Frequently Asked Questions

Bhijams connects you with verified home cooks who come to your kitchen and prepare fresh, authentic Indian meals. You choose a cook, pick a time slot, and the cook handles the cooking and kitchen cleanup.

Browse our list of verified cooks, select the one you like, and choose an available date and time slot. You can book up to 4 single sessions at once, or choose our Monthly plan for a better rate plus a free Nutrition & Wellness plan. Payment is collected securely through Stripe at the time of booking.

For single sessions, guest checkout is available. However, a verified account is required for Monthly plans. Creating an account also lets you manage bookings, view history, and leave reviews.

Your cook arrives at the scheduled time, prepares 3-4 items (with the option to add up to 2 extra dishes) using your kitchen and cookware, stores the food in your fridge, and cleans the kitchen before leaving. Sessions typically last 2.5 to 4 hours depending on your household size. Each session prepares approximately 2–3 days of Indian meals for your household, depending on groceries, appetite, and how many meals you eat at home.

Yes. You purchase all groceries and ingredients before the session. Your cook may provide a shopping list in advance so you know exactly what to buy.

Every session includes 3-4 items, regardless of your household size. Rotis count as one of your dishes for the session — not an extra on top of them. You can add up to 2 extra dishes at $15 per dish per session.

You can add up to 2 extra dishes per session at $15 each when booking. The extra dish charge applies to every session in your plan — for example, adding 1 extra dish to a Monthly plan with 12 sessions adds $15 × 12 = $180 to the total. Extra dishes are included in the cook's session and cannot be added after payment.

Full Sessions are priced by household size: Small (1–2 people) is $110/session, Medium (3–4 people) is $130/session, and Large (5–6 people) is $150/session — these are base prices for single sessions. For smaller households, the Short Session is a flat $89 per visit (2 hours, 3 dishes, best for 2 adults).

The Short Session is a flat $89 per visit — 2 hours and 3 freshly cooked dishes — designed for smaller households (best for 2 adults). Book a single one-off session to try it out, or set up recurring visits — there's no minimum, and it's our lowest starting price. Full Sessions start at $110 and suit households of up to 6.

Both suit 1–2 people, so it comes down to how you like to eat. Pick the Short Session ($89) if you want fresh food with lighter portions each visit — it's cheaper, and you can book a single visit or set up recurring ones with no minimum. Pick the Small Full session ($110) if you'd rather cook a bigger batch less often — each visit gives you 2–3 days of meals (about double a Short Session), and you can book it as a one-off or recurring. In short: Short = fresh and light; Small Full = stock up, more leftovers.

Book one-time sessions (up to 4 at once), or a Monthly plan — 4 weeks, 2–5 sessions/week, 3% off every session, and Priya's Nutrition & Wellness plan included free. Smaller households can also choose the Short Session at a flat $89 per visit — bookable as a single one-off or recurring, with no minimum.

No hidden fees. The price you see includes the cook's fee and the platform service fee. Optional add-ons include extra dishes ($15 per dish, up to 2 per session) and extra roti packs ($15 per pack of 5 per session).

Credit or debit card through Stripe, or Interac e-Transfer. Card payments carry a small 1.5% processing fee — pay by e-Transfer instead and that fee is waived. Bhijams never stores your card information — it's handled entirely by Stripe, which is PCI-DSS Level 1 certified.

Cancel more than 24 hours before your session for a full refund. Cancel 5–24 hours before and a 10% late cancellation fee applies (you receive 90% back). Cancel within 5 hours of session start and the booking is non-refundable. No-shows follow a separate tiered policy. For full details, see our Cancellation & Refund Policy.

Yes, and rescheduling is free. From your dashboard you can propose a new date up to 7 days from the session's current date, and your cook accepts or declines it. A session (or a plan) can be rescheduled up to 2 times in total. You can reschedule any time up to 2 hours before the session starts — within that 2-hour window, or if you've used your 2 reschedules, email support@bhijams.com and we'll help.

Yes. Inform us at least 3–5 days in advance to pause your plan. We can extend your package by up to 7 extra days total. After that, any unused sessions expire.

If a cook cancels, we'll try to assign a replacement. If no replacement is available, you receive a full refund for that session. You'll be notified immediately via email.

Refunds are processed back to your original payment method within 5–10 business days.

