>pizza and most (American) Chinese food; those kept reasonably well in insulated or even warmed bags.

I don't necessarily find those to be good examples. A pizza fresh from the oven will steam its delicate crispiness away in a box. The same applies to a fried dumpling.

On the other hand, a non-crisp dish like a vindaloo or a soup will arrive almost entirely unchanged.

When I order anything time-sensitive, I prefer to get it myself. That minimises the amount of time it is sitting (e.g. awaiting a driver). I like to arrive early, so I can take it away as soon as it leaves the kitchen.