Hungryroot Food Delivery Review

About Hungryroot

We are long past the bread-baking phase of quarantine, and you might be getting a little tired of takeout, or repeating the same few recipes. How does a food box subscription sound? 

Hungryroot is a hybrid meal kit delivery service and online grocery store that recommends plant-based ingredients depending on your personal preferences.

They adhere to a three-point standard: nutritious and whole ingredients, easy and quick to prepare meals, and “taste damn good.” 

Business Insider and Buzzfeed reviewed Hungryroot, finding that their meal subscription boxes have many unique qualities with their healthy ingredients and wide range of dietary accommodations.

They are, as promised, easy to prepare with pre-cut and nutritional ingredients. It is clear that they are renowned, boasting over 229K followers on Instagram!

This Hungryroot food delivery review will delve into the brand, taking an in-depth look at its menu, customer reviews, and promotions, and more, to help decide whether the service is worth it. 

Overview of Hungryroot

In 2015, founder Ben McKean wanted to create a food subscription company that could provide better, healthier food choices. With a team of chefs, food lovers, and personalization experts, Hungryroot grew from providing six products to 24 and selling groceries. 

Hungryroot promises that its foods are free of partially hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, and artificial preservatives.

The brand incorporates sustainable practices like recyclable packaging and donating 100% of excess stock to local food banks. 

Before this Hungryroot food delivery review zeroes in on their offerings, let’s take a look at the pros and cons. 

Pros

• A hybrid meal delivery service and grocery store
• Sustainable practices (recyclable packaging + donating excess food stock to local food banks) 
• Dairy-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, egg-free, soy-free, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and gluten-free options 
• Unique food options, including Beyond Meat burgers 
• Little preparation needed; very easy to cook 
• Sides and snacks offered  

Cons

• You need your own oils and seasonings
• Navigating between ordering meals only, groceries only, or a combination of both can be tricky 
• Leftover credits do not carry over to the next week 
• 3–4 basic ingredients per food box becomes repetitive 
• Limited Hungryroot delivery area
• Customers report that canceling the subscription is difficult 
• No customer service phone number 

How Does Hungryroot Work?

As the company writes on their website, “Hungryroot isn’t your average grocery delivery, and it isn’t a meal kit. We help you shop for groceries that turn into healthy meals you’ll love.”

Customers must sign up and complete the personalized quiz before purchasing from Hungryroot. Your cart depends on the information you provide about your goals, how many people you’re feeding, and any special dietary needs. 

Additionally, since Hungryroot is a weekly subscription service, you cannot purchase items a la carte. You can only edit your deliveries to add on extra items individually. 

Fortunately, you can skip deliveries any week before they process your upcoming delivery on Thursdays at 9 AM PT. While you can also pause or cancel your subscription anytime, returning the boxes is not an option. 

While the plans start at $59, they can change depending on your needs. It’s possible that you might still need to do some extra grocery shopping as, according to Hungryroot:

“Most people think of their Hungryroot delivery as the majority of their groceries for the week.” This implies that subscribers may have to fill in any gaps themselves. 

Members can only have one subscription per account, but Hungryroot allows accommodating 3+ people per meal through choosing to receive 4-serving recipes (which you can specify in the quiz).

Before making long-term commitments, we recommend taking a look at the brand’s FAQ section online. 

This Hungryroot food delivery review will now take a closer look at their grocery options, along with our four favorite recipes from the menu. 

Hungryroot Recipes Review  

The Hungryroot menu hosts 3,000+ recipes, including stir-fries, different kinds of pasta, grain bowls, flatbreads, tacos, and more. For each meal, they provide a list of the corresponding ingredients they add from their grocery section.

Each option also indicates the prep time, number of calories, number of servings, and instructions. There are also customer ratings, but some recipes do not have them yet.

You can customize your choices on the sidebar, choosing your serving size, caloric intake, dietary needs, cooking time, and your preferred protein. 

Hungryroot covers an impressive list of dietary needs, such as: 

• Vegan
• Vegetarian
• Pescatarian
• Dairy-free
• Gluten-free
• Soy-free
• Tree nut-free
• Peanut-free
• Egg-free
• Shellfish-free  

This Hungryroot food delivery review will focus on four favorites: the Gingery Salmon Poke Bowl, the Coconut Curry Chicken Power Bowl, Classic Linguine + Meatballs, and Red Sauce Ravioli + Brussels.  

Hungryroot Groceries Review

Hungryroot is a healthy grocery delivery subscription with a wide variety of ingredients. You can get your hands on delicious ingredients such as:

• Hungryroot Yuba Noodles
• Hungryroot Kohlrabi Noodles
• Hungryroot Seven Grain Blend
• Hungryroot Mini Cucumbers
• Hungryroot Beyond Burger 

Each ingredient also includes a list of dietary tags, like vegetarian, gluten-free, and nut-free. Some ingredients come in sets, like the Ginger Sesame Salad Kit, but there are also individual items, like Baby Spinach. 