Every cook goes through identity verification, background checks, document review (including food handler certification where applicable), an in-person or virtual interview, and a trial cooking session evaluation.

Yes. You can browse cook profiles and book the specific cook you prefer based on their cuisine specialties, availability, rating, and reviews.

No. Cooks use your kitchen and cookware. You purchase all groceries before the session. This ensures freshness and lets you control ingredient quality.

No. Extra dishes must be added through the Bhijams app before the session starts. Cooks are not able to agree to additional dishes on the spot — it's outside their session scope and the platform's payment system. You can add up to 2 extra dishes at $15 each at the time of booking.

No. Booking outside the platform is strictly prohibited and constitutes a breach of our Terms of Service. Both your account and the cook's account may be permanently blocked if this occurs. The platform handles payments, liability coverage, dispute resolution, and the cook's income protections — bypassing it removes all of those safeguards for both parties.

You can specify all dietary restrictions and allergies when booking. While our cooks take reasonable care to accommodate these, we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment since meals are prepared in your home kitchen.

Apply online through our Become a Cook page. After review, approved applicants upload documents, complete an interview, and receive login credentials to the Cook Portal.

You must be 18 or older, have experience cooking authentic Indian food, be able to commute to clients' homes within our service area (GTA & surrounding cities), and pass our verification process including a background check.

Cooks receive 70% of the session price for all sessions (Single and Monthly). Payouts are processed after each completed session.

Yes. Through the Cook Portal, you set your own availability — which days and time slots you're available. You are never forced to accept a booking that doesn't work for you.

Cooks are independent contractors, not employees of Bhijams. Bhijams is a marketplace platform that facilitates connections and handles payments. Cooks set their own schedules, accept or decline bookings freely, and are responsible for their own taxes. Bhijams does not remit payroll taxes or provide employment benefits.

Yes. Cooks are independent contractors and are responsible for reporting and paying their own income taxes and HST if applicable. Bhijams does not withhold taxes from cook payouts. We recommend consulting a tax professional if you have questions about self-employment income in Canada.

Yes. Every customer is verified with their full name, phone number, and address before a booking is confirmed. Cooks can see a customer's trust badge (New, Returning, Trusted, or Flagged) before accepting any booking. We also maintain a full record of customer history and any prior issues.

Cooks can add a trusted contact (family member or friend) who receives automatic SMS notifications when a session starts and ends, including the location and expected finish time. If a cook doesn't check in within 30 minutes of a scheduled session, Bhijams admin is automatically alerted.

Absolutely. A cook has the right to leave any session immediately if the customer behaves inappropriately, the home feels unsafe, the kitchen is dangerous, or the situation is very different from what was described. No cook is penalized for leaving an unsafe situation. Safety always comes first.

Customers must provide a clean, safe kitchen with a working stove, sink, adequate lighting and ventilation, and safe walking space. They must treat cooks with respect, keep aggressive pets away from the kitchen, and keep unsupervised children away from active cooking areas. See our Client Guidelines page for the full preparation checklist.

Bhijams takes all reports seriously. If a cook reports harassment, unsafe conditions, or any misconduct, we review the customer's account, follow up with the cook, and may suspend or permanently block the customer from the platform.

Contact Bhijams support within 24 hours of the session with a description and photos. We will review the report and mediate between you and the cook. Minor accidental damage is handled case by case. Note that Bhijams is not an insurer — significant damage claims may need to go through your home insurance.

Cooks can report incidents directly to Bhijams through the platform or by contacting our support team. Every report is reviewed, the customer account is assessed, and we follow up with the cook after the situation is resolved.

We currently serve 20+ cities across the Greater Toronto Area & surrounding cities, including Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto, Scarborough, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Ajax, Pickering, Kitchener, and more.

Pick a window — Morning (8 AM – 12 PM), Afternoon (12 PM – 5 PM) or Evening (5 PM – 8 PM) — then choose the exact hour you'd like your cook to arrive, so you know when to expect them. Available times depend on the individual cook's schedule and how long your session runs: a session takes about 2 hours for a Short Session and up to 4.5 hours for a large household, and every session finishes by 10 PM.

Yes, availability depends on individual cooks. Many cooks offer weekend slots. Check each cook's profile to see their weekly availability.