What Takeout Should I Get Tonight?
If you’re stuck on what to eat for dinner tonight and takeout is the plan, answer four questions first: what mood you’re in, what you want to spend, how many people are eating, and how long you can wait. Those answers cut fifty restaurants down to two or three. Still torn? Let the fast food wheel pick a chain and a menu item for you.
Below you’ll find a simple filter, a cheat sheet for ten common takeout types, and tips for ordering smarter so the food is still good tomorrow. If you already know you’re not cooking but aren’t sure takeout is the answer, our guide on what to eat when you don’t feel like cooking covers low-effort meals at home too.
The 4-Question Takeout Filter
Delivery apps show you hundreds of choices, and more choices make deciding harder. Instead of scrolling, answer these in order. Each one rules out a chunk of the menu.
1. What mood are you in?
Your mood is the fastest filter. Match it to a style of food:
- Comfort: pizza, burgers, fried chicken, mac and cheese, lo mein.
- Fresh and light: poke, sushi, Mediterranean bowls, Vietnamese spring rolls.
- Spicy: Thai curry, Indian vindaloo, Sichuan dishes, hot wings.
- Celebrating: a sushi platter, an Indian feast with several curries, or a big Chinese spread.
- Tired and cold: soup-based dishes like pho, ramen, or tom kha.
If you can’t put a name to your mood, take the 60-second what do I want to eat quiz. It turns a vague feeling into three specific dishes.
2. What’s your budget?
You don’t need exact prices to sort takeout by cost. Some styles reliably stretch further than others.
- Lowest cost per person: pizza, burgers from a chain, taquerias, Chinese combo plates.
- Middle: Thai, Indian, Mediterranean, wings.
- Higher: sushi and poke, since raw fish costs more and portions are smaller.
Picking up your order instead of getting it delivered skips the delivery fee and driver tip, which is often the biggest savings available.
3. How many people are eating?
Group size changes the best answer more than people expect.
- Just you: go for a complete meal in one container, like a burrito, poke bowl, or shawarma plate.
- Two of you: order two mains and one side to share, so you each get variety.
- A group: choose food made for sharing, like pizza, Chinese, Indian, wings, or a taco tray.
4. How long can you wait?
If you’re starving, speed beats everything. Pick the closest place and choose pickup. Pizza, burgers, and Mexican usually come out fastest because the kitchen is set up for volume. Sushi and made-to-order curries can take longer on a busy Friday night.
Takeout Types Compared: What to Get and When
Here is a quick reference for ten of the most common takeout options in the US. Use the middle column as a safe order if you’re trying a place for the first time.
| Takeout type | What to order | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza | One specialty pie plus one plain cheese, garlic knots | Groups, kids, tight budgets |
| Chinese | General Tso’s chicken, beef and broccoli, lo mein, dumplings | Families sharing, leftover lovers |
| Thai | Pad thai, green curry, pad see ew, drunken noodles | Spice fans, couples |
| Indian | Chicken tikka masala, saag paneer, chana masala, garlic naan | Vegetarians, big appetites |
| Mexican | Carnitas tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chips and guacamole | Budget meals, mixed groups |
| Sushi | Spicy tuna roll, California roll, salmon nigiri, miso soup | Date night, lighter appetites |
| Burgers | Classic cheeseburger, fries, onion rings, a milkshake | Comfort cravings, solo nights |
| Mediterranean | Chicken shawarma plate, falafel wrap, hummus, tabbouleh | Fresh but filling, vegetarians |
| Wings | Buffalo or garlic parmesan wings, celery, blue cheese | Game night, groups |
| Poke | Salmon or ahi bowl over rice with edamame and cucumber | Quick solo dinners, fresh cravings |
A few notes on the table
Chinese and Indian are the strongest choices for sharing. The dishes are designed to sit in the middle of the table with rice or bread, so a group can order four or five things and pass them around.
Mexican and Mediterranean handle mixed diets well. Both have plenty of meat, vegetarian, and dairy-free options on the same menu, which makes them easy for groups with different needs.
Sushi and poke are best eaten right away. They don’t reheat, so order only what you’ll finish tonight.
Burgers and wings are the classic comfort order. If you want a chain rather than a local spot, the fast food wheel spins through US chains and suggests something specific to get.
Still can’t decide? Spin the Fast Food Wheel →
When Everyone Wants Something Different
This is where most takeout nights fall apart. One person wants pizza, another wants Thai, and nobody wants to give in.
Try one of these fixes:
- Pick a flexible menu. Mediterranean, Mexican, and diner-style places have something for nearly everyone.
- Use a food hall or multi-restaurant kitchen. Some delivery apps let you order from several kitchens in one order.
- Rotate who chooses. Whoever picked last time sits this one out.
- Let chance decide. Put each person’s pick into the random restaurant picker, agree to accept the result, and spin. You can also spin a restaurant type and use the “near me” link to find a place close by.
The last one works best because nobody can complain about a choice they agreed to leave to luck.
How to Order Takeout Smart
A little planning makes takeout cheaper, tastier, and more useful the next day.
Order family-style
For a group, order one fewer main dish than there are people, then add rice, bread, or a couple of sides. For four people, three mains plus rice and one vegetable dish is usually plenty. Everyone gets variety, and you waste less.
Choose food that travels well
Some dishes survive a 30-minute drive better than others.
- Travels well: curries, stews, fried rice, burritos, pizza, braised meats.
- Travels poorly: French fries, tempura, anything crispy sealed in a closed container.
- Ask for it separate: broth for ramen or pho, dressing for salads, sauce for wings.
Keeping wet and crispy parts apart is the single best trick for better delivery food.
Plan for leftovers
If you want lunch tomorrow, order something that reheats well on purpose. Curries, fried rice, lo mein, enchiladas, and pizza are all great the second day.
Reheat it the right way
The microwave is fine for some things and ruins others. Here is what works:
- Pizza: a covered skillet over medium-low heat for a few minutes, or an air fryer.
- Fries, wings, and fried chicken: an oven or air fryer, never the microwave.
- Fried rice and noodles: a hot skillet with a small splash of water.
- Curries and stews: stovetop or microwave, stirred halfway, with a splash of water if thick.
- Burritos: wrapped in foil in the oven.
- Sushi and poke: don’t reheat. Eat them the same day.
As a general food safety rule, refrigerate leftovers within two hours and eat them within three to four days.
Fast Takeout Picks for Common Nights
Sometimes you just want someone to tell you. Here are quick defaults:
- Late night: pizza or a burger chain, since they tend to stay open latest.
- Cold or rainy night: pho, ramen, or an Indian curry with naan.
- Kids at the table: plain cheese pizza, chicken tenders, or a build-your-own taco kit.
- Game night: wings, pizza, and a big order of nachos.
- Date night in: sushi or Thai, eaten on real plates.
- Eating alone: a poke bowl, a burrito, or a shawarma plate.
Pick One and Order
The best takeout choice is the one you make in the next five minutes. Answer the four questions, check the table, and commit. If you’re still going back and forth, spin the fast food wheel and order whatever it lands on. You’ll be eating sooner, and that’s the whole point.