Nom Nom Dog Food Review (2026): We Tasted It — Here's the Honest Verdict

Nom Nom is the best-tasting fresh dog food we’ve tried — and we’ve tasted six brands side by side. The chunks of real meat and vegetables are visible, identifiable, and have a texture that no other brand in our testing matched. This isn’t pureed paste shaped like food. It’s actual food.

But taste isn’t the whole picture. At $7.04 per pound, Nom Nom sits in the middle of the fresh dog food market — not the cheapest, not the most expensive. Protein content runs a bit below some competitors on a dry-matter basis. And you’re locked into a subscription with no one-off purchase option.

Here’s everything we found after ordering, unboxing, and eating it ourselves.

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Our Nom Nom Taste Test

Zach taste-tested Nom Nom’s recipes alongside PetPlate as part of our head-to-head comparison. The difference in food quality was immediately obvious.

Ingredient Quality and Nutrition

Nom Nom uses USDA Grade A, human-grade ingredients in every recipe. Each recipe is formulated by Dr. Justin Shmalberg, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, and meets AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition.

Four recipes are available: Beef Mash, Chicken Cuisine, Turkey Fare, and Pork Potluck. We tasted the Beef Mash and Chicken Cuisine in depth.

Here’s how the macronutrients break down on a dry-matter basis — the only fair way to compare fresh foods, since moisture content varies by brand:

Protein sits in the 35-37% range on a dry-matter basis. That’s reasonable but below brands like The Farmer’s Dog, which ranges from 41-51% depending on the recipe. If your dog needs higher protein — working dogs, athletic breeds, dogs recovering from illness — that gap matters.

To be fair, the as-fed protein (7-10%) is typical for fresh dog food at this moisture level. The numbers look low until you account for the water content, which is why dry-matter comparison is the only honest way to evaluate.

One thing worth noting: Nom Nom uses USDA Grade A ingredients but does not prepare food in USDA-inspected kitchens. Brands like The Farmer’s Dog and PetPlate do. This isn’t a safety red flag — USDA Grade A ingredients are high quality regardless of where they’re cooked — but it’s a distinction worth knowing.

Taste Test: How Does It Actually Taste?

This is where Nom Nom separates itself from every other brand we’ve tested.

Beef Mash

The first thing you notice is the appearance. Stunning slabs of ground beef, whole chunks of carrots, potatoes, green peas, and scrambled eggs — all individually identifiable. This looks like food you’d eat yourself.

The smell is clean and fresh. Real ground beef aroma, no off-putting chemical or processed scent. Just beef.

The taste matches. Savory, straightforward beef flavor without unnecessary complexity. The potatoes are tender and add a pleasant contrast to the meat. The texture is the real star — big chunks create an actual chewing experience, not the mushy paste consistency some brands deliver. It tastes exactly like real beef because that’s what it is.

Chicken Cuisine

Sweet potato dominates the aroma — sweet, pronounced, and appetizing. Big pieces of chicken, summer squash, and sweet potato are all visible.

The taste is fresh and clean. Sweet potatoes lend a pleasant sweetness that balances well against the chicken. The textures are phenomenal — big cuts of meat and vegetables create variety in every bite. This is consistent with the Nom Nom brand: the texture is the standout feature.

The Bottom Line on Taste

In our six-brand blindfolded taste test, Nom Nom’s texture advantage was immediately obvious even before we could identify the brand. The chunks of real ingredients — you can see them, feel them, taste them individually — are Nom Nom’s single biggest differentiator. No other brand we tested comes close on texture.

Convenience and Ease of Use

Nom Nom operates on a subscription model. You fill out a profile for your dog — breed, weight, age, activity level — and Nom Nom generates a custom meal plan with pre-portioned servings.

What works well:

• Pre-portioned patties (roughly 400g each) with an easy-peel tab — no scissors needed
• Subscription management from your dashboard — pause, skip, or cancel anytime
• Custom calorie calculations based on your dog’s profile
• Four recipes to rotate through

What doesn’t:

• Subscription is required. You cannot make a one-time purchase to try it before committing. This is the biggest friction point for first-time buyers.
• Only four recipes, compared to six from PetPlate. If your dog needs variety or has specific protein allergies, the options are limited.

Shipping and Packaging

Nom Nom ships with recyclable insulation and dry ice. In our experience, shipping took 5 business days — ordered on a Friday, arrived the following Monday after a courier mishap delayed the Saturday delivery by two days.

