Tired of Pizza and Wings? Try These Game Day Delivery Ideas From DoorDash Instead

Why Should You Switch Up Your Usual Football Food This Season?

Football season gives you plenty of opportunities to enjoy your favorite foods, but ordering the same meals every weekend gets old. With months of games ahead, why not explore restaurants and cuisines you haven’t tried before?

There’s More to Game Day Than Pizza and Wings!

Pizza and wings have earned their place in football culture, but they’re hardly the only foods worth enjoying during a game. Restaurants serve everything from grilled meats and savory pastries to curries, rice bowls, and regional specialties.

Trying New Restaurants Can Become a Football Sunday Tradition

Some families wear their lucky jerseys every weekend, and others have a favorite spot on the couch or a halftime ritual they refuse to change. Choosing a new restaurant each Sunday could become another tradition! You might discover a neighborhood restaurant you’ve driven past a hundred times or finally sample a cuisine you’ve been curious about. By the end of the season, you could have several new family favorites.

Restaurant Delivery Makes Exploring Different Cuisines Easier

Trying unfamiliar foods is simpler when you can browse restaurant menus from your phone. Rather than deciding where to drive or attempting a complicated recipe, you can compare dishes and choose whatever catches your attention.

DoorDash lets you explore participating restaurants in your delivery area. Whether you’re curious about Ethiopian food, craving Korean barbecue, or interested in a local Caribbean restaurant, you can see what’s available before placing an order.

What Are the Best Game Day Delivery Ideas Beyond Pizza and Wings?

Some of the best game day delivery ideas come from cuisines you wouldn’t normally associate with football. Korean fried chicken, Mediterranean platters, Indian appetizers, and Vietnamese sandwiches offer alternatives to the usual menu. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or watching with the family, these restaurant favorites deserve a spot in your football Sunday rotation.

Korean Fried Chicken for a Crispy, Flavorful Alternative to Wings

Korean fried chicken is an excellent choice when you’re craving something crispy but want a change from traditional buffalo wings. It’s often coated in a thin, crunchy batter and finished with sauces such as sweet chili, soy garlic, or gochujang.

Order a combination of flavors, along with pickled radish to balance the richness of the chicken. Kimchi fried rice or Korean corn dogs can round out the meal. If you’re ordering for younger kids, look for plain or milder chicken options since some Korean sauces pack considerable heat.

Mediterranean Platters for a Little Bit of Everything

A Mediterranean spread works well when you’ve got people who prefer grazing throughout the game. Hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel, stuffed grape leaves, and warm pita give everyone plenty to choose from.

For something more substantial, consider a mixed grill platter with chicken shawarma, lamb kebabs, or kofta. Add a Greek salad or tabbouleh alongside the richer dishes.

Indian Appetizers for a Game Day Menu With Some Spice

Indian restaurants offer some seriously underrated football snacks. Vegetable samosas, onion bhajis, chicken tikka, and paneer pakora are all flavorful choices that can be served in smaller portions. Order several appetizers with mint chutney and tamarind sauce. Samosas provide a satisfying crunch, while chicken tikka offers a smoky, savory option that’s easy to eat without utensils.

Caribbean Jerk Chicken for Bold, Smoky Flavors

Caribbean food brings a completely different flavor profile to your football menu. Jamaican jerk chicken is known for its combination of warm spices, herbs, and chili peppers, often including Scotch bonnet peppers and allspice. A jerk chicken plate with rice and peas, fried plantains, and cabbage makes a filling meal. For something easier to pass around, look for Jamaican beef patties or smaller portions of jerk chicken.

Mexican Street Tacos for a Casual Football Feast

Tacos are already popular party food, but ordering from a restaurant specializing in Mexican street food introduces flavors beyond the typical ground beef and shredded cheese combination.

Try carne asada, al pastor, carnitas, or birria tacos. Each brings something different, from the citrus and pineapple notes of al pastor to the rich, slow cooked flavors of birria. Some restaurants also offer consommé for dipping birria tacos.

