The Week Everything Speeds Back Up
Late August in Sunnyvale means one thing for most families: school is back, and the slow, relaxed summer dinner schedule is gone. Between homework, after-school activities, and earlier bedtimes, the window for cooking a full halal dinner from scratch shrinks fast. Shishkabob Mediterranean’s family tray menu was already built for exactly this kind of week — hot, halal, and ready without anyone standing at a stove.
What’s Actually on a Family Tray
These aren’t a special back-to-school menu invented for the occasion — they’re the same trays Shishkabob Mediterranean has sold year-round, from the current menu:
- Beef & Chicken Tray ($65) — a mix of Kubideh and chicken kabobs, enough variety that picky eaters and adventurous ones both find something.
- Kubideh Tray ($65) — all ground beef kabob, for a house that already knows what the kids will eat.
- Chicken Tray ($55) — a lighter, all-chicken option.
- Basmati Rice Tray ($20) and Veggies Kabob Tray ($20) — round out the tray with a base and a vegetable side.
- Garden Salad Tray ($25) or Greek Salad Tray ($30) — an easy way to add greens without extra prep.
A Beef & Chicken Tray plus a Basmati Rice Tray covers a family of four to six for one dinner, with leftovers likely for the next day’s lunch — useful on a week when packing lunches is already back on the to-do list.
Why This Beats Cooking on a School Night
The math is simple: a from-scratch halal dinner for a family takes shopping, prep, and cook time that a typical weeknight after school pickup, homework, and activities doesn’t have room for. Ordering a tray in advance for pickup, or scheduling delivery, removes all three steps and replaces them with one call or a few clicks online.
Because everything on the menu is halal-certified with no pork or bacon, families who need halal food don’t have to build a special-request order or worry about cross-contamination concerns — it’s the default, not an add-on.
Timing It Around the School Week
For the first week back (roughly August 15–21 for most local districts), ordering a family tray for pickup on day one or two takes one dinner entirely off the plate while everyone adjusts to earlier mornings. It’s also a reasonable standing order for Sunday-night meal planning — a tray covers dinner and next-day lunch prep in a single order.
A Quick Note on Portion Planning
If you’re ordering for a single school-night dinner rather than a full week of leftovers, the smaller combos — Shish Kabob Combo ($23), Chicken Combo ($22), or Lamb Kabob Combo ($29) — scale down more easily for a family of three or four without leaning on the larger $55–$65 trays.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people does a family tray feed? The Beef & Chicken Tray ($65) includes a mix of Kubideh and chicken kabobs — generally enough for a family of four to six for one meal, with leftovers likely.
Are the family trays halal? Yes, all trays use the same halal-certified meats as the rest of the menu.
Can I order a tray for pickup instead of delivery? Yes, trays can be ordered for pickup or delivery through the direct ordering system.
Do you need advance notice for a tray order? The site doesn’t publish a specific lead time for tray orders; calling ahead at (408) 685-2037 for larger trays is a safe way to confirm timing during a busy week.
What if my family isn’t all meat-eaters? Pair a Veggies Kabob Tray ($20) or Vegetarian Plate ($14) alongside a meat tray so everyone at the table has an option.
Is ordering a tray direct cheaper than through a delivery app? Yes — ordering directly through Shishkabob Mediterranean’s own site avoids third-party delivery markup, which matters more on a larger tray order than a single plate.