Above the ingredient title, the brand also lists the food company they are sourced from, including Tessemae’s, Hungryroot, True Leaf Farms, and Little Potato Company. Unlike the recipes, the items from the grocery section include nutrition information per serving. 

In addition, there is a section providing tips and recipe suggestions. Taking Broccoli Florets, for example, Hungryroot provides an introduction about the ingredient, nutrition facts, and a hint to make it with chicken for a fast weeknight meal. 

If that wasn’t enough, they also give recommendations to try it in stir-fry, various kinds of pasta, grain bowls, main and sides, and flatbreads. 

Many ingredients are low in calories. For example, Hungryroot Mini Cucumber calories come to a total of 12!

Of course, meat has more; Hungryroot Beyond Burger nutrition facts indicate 250 calories per patty, which is actually more than a typical 4oz beef patty at roughly 230 calories. 

Hungryroot’s grocery section does include an impressive array of beverages, snacks, and sweets that you don’t typically find in other meal subscriptions.

From Pukka’s Organic Elderberry and Echinacea Tea to Wandering Bear’s Straight Black Coldbrew, the company has a whole bag of unique options. 

Their snacks include Spudlove’s Sea Salt Potato Chips and Solely’s Organic Dried Mango Strips. For sweets, they have Unreal’s Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups and Base Culture’s Chocolate Chip Brownies. There is truly a lot to choose from to add to your cart! 

Our Favorites from the Menu

Gingery Salmon Poke Bowl

First, we’ll look at the Gingery Salmon Poke Bowl, one of Hungryroot’s chef’s top picks. There are two options: one with the Superblend Salad, and the other with Asian Salad Mix.

There are no big differences; both take nine minutes to prepare for two servings.

The Poke Bowl with the Superblend Salad has 510 calories, composed of the brand’s Brown Rice Quinoa Blend, Smoked Poke Style Salmon, Sesame Ginger sauce, and Superblend Salad.

The recipe includes instructions, indicating that you would need your own skillet, salt and pepper, oil, and water. Otherwise, there are only four easy steps to follow! 

The version with the Asian Salad Mix is only 500 calories. Aside from the different vegetable ingredients and subsequent total calories, there are no other differences. This recipe is both easy and delicious! 

Coconut Curry Chicken Power Bowl

The Coconut Curry Chicken Power Bowl is another star recipe. It takes 16 minutes to prepare two servings at 510 calories. It contains four main ingredients: sweet baby broccoli, lentil quinoa rice mix, seasoned grilled chicken breast, and coconut curry. 

Similar to the last recipe, there are only four instructions. You would need your own skillet, oil, and additional seasoning, but the steps are virtually the same. Begin the process by preparing your carbohydrate, add vegetables or meat, and then drizzle the sauce on top. 

It is that simple! As this recipe calls for searing the chicken and steaming the broccoli, this results in a longer preparation time.  

Classic Linguine + Meatballs

The Classic Linguine + Meatballs is a popular dinner. It would take 10 minutes to prepare two servings. Unlike the other two recipes, this one only has three ingredients—but it also has fewer calories at 410 calories instead of 500 or 510. 

This meal is composed of Cauliflower Linguine, Grass-fed Beef Meatballs, and pre-made Tomato Marinara (which is why you forego a sauce).

Make sure you’ve got your skillet, pot, microwave, and oil ready. There’s nothing worse than being halfway through a recipe and not having an essential item handy! 

For those who have many appliances in their home, this is a simple and tasty meal. As it does require a variety of kitchen supplies, it is not as accessible as the other two meals. 

Red Sauce Ravioli + Brussels

The Red Sauce Ravioli + Brussels is a chef’s pick, as well as a highly rated vegetarian and vegan option. You can make it one of two ways. The Superfood Tomato version takes 8 minutes to prepare two servings for 560 calories. 

Besides the Superfood Tomato, the other ingredients are Kite Hill’s Spinach Ricotta Ravioli and Hungryroot’s Shaved Brussels.

The Ricotta would likely provide the protein, but it is not as nutrient-packed as the previous recipes. Once again, there are only four steps to follow and you would need a skillet, pot, and cooking oil. 

The version with Tomato Marinara takes longer to cook but it has fewer calories. With 14 minutes of prep time for two servings at 440 calories, the singular difference of the sauce changes quite a lot! 

The additional time is spent microwaving the sauce until warm. Otherwise, the instructions are the same. Similar to the last recipe, the Red Sauce Ravioli + Brussels may be fast, but you need a fully equipped kitchen. 

