San Diego's Cocktail Reception Caterer Since 2001

Appetizers &
Hors d'Oeuvres Catering

Hot hors d'oeuvres by the dozen and beautifully arranged appetizer trays — potato pancakes, blintzes, knishes, meatballs, skewers, fresh crudités and more — delivered and set up for receptions, corporate events and private parties across San Diego.

⭐ 900+ Google Reviews 25+ Years in San Diego Ordered by the Dozen Delivered & Set Up

Hors d'Oeuvres Choices

25+

Years Serving SD

900+

Google Reviews

Next Day

Earliest Available

Order by phone or text

(858) 353-5528

Call or text — we respond fast

Order Online Now Request a Free Quote

Elijah's Restaurant, Delicatessen and Catering has been San Diego's trusted source for appetizer and hors d'oeuvres catering since 2001. Whether you are hosting a cocktail reception, a corporate mixer, a grand opening, a holiday party or a private celebration, we deliver beautifully arranged appetizer trays and hot hors d'oeuvres that impress your guests from the first bite. We serve offices, venues and homes across all of San Diego County. Call or text us at (858) 353-5528 — our catering team responds fast.

Hummus and pita platter with olives and vegetables

Crowd favorite

Hummus & Pita Platter

From $24.95 · three sizes

Creamy hummus served with fresh pita
Small: serves 10–12 · $24.95
Medium: serves 20–25 · $39.95
Large: serves 35–45 · $59.95
Pairs perfectly with any hot hors d'oeuvres
White plates, cocktail napkins & utensils included

Order Now Request a Quote

Most popular

Fresh Vegetable Crudités

From $29.95 · three sizes

Fresh-cut vegetables with your choice of dip
Small: serves 10–15 · $29.95
Medium: serves 15–30 · $45.95
Large: serves 30–45 · $59.95
Add hummus: 1/2 lb $5.95 · 1 lb $9.95

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Cheese and cracker platter with grapes and fresh fruit

Reception classic

Cheese & Cracker Platter

From $44.95 · three sizes

Cheese & crackers accented with fresh fruit
Small: serves 15–20 · $44.95
Medium: serves 20–30 · $64.95
Large: serves 30–40 · $89.95

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Fiesta ready

Fresh Guacamole & Chips Tray

From $34.95 · three sizes

Fresh guacamole with crisp tortilla chips
Small: serves 8–10 · $34.95
Medium: serves 15–20 · $64.95
Large: serves 25–30 · $89.95

Order Now Request a Quote

Hearty option

Wrap-Up Tray

From $34.95 · three sizes

Sliced tortilla wraps, assorted varieties
Small: serves 8–10 · $34.95
Medium: serves 15–20 · $64.95
Large: serves 25–30 · $89.95

Order Now Request a Quote

Reception catering spread with platters and hors d'oeuvres

Larger events

Planning a Bigger Reception?

Free custom quote

Hosting a cocktail hour, corporate mixer or celebration for 25+ guests?
Mix & match any of our hors d'oeuvres and trays, sized to your guest count and budget
Arranged fresh the day of your event, delivered set-up-ready
Call or text (858) 353-5528 — we respond fast

Request a Free Quote →

Placing a catering order online on a laptop

Call, Text or Order Online

Call or text our catering line at (858) 353-5528 or order online. Share your date, time, venue and guest count. We recommend ordering at least a day or two in advance for receptions.

Catering platters being prepared fresh in the kitchen

We Prepare Fresh

Every platter is arranged fresh in our kitchen the day of your event. Hot hors d'oeuvres are prepared to hold their temperature through your cocktail hour, and cold displays are built to look beautiful from first guest to last.

Elijah's catering delivered and set up on a buffet table

Delivered & Styled

We deliver and arrange every platter on your table, and we call ahead if traffic changes anything. White plates, cocktail napkins and utensils are included free; delivery is priced by drive time. Chafing dishes are available on request. We don't provide servers, bartenders, linens or rentals.

Why San Diego chooses us

San Diego's Most Trusted Reception Caterer

Over 25 years of catering cocktail hours, corporate receptions, and private parties across San Diego — and we have never lowered our standards.

