Everyone loves a birthday. There’s cake, a reason to celebrate, and fun activities to look forward to. So, what could possibly go wrong?
Two words: The food.
We’ve seen it happen too often; even one slightly misjudged catering decision sours the mood and leaves guests with a bad taste in their mouths — literally.
To be fair, it’s hard planning meals for dozens of guests, each with different dietary preferences — even for us professionals. But if you’re looking for options, here are 10 catering ideas for a birthday party or quinceanera that hit the mark.
1. Slider Stall
No two birthday parties are alike. Some prefer a casual set-up in the park, while others book out massive banquet halls in Glendale. As you’d imagine, there’s a difference between the food you’d serve at a children’s party and a more formal sit-down affair.
However, one of the most favored birthday catering ideas across every setting is the slider. These burgers are delicious, easy to eat on the go, and fairly inexpensive.
To ensure every guest is accommodated, be creative with your options. Offer a veggie option or a chicken variant. But also consider out-of-the-box recipes like quinoa sliders, which are a popular food for quinceanera celebrations.
2. Cheese Platter
One of the more easy-to-execute birthday catering ideas is the cheese platter.
This is especially true when hosting a large party at a venue in Los Angeles, as you can feed a lot of people with very little effort. It’s also one of the more popular quinceanera food menu ideas since it’s easy for groups of excitable teenagers to dip into.
A cheese platter is flexible. It can offer a more refined experience but still be inexpensive to execute. This makes it equally ideal for large and medium-sized venues in Los Angeles as it is for intimate gatherings with a few bottles of wine.
3. Mezze Platter
Mediterranean food consistently ranks as the world’s healthiest cuisine. So, if you’re looking for wholesome catering options for a birthday party or a meal to satisfy a bunch of picky 15-year-olds, you can’t go wrong with a mezze platter.
Hummus, cold cuts, olives, fresh feta, pickled veggies — every ingredient is both good for your guests and delicious. Plus, it’s essentially an appetizer that could easily double up as a main. With the assistance of catering services in Glendale, CA, you can plate and serve a Mediterranean platter or lay it out buffet-style.
If you’re looking at booking out a medium-sized venue in Los Angeles, and are worried a platter may not be enough, you could include a few options into the mix.
Grilled veggies, baked potatoes, or rice are great sides, while a beef lula, chicken shish, or baked salmon can be served as a main.
4. Taco Station
Tacos are a staple of quinceanera food catering, a great quick meal to grab at any kind of party, and possibly America’s favorite birthday snack.
Authentic Mexican tacos can be a great comfort option. But they could also be an elevated dish for upscale gatherings. Since tacos are easy to prepare, they work well for both large gatherings and small event venues in Los Angeles.
5. Pizza Party
It’s almost a guarantee that “pizza” will pop up every time you look up what food is served at a quinceanera or what the best birthday party food catering options are.
It’s an absolute classic — and for good reason.
Pizzas are easy to make, easy to customize, easy to serve, and easy to eat. They can be made fresh at a live station, where guests can select their own toppings, or be pre-prepared and laid out to minimize logistical stress on the day.
6. Seafood Small Plates
It’s not uncommon to see caviar on a catering menu in Los Angeles, considering it’s quite a sought-after food for upscale gatherings — and LA is no stranger to those.
For your birthday, you can choose between black caviar or red caviar — and embellish your menu with options like tuna tartar or lobster tail and shrimp.
It may not be the most obvious choice of food for a quinceanera, but depending on how it is prepared and served, it could be a hit.
7. Pasta Bar
There are few things more comforting than tucking into a bowl of pasta before hitting play on a movie. A pasta bar can bring that same experience to a birthday party venue in Los Angeles — with a lot more excitement.
If you’re unfamiliar, a pasta bar is exactly what it sounds like — a bar stocked with premium toppings for guests to add to their dish. Because of this variety, it’s one of the more popular birthday and quinceanera food ideas.
8. Sushi Counter
Like many other options on this list, sushi is easy to serve and eat and turns regular birthday parties into culinary experiences — especially when paired with other Japanese delicacies and the right drinks.
It’s not one of the most obvious birthday catering ideas — or quinceanera food ideas — but with the right crowd and in the ideal setting, a sushi counter can be very popular.
9. Salad Bar
Considering there’s so much cake doing the rounds, a salad bar is an excellent way to add some freshness to a birthday menu. Guests can be given the option to make their own salads from a long list of ingredients — and the options are truly incredible.
Every country has its own version —including the popular Mexican or Caprese salads, as well as unique options like Armenian salads. When faced with this much variety, it’s unlikely that any guest will leave unsatisfied with your choice of birthday party food catering.
10. Live Grill
Barbecues are obviously a popular option when catering for birthday parties outdoors. But live grills offer similar benefits in an indoor venue — allowing dozens of guests to be served a delicious selection of meats prepared right in front of them.
Fresh burgers, pork chops, hot dogs, kebab skewers, grilled vegetables — a grill brings so much variety to the table, and, let’s be honest, is a crowd pleaser.
So, if you’re catering for birthday parties with a lot of meat lovers in attendance, it’s definitely an option worth shortlisting.
Let the Professionals Take Over
Still can’t decide which option works best for you? Having trouble finding a venue for quinceaneras in Los Angeles?
Why don’t you leave it to the professionals over at Vivaldi Venues?
Our beautifully renovated banquet halls are in a prime Glendale location and can accommodate anywhere from 150-300 guests.
Our extensive catering services and delicious and healthy menus allow you to stop worrying about the food — and focus on enjoying the party instead. We serve food at quinceaneras, plan menus for birthdays, cater for large corporate events, and more.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch for more birthday catering ideas.