7 dishes where ordering delivery is actually cheaper than cooking

CostMyMeal's job isn't to push you to cook. It's to tell you the truth. Sometimes that truth is: order, you weirdo.

1. Pad Thai (KR)

• Cook: ₩9,800 + 22 min + dishes
• Delivery: ₩15,000 in 30 min, no dishes
• Verdict: cooking saves ₩5,200 but eats 90 min total. Delivery wins on $/hour.

2. Cheeseburger (US)

• Cook: $5.40 + 15 min + grease cleanup
• Delivery: $13 in 25 min
• Verdict: cook saves $7.60. Cooking wins unless you value cleanup at >$30/hr.

3. Tacos al Pastor (MX)

• Cook: MX$140 for 9 tacos, 30 min, requires marinated pork shoulder shopping ahead
• Delivery: MX$180 for 5 tacos street vendor in 10 min
• Verdict: cooking is per-taco cheaper, but only if you have a spare day. Delivery for one meal.

4. Ramen tonkotsu (anywhere)

• Cook: 18 hours of bone simmer, $8 in bones
• Delivery: $12 ready in 25 min
• Verdict: nobody is winning the cooking case here unless you do batch broth weekly. Delivery wins for any sane human.

5. Roast chicken (US)

• Cook: $7 chicken + 90 min oven + cleanup
• Delivery: Costco rotisserie $7.99 takeout
• Verdict: literal mathematical tie. Costco subsidizes the rotisserie. Buy don't cook.

6. Sushi (any country)

• Cook: $20+ for grade-A sashimi quality fish
• Delivery: $15-25 for 12 pieces, properly cut
• Verdict: amateur sushi at home is dangerous AND expensive. Always delivery.

7. Naan (any)

• Cook: 4 hours fermentation, tandoor not included
• Delivery: $1.50 per naan
• Verdict: this isn't even close. Delivery wins by 100×.

When cooking always wins

Pasta, soup, stir-fry, rice bowls, roast vegetables, eggs in any form. Anything that's basic technique + cheap ingredients = cook. Anything that requires specialized equipment, days of prep, or precision knife work = order.

CostMyMeal verdicts will tell you which side you're on, per dish per country. Use it before you reach for the pan.