I Tried a Goldbelly Subscription Box and It Satisfied All of My Cravings

I’ve lived in a handful of states—California primarily, but also Wisconsin, Ohio and Missouri. People gripe about moving, and for good reason. It is a pain. But amid the stress and chaos that are upheaving my life, I find exhilaration in the opportunity to make friends, build memories and find places in each new location. And when I say places, I mostly mean restaurants.

I’ve come to find each city, no matter how small, has its own collection of food traditions (such as my childhood favorite from Cincinnati, goetta) kept alive at local haunts. I have a favorite treat specific to all the towns in which I’ve spent time. And man, do I miss them when I’m gone!

Enter Goldbelly, home to some of the best food subscription boxes and famous foods. Thankfully, it’s around to satisfy any craving.

Goldbelly Subscription Box

The Goldbelly subscription box is an excellent way to experience the country's most famous restaurants and bakeries—no travel necessary!

Shop on Goldbelly

What is Goldbelly?

Goldbelly is for people like me—people who miss and crave the hot sandwich they had that one time during a layover in New York City years ago or the ice cream they grew up eating summer after summer in their hometown. It’s also for people who are just plain curious about food.

Founded in 2013 with the mission to “bring people comfort through food,” Goldbelly partners with local and regional shops, chefs and restaurants to ship their beloved specialties anywhere in the U.S. So, yes, I could have the aforementioned coffee cake from California on my Wisconsin doorstep in just a few days.

Offerings include Shake Shack burgers, Ina Garten’s coconut cake and rare tropical produce from a company called Miami Fruit. It’s safe to say this site has it all.

Prepared products are available for a one-time purchase, but Goldbelly also offers meal kits, care packages, other subscription boxes, merch and gift cards.

Goldbelly Subscription Box Features

• Wide range of Goldbelly subscriptions, from pizzas and sandwiches to cookies and pies
• The variety rivals other popular subscriptions like fruit, coffee and bacon, giving you plenty of personalized gifting or self-treat options
• Food subscriptions at Goldbelly can be purchased in monthly (recurring), 3-month, 6-month and 12-month increments
• Each shipment featured a unique, highly sought-after food item from somewhere in the U.S., selected by the Goldbelly team
• Every box includes at least four servings, often more
• Deliveries typically come with a QR code that provides storage and preparation instructions for each item, enhancing user convenience and reducing guesswork

How We Tested the Goldbelly Subscription Box

Like our favorite tea subscription boxes, each month’s offering is shipped directly to the recipient’s door. With the 3-month subscription box, I could’ve received anything from barbecue to chocolate chip cookies, though Goldbelly also offers more niche boxes with themes such as pizza, bacon and pie.

I learned each box’s contents via email a few days before it shipped (customization is not possible with this service). Then I waited eagerly until the well-packed, well-insulated treat appeared at my door. Here are the delicious eats I received.

June 2023: Emporium Pies Cherry Bomb Pie

This beautiful behemoth hails from Emporium Pies in the Dallas metro area. The thick and luxurious lattice crust tastes like a bakery pastry—a treat within a treat, if you will. And that’s not to mention the tart cherries popping with flavor in each bite.

Thanks to the instructions for heating up the whole pie as well as a single slice, it was so simple for me to enjoy this summertime bliss piece by piece. I suggest eating it a la mode with homemade vanilla ice cream.

July 2023: Central Grocery Muffuletta

If you caught the allusion to my salami obsession earlier, then it should come as no surprise that I love muffuletta. I was buzzing to sample this New Orleans staple—Central Grocery is dubbed the “Home of the Original Muffuletta.”

I received two 9-inch, round sesame loaves loaded with Italian meats, Swiss, provolone, marinated olive salad and pickled veggies—one for me and one to give my friend who has been craving the sammy since a trip to NOLA two years ago. The pre-prepared sandwiches weren’t soggy at all and crisped up to perfection in the oven or microwave.

August 2023: PieCaken Bakeshop Strawberry Lemon PieCaken

As a fan of chef and PieCaken Bakeshop founder Zac Young and as someone who’s always been intrigued by Taste of Home’s Chocolate Pecan PieCaken, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this hodgepodge of a dessert.