Despite that delay, the food arrived completely frozen. That’s a good sign for the packaging quality. The 100% recyclable materials are a nice touch for environmentally conscious buyers.

Each patty is vacuum sealed and stays good for 7 days in the fridge once thawed. The easy-peel tab on each patty is a small but meaningful design detail — no hunting for scissors at feeding time.

Cost and Value

Nom Nom runs $7.04 per pound based on our fresh dog food price comparison. Here’s how that stacks up:

Nom Nom is the fourth most expensive of the six brands we priced out. It’s roughly $0.28 more per pound than The Farmer’s Dog and $0.49 more than PetPlate.

Is the premium justified? Here’s how I think about it:

• If texture and taste are what matter most — Nom Nom is the clear winner. Nothing else we tasted comes close.
• If protein density is the priority — The Farmer’s Dog delivers 41-51% protein on a dry-matter basis versus Nom Nom’s 35-37%. For the same money, you’re getting more protein per pound elsewhere.
• If budget is tight — Ollie at $5.44/lb is meaningfully cheaper and still a solid product.

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Safety and Track Record

Nom Nom has no major recalls on record. All recipes use USDA Grade A ingredients and are formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist (Dr. Justin Shmalberg) to meet AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition.

The subscription model means Nom Nom controls the supply chain from formulation to delivery — there’s no third-party retailer handling the food between their kitchen and your door. That chain-of-custody matters for a perishable product.

Nom Nom vs Other Fresh Dog Food Brands

For head-to-head breakdowns, see our PetPlate vs Nom Nom and Nom Nom vs A Pup Above comparisons.

Who Should Get Nom Nom

Nom Nom is a strong choice if:

• Texture and taste matter most to you (and your dog)
• Your dog is a picky eater who turns up his nose at mushy food
• You want pre-portioned meals with veterinary-formulated nutrition
• You’re comfortable with a subscription model
• You value clean, identifiable ingredients you can actually see

You might look elsewhere if:

• You need the highest protein content per dollar — The Farmer’s Dog or A Pup Above deliver more protein on a dry-matter basis
• You want to try before committing to a subscription — A Pup Above allows one-time purchases
• Budget is the primary concern — Ollie and PetPlate cost less per pound
• You need more than four recipe options for rotation or allergy management

Nom Nom isn’t the cheapest fresh dog food, and it’s not the most protein-dense. But it is the best-tasting, best-textured option we’ve tried across six brands — and for a lot of dogs (especially picky eaters), that’s what actually matters. If your dog won’t eat it, the macros don’t count.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nom Nom dog food worth the money?

For most dog owners, yes. Nom Nom uses USDA Grade A human-grade ingredients, and every recipe is formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to meet AAFCO standards. At roughly $7 per pound, it’s competitive with other premium fresh dog food brands. Where Nom Nom stands out is texture — the chunks of real meat and vegetables are visible and identifiable, which is not the case with every brand at this price point.

What ingredients are in Nom Nom dog food?

Nom Nom recipes use whole, human-grade ingredients. The Beef Mash contains ground beef, carrots, potatoes, green peas, and scrambled eggs. The Chicken Cuisine uses chicken, sweet potatoes, and summer squash. Each recipe includes a veterinary-formulated nutrient blend for vitamins and minerals. All ingredients are USDA Grade A.

How does Nom Nom compare to The Farmer’s Dog?

Both are strong options. Nom Nom wins on texture — you can see and identify individual chunks of meat and vegetables, while The Farmer’s Dog has a smoother, more blended consistency. The Farmer’s Dog has higher protein content on a dry-matter basis (41 to 51 percent versus 35 to 37 percent for Nom Nom). Pricing is similar at roughly $7 per pound for both. Neither requires a long-term commitment — both subscriptions are easy to cancel.

How much does Nom Nom cost per month?

Nom Nom costs roughly $7.04 per pound based on our research. Monthly cost varies widely depending on your dog’s size and caloric needs. Expect roughly $60 to $90 per month for small dogs and $200 or more per month for large breeds. Nom Nom’s website generates a custom quote after you complete a profile for your dog.

Can you cancel Nom Nom easily?

Yes. Nom Nom lets you manage your subscription directly from your account dashboard — pause, skip, or cancel without calling anyone. There are no hoops to jump through. However, Nom Nom does require a subscription to order. You cannot make a one-time purchase.