For us it's a mix of we don't love cooking and aren't good cooks, and also we don't always like to eat the same thing.

With takeout, we just need to agree on a type of good and/or a restaurant, then we can eat whatever we individually prefer from that restaurant.

Home cooked meals generally mean that one or more of us isn't very happy with what we're eating. Also it takes too long to cook. By the time we're done working, walking the dog, etc, it's already late. Takeout is easier than cooking.

We cook plenty. But honestly I am happier with what I am eating when we do takeout, a lot of the time.

I like the variety of takeout, too. Though we've really gotten into a rut with it this year. So I guess in theory I like the variety.

My food is always hot when I get home. But the fact that you are calling and driving (rather than submitting your order online and then popping around the corner to pick it up) tells me you live in some sprawling suburb with crap options. Those of us who live in walkable neighborhoods filled with all types of cuisines quite enjoy our takeout. We're not limited to fast food / fast casual, but get meals from actual restaurants that in non-pandemic times would be a lovely dining experience. Also delivery services vastly opens up dinner options without having to leave the comfort of my couch.

I can't cook a lot of different ethnic foods and if I do it doesn't taste the same- Chinese and Indian food in particular. We love to make pizza, but it's nothing like our coal fired pizza joint down the street.

We rarely get takeout though, maybe once a month. We don't think it's healthy and we also are just used to cooking because we were poorer in our 20s.

1. I can't cook much of anything. I eat a lot of salads for dinner, or Kraft mac & cheese.
2. I hate cleaning up.
3. I can do things like this: yesterday I was on my way home around 12:30pm, hadn't eaten yet at all, and ordered Uber Eats. It arrived five minutes after I got home. So convenient!

Not chopping onions while working is a great appeal.

I just get sick of cooking. Most of the takeout and restaurants near the area we can afford to live are mediocre at best, so we will occasionally drive to Rockville or bethesda for takeout.

I really don't get it either OP. If I ate out or had takeout more than once a week, I would weigh 50 pounds more than I do right now. I know--because I used to be exhausted at the end of the workday and gained that much from dining out.

Anonymous wrote:Why is everyone getting so much take out? What is the appeal?

I get that people are sick of cooking. But still. My takeout experiences, except for pizza and Chinese, have been disappointing at best.

By the time I call, wait on hold, drive, wait for pickup turn, get home- more than enough has elapsed to cook something myself. And by the time I go to eat the takeout, it is lukewarm and soggy. Is anyone really loving their takeout experience? Share what you do and where you like to order

I hate it. But I feel strongly about supporting our local restaurants. And it gives me a nice, once-a-week break from cooking. We've been taking turns picking the place and the kids are into it.

Because I am so sick of cooking dinner and sometimes it's nice to not have to do it.

Also, because I value the local restaurants in our neighborhood and want to keep supporting them now so they are still there when we can all jam into a room and be close to each other again.

We love the convenience and variety of delivered food.

Anonymous wrote:Because I don't want to cook every single night, and because there are foods that I don't make as well or keep the ingredients on hand for.

We tend to get takeout from places that are close to our home, usually that we can walk to, which means it doesn't take a long time to pick up. It also means the food is still hot when we get home. We have local places that do Italian, pizza, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Mexican, BBQ, Chinese, and fried chicken, all of which have travelled well.

Yes. Our favorites are Thai, sushi, Indian, Mexican. I can cook with those flavors but sometimes you still want the takeout version with no ingredients, cooking, and minimal clean up. I appreciate the break as well as that people can individually order what they want. I don’t cook 4 different curries if I am making it. I do maybe 95% of the cooking in the winter but my spouse does take out pickup so that is found time for me.

Anonymous wrote:Why is everyone getting so much take out? What is the appeal?

I get that people are sick of cooking. But still. My takeout experiences, except for pizza and Chinese, have been disappointing at best.

By the time I call, wait on hold, drive, wait for pickup turn, get home- more than enough has elapsed to cook something myself. And by the time I go to eat the takeout, it is lukewarm and soggy. Is anyone really loving their takeout experience? Share what you do and where you like to order

Because many people are sick of cooking 2-3 meals a day for multiple people without a break for the past 11 months, and they are responsible enough not to eat maskless in person at restaurants during a pandemic.

Feel free not to do it, but don't mistake that that makes you superior.

Because I don't want to cook every single night, and because there are foods that I don't make as well or keep the ingredients on hand for.

We tend to get takeout from places that are close to our home, usually that we can walk to, which means it doesn't take a long time to pick up. It also means the food is still hot when we get home. We have local places that do Italian, pizza, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Mexican, BBQ, Chinese, and fried chicken, all of which have travelled well.

We cook a LOT. 4 of us home most of the day, it's a lot of meal prep and clean up.

There is SO much more than Chinese and pizza. Any Asian food really is good for takeout. We do sushi/Japanese, Thai, Indian, pho, ramen etc. We also do Mexican, normally District Taco or similar. We also do pizza here and there.

If we want burgers, we tend to pick a place very close to our house because buns get soggy and fries get cold.

We do a combo of pickup and delivery. Thankfully my DH doesn't mind doing the pickup. And many places have curbside now, so you don't even have to get out of your car.

I still cook 5 nights a week and that's plenty.

But also, if you don't want to get takeout, don't. No one is making you.

Delivery. Not takes out. Text a few words and then someone shows up at your house with a lobster roll. Pretty amazing to me. That is the appeal. Lobster roll in a bathrobe.

Why is everyone getting so much take out? What is the appeal?

I get that people are sick of cooking. But still. My takeout experiences, except for pizza and Chinese, have been disappointing at best.

By the time I call, wait on hold, drive, wait for pickup turn, get home- more than enough has elapsed to cook something myself. And by the time I go to eat the takeout, it is lukewarm and soggy. Is anyone really loving their takeout experience? Share what you do and where you like to order