For a group, order several varieties with onions, cilantro, lime wedges, and salsa on the side. Everyone can customize their tacos without having to prepare individual plates.

Japanese Street Food for Something Unexpected

Japanese food offers plenty of options beyond sushi, especially if you’re interested in trying something new during football season. Takoyaki, savory batter balls traditionally filled with octopus, make an interesting appetizer. Gyoza are another crowd favorite, particularly with a soy based dipping sauce. Japanese karaage, a style of seasoned fried chicken, is worth considering if you want something familiar with a different flavor.

Vietnamese Banh Mi for a Fresh Take on Game Day Sandwiches

A banh mi sandwich offers a yummy combination of textures you don’t usually find in traditional football sandwiches. A crisp baguette is filled with ingredients such as grilled pork, chicken, or tofu, along with pickled vegetables, cucumber, cilantro, and savory sauces.

The contrast between rich protein and tangy vegetables makes these sandwiches particularly appealing when you’re tired of heavier takeout meals.

Order a few different fillings and cut the sandwiches into smaller portions for sharing. Vietnamese spring rolls or crispy egg rolls make a nice addition if you’re feeding several people.

Greek Gyros and Souvlaki for a Hearty, Shareable Meal

Greek food offers satisfying alternatives to burgers and traditional sandwiches. Gyros are typically served in warm pita with sliced meat, tomatoes, onions, and tzatziki, while souvlaki features grilled pieces of meat served on skewers or tucked into pita. Don’t overlook spanakopita, either. These flaky spinach and feta pastries make excellent appetizers when you want something savory that doesn’t involve fried chicken or chips.

Thai Food for Fans Who Want Something Different

Thai food deserves a spot on your list of game day delivery ideas, particularly when you’re craving a satisfying meal with plenty of flavor. Pad Thai is a familiar starting point, but there are other dishes worth exploring. Pad see ew features wide rice noodles in a savory sauce, while Thai basil chicken combines garlic, chilies, and fresh basil. Chicken satay with peanut sauce works as an appetizer, and fresh spring rolls provide a lighter option.

Many Thai restaurants allow you to select the spice level for certain dishes (Thai Hot, anyone?), which can be helpful when ordering for family members with different preferences.

Southern Comfort Food for a Cozy Fall Football Sunday

When the weather cools down, a hearty Southern meal can be especially appealing — I know it is for my family! Think chicken and dumplings, smothered pork chops, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, or shrimp and grits. Southern restaurants often offer combination plates with a main dish and several sides, making it relatively simple to feed a family. You could also order biscuits, fried okra, and cornbread for everyone to sample.

What Should You Order for Football Season Based on Your Plans?

Choosing what to order for football season depends on who’s watching with you. A quiet afternoon with the family calls for something different from a living room full of hungry friends. Consider how many people you’re feeding, whether everyone wants a full meal, and how long your gathering will last:

Watching the Game With Your Kids

When you’re watching football with younger children, familiar ingredients can make unfamiliar cuisines more approachable. Grilled chicken, rice, noodles, and mild dipping sauces are good starting points for kids who aren’t particularly adventurous eaters.

Look for restaurants offering smaller portions or dishes you can divide. Letting kids sample something new without expecting them to finish an entire serving can make the experience more enjoyable.

Having a Few Friends Over for Football

A small group gives you room to order an interesting assortment without worrying about feeding a huge crowd. Rather than having everyone order an individual entree, choose several appetizers and a couple of larger dishes.

Enjoying a Quiet Football Sunday at Home

Watching football alone or with your partner is a great opportunity to order something you’ve been wanting to try. You can choose a dish based on your own preferences without accommodating a large group. A fragrant curry, a bowl of pho, or a generously filled rice bowl can make a relaxing Sunday meal. Just consider whether you’ll be eating at the coffee table or sitting down somewhere more comfortable.

Hosting a Bigger Football Watch Party

Larger gatherings require more planning, particularly when you’re ordering from restaurants that specialize in individual meals rather than party platters.

