Ocean Beach kitchen.
Whether you’re feeding a team lunch at the office or a larger corporate event, the package and service style you choose are the two biggest levers on total cost.
Net-30 billing for businesses
For established business accounts, we offer Net-30 invoicing, so your team can order now and your accounts-payable department can settle the invoice on your normal terms. It’s one less thing to expense on the spot. Just mention it when you request your quote.
What’s included and who we feed
Every package is halal-sourced, and we run a full vegan menu plus gluten-free-friendly builds, so a single order can cover halal, vegan, gluten-free-friendly, and meat-eating guests. Menu highlights include chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, gyro, shish tawook, beef kebab, falafel, cream chop, hummus, and fattoush, Greek, and tabouli salads, with toum, tzatziki, and tahini on the side, and baklava and dolmas to round it out. Teams and offices across San Diego order from us regularly, including SHEIN, Rady Children’s, Scripps OB/GYN, San Diego Digestive Disease Consultants, Cable Street Family Practice, Sekisui House, The Shipyard, and SDSU. If your event is fully plant-based, our vegan catering options work as their own order too.
How much lead time do you need for catering?
Plan ahead where you can. Most drop-off orders need about 48 hours’ notice, and full-service staffed events for 50+ guests need 5 or more days. The sooner you reach out, the more flexibility you’ll have on date, menu, and service style.
How to get an exact quote
The prices above will get you 90% of the way to a budget. For an exact number tailored to your headcount, menu mix, service style, and delivery address, request a quote, it’s the fastest way to a firm figure. You can browse everything first on our Mediterranean catering hub, then send us the details.
Ready to price your event? Request a quote through our catering form, call us at (619) 642-0298, or order directly through ezCater. Tell us your date, guest count, and whether you want drop-off or staffed service, and we’ll get you an exact quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does catering cost per person in San Diego?
For family-style trays at Shawarma House, expect roughly $20–$27 per person depending on headcount. A 15-person Small Spread is about $26.60 per head, while a 100-guest Grand Spread drops to roughly $20 per head. Individually packed boxed lunches run $21–$28 per person.
Is there a minimum order for boxed lunches?
Yes. Boxed lunches have a 15-box minimum per order. You can mix proteins and vegan boxes in the same order, so one delivery can cover meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegan guests.
Do you offer Net-30 billing for companies?
Yes. We offer Net-30 invoicing for established business accounts. Mention it when you request your quote and we’ll set it up.
How far in advance do I need to order?
Most drop-off orders need about 48 hours’ notice. Full-service staffed events for 50 or more guests need 5 or more days. The earlier you reach out, the more flexibility you’ll have.
Can one order cover halal, vegan, and gluten-free guests?
Yes. Every package is halal-sourced, and we offer a full vegan menu plus gluten-free-friendly builds. A single order can cover halal, vegan, gluten-free-friendly, and meat-eating guests.
Our Most Popular Dishes
Side of Lamb Shank is a side portion of the protein on its own. Our lamb shank is slow-cooked until it’s tender and falls off the bone. Halal. Order this if you want a hearty, fall-off-the-bone main.
Prefer it another way? Lamb Shank Plate
Combo Protein is a generous side of our slow-roasted halal beef and chicken shawarma together — the easy way to add more meat to any plate, fries, or rice. Hand-shaved fresh off the spit. Add it to your order.
A 4 oz side of feta — tangy, brined, and crumbly, the finishing touch on a Greek salad or a simple mezze plate. Gluten-free-friendly; contains dairy. Add a side to any order.