Straight from the storefront in New York City, this seasonal sweet contains layers of lemon cake, strawberry-swirled cheesecake, lemon frosting and strawberry-rhubarb pie. It’s a summery version of the iconic fall PieCaken. The 6-inch stack was bright, cheery and tasty—and so much easier to slice than you’d expect. Served cold, the concoction required no prep aside from plating.

For another Goldbelly treat, try ordering a replica of JFK’s wedding cake. Like to bake your own cakes? Baking subscription boxes are fun alternatives that allow you to enjoy the process without the stress of shopping for ingredients.

July 2024: Pearson Farm’s Georgia Peaches and Pound Cake

July’s box arrived on Editor Emily Way’s doorstep with a perishable warning, so she opened it right away. Inside was a package containing a moist, delicious peach cake accompanied by a dozen peaches from Pearson Farm.

“I brought both the cake and the peaches along to a family barbecue,” notes Emily. “The peaches offered the perfect complement to offset the smoky flavors of the meats. They’re juicy and perfectly ripe and arranged in such a way that there was absolutely no damage during transit. I was especially excited that my 10-year-old niece was able to sample her first peach straight from the state that’s known for them!”

The peach cake was absolutely the star of the show. Moist, delicious and light, it makes the ideal summertime barbecue finisher. Unsurprisingly, there was none left after the family bash finished up.

August 2024: Jack Stack Barbecue Box

August’s box arrived absolutely crammed with cold packs, as it contained a frozen Jack Stack BBQ smorgasbord. Pork burnt ends, spare ribs, KC classic barbecue sauce and a container of cheesy corn bake made for a delightful summer barbecue meal.

Inside the package is also a heating guide, so it’s easy to reheat and enjoy the delicious (and famous) Kansas City flavors. Emily and her husband tossed both the thawed ribs and burnt ends on their trusty pellet grill over a bed of applewood, where they cooked them until juice bloomed out of the cuts and the exterior sizzled.

While Emily isn’t much of a meat eater, she notes this was some of the best barbecue she’s ever had. For those who don’t have the energy to set up the pit, there are also some easy-to-follow oven heating instructions, which worked super well for leftovers, too.

Pros

• Famous, high quality foods
• Mix of sweet and savory offerings
• The surprise element (“What’s next month going to be?!”)
• Ability to enjoy foods from other parts of the country
• Reliability (boxes arrived in a timely manner and every four weeks without fail)
• Platform for small businesses

Cons

• Pricey
• Inability to customize (not ideal for picky eaters or those with allergies or dietary restrictions)

Additional Testing in 2026

After testing the Icons of Goldbelly over the past few years, we decided it was time to branch out and try some more niche Goldbelly subscription boxes in 2026. Beyond the three options mentioned above, there are also monthly Goldbelly food delivery options for crowd-pleasing favorites like cookies and ice cream.

So, are they worth the hype (and the price tag)? Here’s our take on the cookie and ice cream subscriptions we’ve tested so far this year.

January 2026: Monthly Cookie Subscription

Goldbelly’s monthly cookie subscription delivers a rotating selection of gourmet treats from bakeries all over the U.S. It earned our overall best cookie of the month club pick thanks to the sheer variety of options.

Emily tested four of the different boxes. “My boxes included the famous black-and-white cookies from William Greenberg Desserts, a tin of Brooklyn Blackout Cookies, a box of Chip City cookies and two boxes of Jacques Torres chocolate chip cookies,” she says. “Overall, I was impressed not only with the packaging (no errant crumbs or broken bits to speak of) but also with the flavor and freshness of the cookies.”

These cookie boxes are big enough to share, too, with each box feeding anywhere from six to eight folks. “I brought each month’s box to my sister’s home in order to gather a variety of opinions. The black and white cookies were a crowd favorite,” Emily says. “The Brooklyn Blackout cookies, Jacques Torres chocolate chip cookies (my personal favorite) and Chip City cookies were also a big hit.”