How Much is Hungryroot?

Hungryroot’s weekly subscriptions start at $59 per box, but they change depending on what you have in your cart. Prices are not listed with the grocery items, so they would only appear when you sign up and add them to your cart. 

Customers report that, on average, their weekly subscriptions end up between $70–$80 after all the customizations.

They note that only receiving three ingredients with one as a sauce can lose its appeal when repeated, so switching things up now and then is recommended.  

Fortunately, you will see a sample bill showing how many meals you can expect from the shipment before you pay. 

What comes in a Hungryroot box?

Hungryroot’s meal-kit service boxes contain four main ingredients: starchy food, a vegetable, protein, and a sauce. The meals are designed to be packed with nutrients, minimizing trans fats, sodium, and promising no preservatives. 

Each box is also full of food. Customers usually have leftover ingredients at the end of a meal. Because the meal kits can become repetitive after a while, Hungryroot also delivers groceries. 

Your box is personalized. A Hungryroot sign-up begins with a quiz so that the system can create a grocery plan. Then, they fill your cart with ingredients. You can take their suggestions, or choose from hundreds of products. 

Finally, groceries and recipes are delivered to subscribers. While this starts at $59 per delivery, which typically covers 6 meals per week, the Hungryroot price can easily fluctuate depending on what you have in your cart. 

Does Hungryroot help lose weight?

Yes, they can help you lose weight! Given that Hungryroot recipes try to be balanced by including protein, healthy carb, healthy fat, and vegetables, they have fewer calories than many other brands. Each meal is around 400–600 calories per serving.

Without preservatives and artificial sweeteners, Hungryroot is a healthier option than many other food box subscriptions.

In addition, the easy recipes eliminate stress and save time, allowing you to cut back on drive-thru food or spending your weekly budget on takeout. 

On the other hand, Hungryroot does not provide nutritional information about its meals. You wouldn’t know the specific grams of protein, fat, and carbs for the recipes.

It is hard to figure out if you are getting enough protein to help you maintain muscle mass while losing weight. 

How is Hungryroot delivered?

Once the delivery service is set up, simply grab your best saucepan and wait by the porch. Starving already? This Hungryroot food delivery review will outline a few steps to help get you started: 

1. Create an account on Hungryroot’s website
2. After inputting your dietary restrictions, complete the personalized quiz
3. Choose your subscription plan, selection between 3–6 two serving meals per week with additional snacks 

Once you are satisfied with your grocery cart, submit the form and pay. The first box should arrive a few days later with all the ingredients and recipes for the week. 

Delivery is free for orders $70+. Otherwise, shipping is $7. Hungryroot assures that their parcels will remain fresh, so they are typically in transit for one or two days.

There are no scheduled shipping times, but all carriers predict a drop-off window between 8 AM–9 PM. 

Hungryroot Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

So, the Hungryroot healthy grocery delivery looks appetizing enough, but is the brand consistent? And will it really make your meal preparation easier? We took to the internet to find out more about what subscribers were saying about the service. 

Mara Leighton wrote on Business Insider, “All in all, Hungryroot is a great option for anyone looking to eat healthier. In my experience, meals were delicious, filling, and simple to make.”

Buzzfeed had even higher praise, beginning their Hungryroot food review with: “Why this is the only food subscription I like. I was skeptical going into it, but TBH, the whole thing kind of over-delivered.”

While there are positive Hungryroot food delivery reviews on individual blogs, as seen on Business Insider and Buzzfeed, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) reflects nine customer reviews with an average of 1.2/5 stars. 

Customers say that Hungryroot ignores the dietary preference information, does not show you your food until payment goes through, and makes canceling difficult after your first delivery.

Another customer stated they struggled with contacting customer service. According to them, Hungryroot does not properly refund or fix issues including food spillages, missing or damaged items.

All nine of the reviews indicate that Hungryroot’s customer service and communication are especially lacking. The majority of customers who left negative reviews are frustrated that they cannot cancel their subscriptions. 

A livid subscriber on BBB shared that she had a bad experience with the brand twice. Hungryroot’s customer service team failed to send missing or damaged ingredients on both occasions. The second time, she commented:

“I contacted customer service…it has been an absolutely terrible experience. They used the excuse that they cannot contact their facilities, and that there is nothing that they can do [about] an error on their end. I was charged $100 for meals that I will not eat, and 8 of the same exact meal to boot.”

BBB gives Hungryroot a B+ rating for failure to respond to one complaint filed against the business.

Their rating is not affected by the customers, instead, they use information directly from businesses and public data scores. Evidently, Hungryroot’s customer service needs serious improvement. 