Beautifully Styled Displays

Our team doesn't just drop off food — we arrange every tray and platter on-site so your guests are greeted by a display worthy of their photos. Presentation matters at a reception, and we treat it that way.

Fresh, Never Frozen

Every bite is prepared in our kitchen the day of your event — not pulled from a freezer. You'll taste the difference in our fresh-cut vegetables, golden potato pancakes, and hot hors d'oeuvres that actually taste like they were just made.

Planned Around Your Start Time

We know a 6pm cocktail hour starts at 6pm, so we plan each delivery around your start time and call ahead if traffic changes anything. Hundreds of San Diego corporate and private clients trust us with their most important events.

Vegetarian Choices

Vegetarian choices are on every menu, including hummus and pita, vegetable crudités and veggie skewers. We can't make substitutions or allergy accommodations: onion and garlic are in most dishes and everything is prepared in shared pans.

We deliver across San Diego County

Reception Catering Delivered to You

We deliver appetizer and hors d'oeuvres catering throughout San Diego County — from Oceanside and Carlsbad in the north to Chula Vista and Imperial Beach in the south. Not sure if we reach your venue? Call or text (858) 353-5528.

Sorrento Valley 92121

UTC / University City 92122

Carmel Valley 92130

La Jolla 92037

Sorrento Mesa / Mira Mesa 92126

Rancho Bernardo 92127

Rancho Bernardo 92128

Downtown SD 92101

Kearny Mesa 92123

Clairemont Mesa 92111

Mission Valley 92108

Poway 92064

Del Mar 92014

Rancho Santa Fe 92067

And more…

Map of Elijah's catering delivery area across San Diego County

Elijah's Catering Delivery Area — San Diego County

What San Diego is saying

Real Reviews from Real Clients

★★★★★

"We hired Elijah's for a 75-person investor reception and the spread had people taking pictures before they started eating. Everything was beautiful, fresh, and the team was completely professional."

— Corporate Event, Downtown San Diego

★★★★★

"The hot hors d'oeuvres at our holiday party were incredible. The potato pancakes and franks in a blanket were gone in minutes. Guests kept asking who catered — and we will absolutely book Elijah's again next year."

— Office Manager, La Jolla

★★★★★

"Ordered appetizer trays and a few dozen hot hors d'oeuvres for a 50-person birthday party. They set everything up at the venue and it looked like something out of a magazine. Tasted even better than it looked. Highly recommend."

— Private Host, Carmel Valley

Common questions

Appetizer Catering FAQ

How many appetizers do I need per guest?

As a rule of thumb: for a 1-hour pre-dinner cocktail hour, plan on 4–6 pieces per guest. For a 2-hour reception without dinner, 8–12 pieces. For a heavy hors d'oeuvres reception in place of dinner, 12–15 pieces. Not sure? Call or text us at (858) 353-5528 and we'll help you size it perfectly.

How far in advance do I need to order?

Standard orders need 24 hours' notice. Need it sooner? Call or text (858) 353-5528 and we'll tell you if we can make it work. For larger receptions or full hors d'oeuvres spreads, we recommend 3–5 days.

What is the minimum order?

Hors d'oeuvres are ordered by the dozen, and most appetizer trays serve 8–12 guests and up — so there's no big minimum. Order exactly what you need, and if you're not sure how much that is, call or text (858) 353-5528 and we'll help you size it.

Can I mix and match items?

Absolutely. Combine any of our hors d'oeuvres by the dozen with any appetizer trays to build the right spread for your event — a few dozen hot bites for a small office gathering, or a full reception spread for a large party.

Can you do a fully hot — or fully cold — menu?

Absolutely. Some clients want an all-cold display that's simple to set up and doesn't need warming equipment; others want a hot hors d'oeuvres spread with meatballs, stuffed mushrooms and franks in a blanket. Or a mix of both. We'll build the right menu for your event.

Do you deliver across all of San Diego?

Yes. We deliver throughout San Diego County — from Oceanside and Carlsbad in the north all the way to Chula Vista and Imperial Beach, and from the coast to El Cajon and Santee. Delivery is priced by drive time ($19.95 to $74.95), and online orders carry a 3% service fee. Call or text (858) 353-5528 to confirm your venue.