Look for family meals, catering portions, or appetizer combinations. Estimate portions based on how long your gathering will last and whether the food is replacing lunch or dinner. For parties lasting several hours, substantial dishes alongside smaller snacks can work better than serving everything at once.

Which Restaurant Foods Hold Up Best During Game Day Delivery?

Temperature, packaging, sauces, and delivery time can affect how a dish tastes once it reaches your door, especially when you’re ordering for a group.

What Foods Travel Well Without Losing Their Flavor or Texture?

Curries, braised meats, rice dishes, and many noodle entrees generally hold up well during delivery. Their sauces help keep ingredients moist, and they don’t depend on maintaining a crispy exterior. Fried foods can be little bit trickier. Steam trapped inside containers can soften the coating, particularly if the food spends too long in transit. Look for restaurants that package sauces separately or offer dishes you can assemble after delivery.

Which Restaurant Dishes Are Easiest to Share?

Foods that can be divided without much preparation are convenient when people are moving between the couch, kitchen, and dining table. Some good choices include:

1. Skewers and grilled meats served individually.

2. Dumplings, samosas, and savory pastries.

3. Sandwiches and wraps cut into smaller portions.

4. Platters with separate proteins, vegetables, and sides.

5. Dips served with pita, bread, or other accompaniments.

How Can DoorDash Help You Find Something New for Game Day?

DoorDash lets you explore participating restaurants, compare dishes, and browse cuisines available for delivery in your area:

Explore Restaurants and Cuisines You Haven’t Tried Before

You might be surprised by the restaurants available in your neighborhood. Through DoorDash, you can search for particular cuisines, browse menus, and discover dishes outside your regular takeout rotation.

If you’ve never ordered Ethiopian food, look for a restaurant offering injera with a selection of stews. Curious about Peruvian cuisine (it’s delicious!)? See whether a nearby restaurant serves lomo saltado or pollo a la brasa. Restaurant selection varies by location, but browsing different menus can introduce you to places you might otherwise overlook.

Find Different Foods for Everyone Watching the Game

Not everyone in your household will want the same thing for dinner. One person might be craving something spicy, while another prefers grilled meat, noodles, or vegetarian dishes.

Order Restaurant Favorites Without Missing the Action

Cooking an elaborate football meal can mean spending a good portion of the afternoon preparing food, washing dishes, and checking what’s in the oven. With DoorDash, you can order from a participating restaurant and follow delivery progress through the app. Actual delivery times depend on restaurant preparation, driver availability, and local demand, so allow extra time during busy football weekends.

How Can You Make Trying New Food Part of Your Football Watching Routine?

Football season gives you plenty of weekends to experiment with different meals and is a perfect opportunity to make new food part of your routine:

1. Pick a Different Cuisine Each Weekend

One weekend might feature Korean dishes, while another could focus on Caribbean specialties or Middle Eastern favorites.

2. Let Everyone Take Turns Choosing the Restaurant

Giving each family member a turn to choose the restaurant makes ordering food something fun for the whole family. Kids may really enjoy having a say when they’re old enough to browse menus and recognize dishes they’d like to try.

3. Order Regional Favorites Based on the Teams Playing

Connect your football schedule to the menu by choosing a regional specialty associated with one of the teams playing.

A Philadelphia Eagles game could inspire cheesesteaks, while watching the New Orleans Saints might put you in the mood for po’boys or gumbo. Kansas City barbecue, Chicago Italian beef sandwiches, and Buffalo beef on weck are other regional foods worth exploring.

4. Keep a Running List of Your Favorite Game Day Discoveries

After a few weekends of experimenting, you’ll probably have some clear favorites. Keep a list of restaurants and dishes everyone enjoyed, along with anything you’d order differently next time. Maybe the Korean fried chicken was a hit, but the spicy sauce was too much for the kids. Perhaps the Mediterranean platter was perfect for feeding several people, or a local Thai restaurant became your new favorite place for Sunday dinner!