Trustpilot reflects a similar perspective. With 35 reviews and an average rating of 1.7/.5 stars, the final verdict for Hungryroot is “Bad”. 

Similar to the reviews on BBB, customers complain about poor packaging, continuous charging despite cancellations, a lack of communication, and terrible customer service.

When they tried reaching out to Hungryroot about issues with their order, they often received dismissive replies. 

One customer wrote on Trustpilot, “The food is OK, the service is unbelievably bad. If you try to cancel, be careful because they charge you a week for that. If you want to edit your choices, they may or may NOT honor that.”

Is Hungryroot Subscription Worth It?

Is Hungryroot worth the money? Unfortunately, until they fix their communication errors, a weekly subscription brand with irresponsible customer service and unreliable packaging fails as a food delivery service. 

Despite their quick recipes and healthy ingredients, missing items and excessive charges create a major headache that food delivery subscriptions are meant to mitigate. 

The few ingredients per recipe is a double-edged sword. While they save time for meal prep, they can also become repetitive and mundane, which is why customers often need to add additional items when grocery shopping. 

Even though the company advertises a weekly cost of $59, this number will inevitably rise. Rightfully so, customers call for more transparency and improved customer service.

Unless these issues are addressed, this Hungryroot food delivery review determines that the subscription is not worth it. 

Hungryroot Promotions & Discounts 

Currently, the main promotion on the website is the Hungryroot limited time 40% off + Choose Your Free Gift for Life deal for first-time customers. 

After creating an account, you can select your free item among the following options:

• Almond Chickpea Cookie Dough
• A rotating selection of fresh veggies
• A rotating selection of premium proteins

But be careful! The 40% off only applies to the first order with a plan size of $99+ (no Hungryroot coupon required). There is also a limit of one Hungryroot promo code redemption per account/ household. 

Sign up for Hungryroot Subscription

The Hungryroot signup is quick and easy. Navigate to their website and follow these 5 simple steps to set up your subscription: 

1. Click ‘Sign Up’
2. Choose your gift 
3. Complete the personalization quiz
4. Add items to your grocery cart
5. Fill in your payment details and submit  

Users can make changes at any time (such as pausing, canceling, or skipping an order) by logging into their accounts.

FAQ

Does Hungryroot have an app?

Unfortunately, Hungryroot does not have a mobile app at this time. But don’t stress, all the information you need is available on their online website.

How do I skip Hungryroot?

This Hungryroot food delivery review finds that this is something customers find a struggle. Technically, you can skip weeks as long as the next week’s order is canceled before Thursday at 9 AM PT. 

Testimonials on BBB and Trustpilot reflected that the brand continued to charge customers regardless. Just to be safe, you should contact customer service as soon as you plan on skipping a week. 

Can I cancel Hungryroot?

Yes, you can cancel whenever you want, as long as you cancel before Thursday at 9 AM PT for the following weeks. Unfortunately, just like with skipping weeks, customers found that Hungryroot continued to charge them after they canceled. 

Be sure to double-check with Hungryroot’s representatives and confirm that they have also canceled your account on their end. 

Does Hungryroot have free shipping?

Hungryroot only offers free shipping for orders above $70. Otherwise, shipping is $7 and only available for the 48 contiguous United States.

Where does Hungryroot ship to?

Hungryroot can deliver to all 48 contiguous States. At this time, we did not come across any information regarding international shipping. 

How long is Hungryroot shipping? 

Hungryroot says that their shipping is fast, completed in a few days to preserve freshness. You don’t need to be home to sign for the delivery, and the food is packaged in insulated boxes. Still, it’s recommended that the ingredients are refrigerated quickly. 

While customers had minimal complaints about long wait times or overdue shipping, many did remark that their food quality was damaged from inadequate packaging.

If you notice something amiss about your ingredients, contact Hungryroot’s customer service right away. 

What is Hungryroot’s Return Policy?

Hungryroot does not accept returns, but they do have a refund policy. According to their Terms of Use, refunds are granted within 30 days of your delivery date and they take 10–15 business days to process. 

That being said, they are only granted on a case-by-case basis. Hungryroot can also issue store credit at the discretion of a Customer Experience Team Member, but it will expire after 90 days and forfeited if you cancel your subscription. 

How to Contact Hungryroot

Do you have any pressing questions after reading this Hungryroot food delivery review? Get in touch with the company via:

• Email: [email protected]
• Text: 1-855-222-5704
• Filling out the Contact Form on their website 
• Using the Live Chat function 
• Direct messaging them on Twitter or Instagram: @hungryroot 

Hungryroot is available from 10 AM to 6 PM EST, all seven days of the week. Unfortunately, the company does not have a customer service phone line.

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