Chicago has always been a food city, and when it comes to office catering in Chicago, the options are anything but boring. Whether you're planning a small party catering spread for a team of 10 or a full-scale business event catering setup for your next company-wide celebration, the Windy City has something that satisfies every group, budget, and occasion.
The challenge isn't finding great corporate event catering in Chicago — it's narrowing it down. So we did the work for you. Here are 10 of the best Chicago corporate catering options for everything from casual team lunches to high-end events designed to impress.
Finding one great caterer is hard enough. Finding one that works for every occasion can be challenging. That's where Fooda comes in and makes office catering in Chicago easy
Fooda partners with the best local Chicago restaurants (including many on this list) to bring rotating, chef-made meals directly to your office. Instead of committing to one caterer for your next business event, Fooda gives your team variety: daily Popup Restaurants, boxed lunch delivery, and fully managed event catering, all coordinated for you with a 99% on-time delivery record.
Great food can bring people together at the kitchen table … or in this case, the boardroom table. Whether it’s your turn to plan happy hour or you just need office lunch ideas for your quarterly team brainstorm, these top office catering choices in Chicago can help elevate any gathering.
The details: Their catering menu is made for groups of 8-10+, requiring 24-48 hours notice.
Best for: Elevated team lunches, leadership meetings, small-large corporate celebrations in the office.
A staple of Chicago’s Fulton Market and downtown area (and a Fooda partner), Beatrix Market is a well-known and popular local spot. It’s high-end enough for a nice team dinner or lunch (we can attest to this), but laid back enough to grab a Caesar wrap on-the-go. From salads and hearty sandwiches to fresh-baked pastries and snacks, Beatrix’s catering menu is fresh and serves up something for everyone.
Beatrix also makes bringing top-notch food to your team easy, so all you have to think about is making sure your event or meeting goes smoothly. Their Market catering menu offers delivery or pick-up, and is designed for groups of 8-10+ people. This makes it a strong and delicious option for your next team onsite, brainstorming lunch, and more.
The details: The catering package serves 10 people for $179.50 (pre-taxes/delivery fees) + increments of 5 people for an extra $17.50/person).
Best for: Onsite team meetings and events, small happy hours, small networking events.
From a small, word-of-mouth business, to a thriving food truck and permanent Chicago fixture with multiple brick-and-mortar locations, 5411 Empanadas brings Argentinian flair and faire to the Windy City.
Touting high reviews across food ordering sites, this Fooda partner serves up gourmet (and affordable) empanadas worthy of any team meeting or happy hour. Plus, their catering page leads with “get your meetings catered,” meaning corporate catering that will “wow” your team is as top-of-mind for them as it is for you.
The details: Order by guest count, boxed lunches, party platters, or à la carte meat by the pound. Orders and cancellations must be placed by 3pm the business day prior.
Best for: Team lunches, casual company gatherings, office happy hours, and any event that deserves something more exciting than a sandwich platter.
If your team is overdue for a proper Chicago BBQ spread, Blackwood BBQ delivers (literally). With traditional catering packages sized by guest count, party platters, and à la carte smoked meats by the pound, it's one of the most flexible office catering options in Chicago for groups of any size.
What sets Blackwood apart is the craft behind the food: they start butchering and smoking their meat the day before your order, so what shows up at your office isn't an afterthought, it's the real deal. They also offer menu items that accommodate some dietary restrictions (like vegetarian and vegan options), making it a surprisingly inclusive pick for diverse teams.
Whether you're feeding a small team or a company-wide event, Blackwood BBQ is the kind of catering that gets people away from their desks and talking around the food table.
The details: $250 subtotal minimum, and many delivery items have a 10-count order minimum. They’ve done corporate events from 10-10,000 guests. Orders must be placed by 12 PM the previous day.
Best for: High-end in-office corporate lunches, but with an emphasis on larger-scale events meant to wow. Think: Galas, board dinners, company-wide celebrations, and holiday parties.
Whether you need full event support from food to flowers, or you just need an upscale team lunch that will get to your door tomorrow, Blue Plate has you covered.
While this Fooda partner’s emphasis is on larger-scale events (notice: The Field Museum on their catering page), Blue Plate has some of the most versatile options of the Chicago corporate catering picks on this list.
With seasonal specials and menus on the table, it’s always a great time to surprise and delight your team, company, or your board with business event catering. And fun fact: their page also highlights their green-minded approach, sharing their conscious, eco-friendly catering practices.
The details: Their catered sandwich bundles can feed between 6 and 10 people.
Best for: Any size in-office corporate event, lunch parties, casual company gatherings, lunch meetings.
No list of Chicago office catering options is complete without Potbelly in the mix. While Potbelly has grown nationwide, it got its start right here in Chicago, making it as much of a lunchtime staple in the Windy City as deep dish pizza.
Potbelly’s smorgasbord of hearty (and delicious) subs, sandwiches, and salads are always a satisfying choice, especially for those lunchtime meetings and long team planning sessions. Throw in a selection of crunchy Zappos potato chips and their delicious, chewy cookies, and you’ve got a happy board room.
The details: Requires 24 hours advance notice for weekday orders, 48 hours for orders of 80+ guests. Offer “mini catering” for under 20 guests. Delivery minimum for DIY catering is $250.