Similar to the ice cream subscription below, this cookie box is on the pricier side. It also may not cater to those seeking gluten-free or vegan treats, and some customers have shared that a few offerings did not quite meet expectations. Even so, we still think it remains a fun and tasty option, especially for gift-givers and curious dessert fans, offering a chance to sample standout cookies from well-known bakeries and enjoy a sweet surprise each month.

March 2026: Monthly Ice Cream Subscription

With Goldbelly’s ice cream subscription, you’ll get deliveries of gourmet ice cream, gelato and ice cream sandwiches from cult-favorite shops across the country.

Shopping Editor Mary Henn tested her first ice cream subscription box in March 2026. Her delivery, which arrived packed on dry ice in a Styrofoam cooler, included six pints of Humphry Slocombe Ice Cream: Secret Breakfast, Vietnamese Coffee, Honey Graham, Peanut Butter Fudge Ripple, Malted Milk Chocolate and Matchadoodle. Worth noting: Those six flavors are the brand’s best-selling pints, available to shop at Goldbelly, but at a price higher than the cost of a subscription box.

“Overall, the ice cream was very good,” Mary says. “It tasted rich and was clearly made with quality, whole ingredients. Each flavor had a distinct, true ‘milk’ taste, and nothing felt overly sugary, overloaded with mix-ins or overly processed.”

“I did notice that a few pints had ice and frost buildup on the outside, and some of the plastic seals under the lids were slightly lifted—likely due to expansion during shipping,” Mary notes. “A few pints also had a thin layer of frost (freezer burn) on the surface, but it didn’t affect the ice cream underneath.”

Our tester said Secret Breakfast was her favorite pint. It features bourbon-spiked milk ice cream mixed with crunchy cornflake cookies. The flavor is rich and indulgent, made with milk, cream, sugar and egg yolks for a custard-like texture.

There are only a handful of Humphry Slocombe locations in California, so if you want to try it elsewhere, you will likely need to order online. “It’s cool that Goldbelly offers a six-pint box, with flavors that aren’t even available on the Humphry Slocombe site. The monthly Goldbelly Ice Cream Subscription typically highlights a single brand by showcasing multiple flavors,” Mary says.

At $99 per box, this subscription comes at a premium price. However, if you want to try artisan ice cream that is hard to find locally, it may be worth the splurge. “While I wish the packaging was just slightly more secure, I certainly think it’s a fun treat and would make a great gift for serious ice cream lovers,” Mary says.

March, April and May 2026: Monthly Bacon Subscription

Enjoy something a bit meatier? Tester Marisa Hillman tried three months of Goldbelly’s bacon club, which offers approximately 2 to 5 pounds of bacon from a new butcher each month. Her first box, which was her favorite, came with four 14-ounce packages of bacon from The Loveless Cafe in Nashville: hickory, applewood, maplewood and peppered.

“I cooked a package of the Goldbelly bacon, immediately followed by a package of grocery store (Jimmy Dean brand) bacon,” says Marisa. “The difference was incredible. The Goldbelly bacon slices were thick and flavorful with minimal grease left behind. The grocery store bacon slices were thin and I had to empty the grease three times while cooking. I weighed cooked slices and a slice of Goldbelly bacon weighs twice as much as a slice of grocery store bacon.”

Marisa’s second delivery was a bit more adventurous. It included two 12-ounce packages of bacon, one 8-ounce package of jowl bacon and one 8-ounce package of bacon bits from Smoking Goose in Indiana. While she didn’t love the jowl bacon, she did enjoy the bacon bits and Smoking Goose bacon. Despite the jowl bacon not appealing to her family, Marisa notes that those who enjoy exploring new cuts might like it better.

The third box was Marisa’s least favorite, and included two 1-pound packages of regular bacon from Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams. Unfortunately, this shipment contained bacon which was mostly fat and also didn’t appeal to her.

Overall, we recommend this subscription for folks who are open to non-traditional bacon—especially adventurous cuts. Families who prefer a more familiar bacon flavor and texture may want to skip this one.

March, April and May 2026: Monthly Pie Subscription

Deputy Editor Katie Bandurski highly recommends the Goldbelly Pie of the Month Club, which she enjoyed for three months. In her review, she discusses the variety of options she received, including a sour cream apple walnut pie from Little Pie Company, a variety of hand pies from Hubig’s in New Orleans and a Derby and Golden Pecan pie combo from Kern’s Kitchen.

