5 Things to Consider When Picking a Cooking Class Team Building Event (Without Losing Your Appetite)

Planning a team-building activity? A cooking class sounds like the perfect recipe: interactive, fun, collaborative—and delicious. But not all cooking classes are created equal. Some will bring your team closer together; others may just bring out hangry chaos and a surprise cleaning fee.

Before you book, here are 5 things to consider when picking a cooking class team building event—so your team bonds over noodles, not booking regrets.

1. 🧑‍🍳 Things to Consider When Picking a Cooking Class Team Building Event: Who’s Teaching?

When evaluating cooking class team building events, one of the most important things to consider is who’s running the show. Are they just a part-time hobbyist who binge-watched Food Network, or someone who actually trained at a culinary institute?

A professionally run cooking class should be led by instructors with real experience, especially when you’re paying for a corporate event. Bonus points if they specialize in engaging groups and managing dietary needs, not just knife skills.

Pro tip: If they teach ramen and the hosts were trained at a professional ramen school in Japan—like we were at The Story of Ramen—you’re probably in very good hands (and very tasty ones, too).

2. 🌟 What Are the Reviews Saying?

Let’s be honest—if people didn’t enjoy their experience, they will post about it online. Yelp and Google Reviews are your best indicators of what to expect.

When researching things to consider when picking a cooking class team building event, don’t just look at the star rating. Read the comments. Are reviewers saying it was well-organized, fun, and stress-free? Or are they hinting that the group left confused and hungry?

Pro tip: Look for mentions of team-building, private group events, or corporate outings. Those are the most relevant for your needs.

3. 🥬 Dietary Restrictions: Will Everyone Be Able to Eat?

Let’s be honest: your team includes a vegan engineer, a Whole30 QA analyst, a gluten-free product manager, and your UX designer thinks cilantro tastes like soap. Your chosen cooking class must be able to accommodate a range of dietary needs—without treating those folks like second-class citizens.

One of the top things to consider when selecting a cooking class is whether they can accommodate everyone on your team. And not just with “here’s a side salad” energy. A proper experience allows every guest to feel included and satisfied.

At The Story of Ramen, for example, we let guests customize their bowls, so everyone gets exactly what they want—whether it’s plant-based or pork-packed.

4. 💸 Watch Out for Surprise Fees (We Mean Surprise Surprise)

Here’s a common mistake: you find a class that says "$85 per person"… then suddenly your total comes out to way more. That’s because some cooking classes sneak in undisclosed service fees, mandatory tips, or cleaning charges at the last minute—leaving your finance department with indigestion.

At The Story of Ramen, we do charge a one-time private booking fee for private events, and we disclose it upfront. If you split that cost across your group, yes, your per-person cost might land closer to $115—but it’s all clearly stated from the start. The issue isn’t cost—it’s surprise cost.

Transparency is key. Ask for a complete cost breakdown early on so there are no unwelcome surprises.

5. 🚗 Location Logistics: Is It Easy to Get There?

You found the perfect cooking class… but it’s located in an industrial park next to a tire shop, and parking is a scavenger hunt. Not ideal.

When choosing a cooking class team building event, think through accessibility and transportation. Is it near public transit? Is it easy to reach via Uber or Lyft? Is there parking for the one person who insists on driving their Prius from the suburbs?

A convenient location means more on-time arrivals, less stress, and a smoother experience.

Extra bonus: If it’s in a lively neighborhood (like our studio in San Francisco), your team can head out for a nightcap or unwind at nearby bars after class—because you’ll already be full from dinner.

Final Thoughts: Book the Class That Brings the Heat—In a Good Way

Planning a cooking class for your team is a great way to mix collaboration, creativity, and a full belly. Just don’t get stuck with a lackluster experience, unclear costs, or instructors who can’t boil water without Googling it.

So remember these five things to consider when picking a cooking class team building event: culinary credibility, real reviews, dietary inclusion, upfront pricing, and convenient location.

At The Story of Ramen, we love helping teams bond over fresh noodles and good laughs. Whether you’re a group of seasoned foodies or just looking to blow off steam with a rolling pin, we’re here to make sure your experience is fun, inclusive, and totally slurp-worthy.

Ready to trade those 'too many cooks' vibes for a 'too many laughs and delicious noodles' reality? Click here to check our pricing and calendar – your team (and their stomachs) will thank you: https://www.ramenpartysf.com/privatebooking/in-person/ramen-making-party!