Best for: Small parties, larger team meetings, small client mixers, office happy hours.
With locations in Wicker Park and Bridgeport, Antique Taco is a beloved staple of Chicago’s west side and adds a delicious flair to any lunchtime event.
Antique Taco makes fresh pressed corn tortillas every day, practices eco-friendly composting weekly, and sources ingredients from local farms whenever possible.
Their catering menu is based on 2.5 tacos per person, making them the perfect pick for an in-office team lunch or brainstorm, happy hour, or any event that requires small party catering.
The details: They offer several catering packages, including “fast packs” for easy sandwich serving, a buffet-style party package, and large events from 50-50,000 people
Best for: Team or company gatherings, office meetups and happy hours, and large corporate events (with a Chicago touch)
You can’t have a list of the top corporate event catering that Chicago has to offer without mentioning a staple of the area, Portillo’s. This classic Windy City spot serves up classic flavors from Chicago dogs to Italian Beef sandwiches.
Portillo’s is a crowd-pleasing spot that’s perfect for everything from team lunches and birthday parties (see: their incredible chocolate cake), to larger yet laid-back company-wide events.
The spots above are your go-to picks for everyday office catering in Chicago. They’re reliable, crowd-pleasing, and easy to order for a team lunch or last-minute meeting. But if you're planning something bigger, the following Chicago corporate catering companies specialize in the kind of high-end, full-service experiences that leave a lasting impression.
Whether you’re ready to roll out the red carpet, deck the office halls for the holidays, or you just need to give your office happy hour a gourmet boost, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few of the stand-out picks Chicago has to offer.
The details: Minimum of 10 guests for food pickup & drop off, corporate catering events for 50-3,000 guests.
Best for: Large and upscale company events, launch parties, galas, all-day seminars, and high-end meetings designed to impress.
If you’re looking for one of the more elevated options that Chicago corporate catering has to offer, Boka is a winner. With custom menus and a gourmet edge, Boka is not for your everyday happy hour (and if it is, can we get an invite?).
While Boka does offer food pickup & drop off for smaller parties, their bread and butter is crafting high-end events and dining experiences meant to impress. They offer full-service and off-premise catering services and versatile presentation; from chef stations and buffets, to seated dinners or small bites during receptions.
And calling all non-profits: if you’re looking to create a showstopping event for your next Gala, Boka offers reduced pricing for non-profit orgs.
The details: Menu items serve 8-10 people, minimum 48 hour advance notice required for large orders.
Best for: Larger in-office company events, onsite office celebrations, holiday parties, employee appreciation, client and leadership dinners in-office.
If you got to this point in the article and thought, “Where’s the pasta?”, we heard you loud and clear! Il Porcellino brings Italian cuisine to your event, offering large party deliveries that come straight to your office or venue.
They work with you to customize your menu, from food to beverages, and they will make sure your next corporate event is both unforgettable and delicious.
The details: Details can be found through an inquiry!
Best for: Best for upscale company-wide events. Think: brand launches, team building events, holiday parties.
Like Boka, Paramount Events is less in the realm of team gatherings and board room lunches and more in the realm of large corporate events. This woman-owned and operated business specializes in full-scale event catering that creates a true culinary experience.
What sets Paramount apart in the world of catering? According to their website, they directly employ and train all of their staff in-house vs. hiring a third party. This ensures you get a true Paramount-crafted experience.
Chicago has no shortage of options when it comes to corporate events catering. The real challenge is matching the right caterer to your event, your team, and your budget. Whether you're coordinating small party catering in Chicago for a tight-knit team or producing a company-wide celebration, the right food partner makes all the difference. Fooda can help you find it.
While there are plenty of business event catering services throughout Chicago, it can be challenging to deal with all of the logistics yourself. Fooda makes it easy to get a variety of meals from local favorites directly to your team. We will present curated Chicago favorites for your employees to pick from, including many of the restaurants on this list.
Fooda sets a gold standard for corporate food delivery, offering a variety of catering options built around your budget. From in-office staffed Popup Restaurants or catered meetings with a 99% on-track time record, Fooda’s account executives ensure your meetings and events go off without a hitch.
At the end of the day, the perfect catering choice for you and your team will depend on the size and scale of your event, the vibe of your company and office, and your budget. Whatever circumstances you’re working with, Fooda will take care of the logistics while you get to spend some quality time with your team over a delicious meal.
Learn more about what Fooda is, and how our solutions can help you create unforgettable moments with your team. If you’re a local Chicago restaurant looking for new catering opportunities, learn about becoming a Fooda restaurant partner, and why it’s the best option out there.
Fooda is one of the top office catering services in Chicago, offering daily variety from local restaurants delivered directly to your workplace. For one-time events, options like Beatrix Market, Blue Plate, and Portillo's are popular choices depending on your budget and group size.
Most Chicago caterers require 24-48 hours notice for standard orders. For larger business events (50+ guests), plan at least one week ahead. High-end caterers like Boka and Paramount Events may need even more lead time for custom menus and full-service events. If there is a certain spot you want to cater your corporate event, it’s best to check with them directly.
Office catering typically covers recurring or everyday workplace meals. Things like team lunches, meetings, and daily food programs fall into this category. Business event catering is geared toward one-time or special occasions like company galas, client dinners, product launches, and holiday parties, often with more elaborate setup and service.