“I LOVED the apples,” raves Katie of the sour cream apple walnut pie, which required a brief stint in the oven just to heat up. “They were tart and super thinly sliced. I was amazed that they weren’t soggy but still had a nice bite. The sour cream added a creaminess I can’t say I’ve tried before. This pie was very good and tasted homemade. A little too sweet for my taste, but exceptional packaging and quality.”

“I was impressed by the value already: two 9-inch pies, each weighing over a pound,” says Katie of her Kern’s pies. And when she went to enjoy them, she was pretty smitten. “The instructions say to cut the pies while frozen/cold, so I did just that. I was able to get eight beautiful slices of pie.” She thawed both in her fridge for several hours, then warmed the pies in a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes until warm and melty.

While the first and third months were winners, unfortunately the Hubig’s shipment didn’t quite hit the mark for Katie.

“The apple pie had a viscous, gloopy filling with barely any chunks of real apple. It had a slightly cinnamon-forward flavor, but the aftertaste was very artificial. The lemon filling looked alien—almost neon green. Again, very artificial tasting. Similar to the chocolate pie, the coconut filling was very pudding-like. It wasn’t entirely smooth, with some flecks of coconut. Many consumers may not care, but with a high price tag, I would expect higher quality,” says Katie.

While the second box missed the mark, it was a good value, and 85% of Goldbelly customers give them high ratings. Folks who don’t mind artificial ingredients may enjoy these hand pies a bit more. Despite this small snafu, Katie still highly recommends the pie box. Not only is it a fantastic low-effort gift that leaves a big impact, but it’s also a great way to try new-to-you flavors from some of the nation’s most celebrated bakeries.

Final Verdict

Fun—that’s the word that comes to mind when reflecting on my experience with the 3-month Goldbelly subscription box. Some items were sweet; others savory. Some businesses were historical; others trendy. Some items were seasonal; others mainstays. But they were all pleasant surprises to me.

Although I loved this service and think any culinary explorer would, too, I don’t recommend it to those with dietary restrictions, strong preferences or allergies. Since you can’t control what’s in your box, it’s not the best bet for gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan folks. That said, Goldbelly says it is dutifully working to make its subscriptions more allergy-friendly in the future.

In the meantime, try any of the company’s many one-off items that fit your tastes. They make for a great food gift!

Where To Buy a Goldbelly Subscription Box

Goldbelly Subscription Box

The Goldbelly subscription box is an excellent way to experience the country's most famous restaurants and bakeries—no travel necessary!

Shop on Goldbelly

Goldbelly subscriptions are available directly through Goldbelly’s website, as are individual food items. And, of course, if you’re in the same city as your favorite Goldbelly-partnered restaurant, don’t forget to stop by for an in-person purchase. They also make a fun gift of the month club for foodies.

FAQ

How much does a Goldbelly subscription box cost?

The 3-month subscription box costs $230 (shipping is free). That’s a pretty penny, but if you travel to eat, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than a couple of plane tickets.

And if you break it down, each item comes at a discounted price through the subscription service. When purchased individually, items like the muffuletta and the PieCaken cost $130 costs $145 respectively. Additionally, prices on other Goldbelly monthly subscriptions vary. The monthly cookie box, for instance will run you $150 for a 3-month subscription.

Why You Should Trust Us

I am the product testing manager for Taste of Home as well as a total foodie. My team assesses online trends, search traffic and audience engagement to determine which items warrant testing firsthand in our dedicated office space or homes. This includes everything from food processors to cookie subscriptions. As a former editor on Taste of Home’s print and digital teams, and as a journalist by trade, I’ve always valued the ideals of trustworthiness, fairness and integrity. I was previously in charge of gift guides and product lists for Taste of Home.

Emily Way has tested dozens of foods and drinks for Taste of Home, informing pieces like the best coffee concentrates and the best gift of the month clubs. Not only is she Taste of Home’s resident food and drinks expert, but she’s also a total foodie who loves trying new flavors from across the globe.