Written by Natalia |
You may have known that in China,Ā food delivery is convenient and offers endless selection of local Chinese dishes. For travelers and expats, mastering this skill is essential. It gives you an opportunity to enjoy different kinds of delicacies in different regions.
However, you may encounter some hurdles, such as language barriers, unfamiliar apps, and payment setup. Donāt worry. Ordering a meal online in China is simpler than it seems. This guide will provide a simple, step-by-step process for your ordering in China, from app setup to receiving the meal.
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- Why Online Food Ordering is So Popular in China
- Top Online Food Ordering AppsĀ in China
- Step-by-Step Guide: How to Order Food Online in China
- Must-Try Dishes: Ordering Local Chinese Food Online
- Useful Tips for Ordering Food in China as a Foreigner
- FAQs about Ordering Food Online in China
- Discover More of China’s Food Culture and Modern China with Us
Why Online Food Ordering is So Popular in China
Ordering a meal online in China is popular. You can see most young people choose to order online rather than dining in the restaurant.
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Convenience and Speed of Food Delivery: In China, food delivery apps like Meituan and TaobaoĀ FlashĀ Sale have been seamlessly integrated into daily life. The whole process of delivery is fast, usually less than 40 minutes.
- Variety of Cuisines and Restaurants: You can find every kind of food choices on these apps, from high-end restaurants and international chains to local street food and specialty desserts.
- Affordable Delivery Fees and Promotions: For fierce competition, the apps often offer generous promotions, discounts, and vouchers to attract customers. Moreover, it is common to get low or even free delivery fees, making the service highly accessible. Customers are feeling cost-effective.
Top Online Food Ordering AppsĀ in China
You have many options when you are ordering takeaway food in China. Here we put forward some main online food ordering apps which are frequently used.
Popular Apps |
Introduction |
Meituan |
The most-used app. |
TaobaoĀ FlashĀ Sale |
The main competitor to Meituan. |
JD. Food Delivery |
The latest food delivery platform |
WeChat Food Ordering & Mini Programs |
Mini programs on Wechat |
Alipay Food Delivery Services |
Mini program, TaobaoĀ FlashĀ Sale,Ā on Alipay |
Dianping |
Yelp-like platform |
Related reading: Essential Apps for Traveling in China
Meituan Food DeliveryĀ –Ā Chinaās Largest Platform
- Chinese Name: Meituan Waimai
- key Features: Most used app, the largest selection of restaurants.
Meituan Waimai enjoys the most users in China.Ā It offers a range of food from different cities in China. You can enjoy āZhunshibaoā (a delay compensation service) on this app so that the time of food delivery can be guaranteed. Meituan Waimai allows Wechat Pay, Alipay, and Bank Card Payment.
Taobao Flash Sale ā Alibabaās Popular Service
- Chinese Name: Taobao Shangou (Originally Ele.me)
- Key Features: Vast restaurant network, real-time tracking.
Originally called Ele.me, now it has been renamed to Taobao Flash Sale. It is the main competitor to Meituan and owned by Alibaba. Besides food and drinks, Taobao Flash SaleĀ can also deliver daily essentials and medicines. You can pay with Wechat Pay, Alipay, and Bank Card Payment.
JD. Food DeliveryĀ –Ā JDās New Service
- Chinese Name: Jingdong Waimai
- key Features: The latest food delivery platform.
It was officially launched on Feb. 11, 2025. Compared to Meituan and Taobao Flash Sale, JD Waimai (Jingdong Delivery/Takeout) offer fewer restaurant selections. But, it mainly focus on “Quality Takeout”, and primarily target established chain brands and premium restaurants with existing dine-in locations. If you prioritize food quality and trust JD ecosystem, it will be your choice. Customers can order meals on JD. App. It allows Wechat Pay, and Bank Card Payment.
WeChat Food Ordering & Mini Programs
- Chinese Name: Weixin Xiaochengxu
- key Features: Mini programs, convenient.
You can find mini programs such as Meituan and Taobao Flash Sale in the Wechat search bar. It offers the same service as the Meituan and Taobao Flash Sale apps. The advantage is that you donāt have to download the apps.
Alipay Food Delivery Services
- Chinese Name: Zhifubao Xiaochengxu
- key Features: Mini programs, convenient.
The process is the same as WeChat food ordering. You can find its major food delivery platform, Taobao Flash Sale in the Alipay search bar.
Dianping
- Chinese Name: Dazhongdianping
- key Features: Vast database, ranking lists.
It is a review and discovery platform where millions of users share their photos and ratings for restaurants, cafes, hotels and so on. You can use the search bar for the type of food you want and explore the must-eat restaurants for reviews. There is a takeout button on Dianping, which is seamlessly integrated with Meituan. But be careful with the paid reviews.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Order Food Online in China
Ordering a meal online in China is not complicated. Below we offer a step-by-step guide.
Downloading and Registering on Apps
iPhone users can download apps in the Apple Store and android users can download in their own app store. Since most apps follow a similar process, we will take Meituan as the example. Just search āMeituanā in the search box and click āacquireā on the right side to download.
Then the registration process is as follows:
- If you open Meituan for the first time, the home page will guide you to log in or register, just click the āRegistrationā or similar button.
- Input your phone number and click āget the verification codeā, then your phone will receive a 6-digital verification code and input it in, the system will verify automatically.
- Then the app will require you to set a password and other personal information, such as the nickname, just follow the guide.
- After the above process, you can use the app freely.
Browsing Chinese Restaurant Menus Online
After downloading and registration, you can browse the menus online. There is usually no English menu options in Chinese apps. You may find it is difficult to understand them because of the machine translation. Here are some tips.
- Find the rating section and see the photos uploaded by users. Most Chinese people also use it as a way to choose.
- Look for the sections marked Popular or Specials ( often with a star or fire icon on it). Those dishes are often ordered by most local people and worth trying.
- Some popular local foods have its specific translation.
Hong Shao Rou: Red-Braised Pork Belly
Kung Pao Chicken: Small pieces of diced chicken, peanuts, and dried chilli peppers
Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup: Lanzhou local food
Malatang: Northeast China local food.
Chinese Mobile Payment Methods for Online Food Delivery
When you have chosen your food, itās time to pay. Online pay is simpler than many travelers and expats expect. The most popular and primary payment methodsĀ in China are WeChat Pay and Alipay. They are all able to use on Meituan and Taobao Flash Sale.
Are you wondering that if you can order food without a Chinese bank card? Yes, absolutely yes. You can connect your international credit card (Visa, Mastercard) to the WeChat and Alipay account.
Once successfully connected, the payment process becomes a one-click confirmation. It is the most reliable solution for travelers.
Related reading: How to Use WeChat in China
Placing Your Order and Tracking Delivery
When you proceed to checkout, you can choose a delivery time, as soon as possible or a scheduled time. A final breakdown of costs, including the food, delivery fee and package fee can also be seen.
If you prefer to contactless delivery, there is an option or you can leave a note for the deliveryman, for example āPlease leave at the door.ā After placing the order, you can track the deliverymanās location in real-time on a map within the app.
Receiving Your Delivery
When the deliveryman is approaching your location, they will call you on the phone number you provided for registeration before. You donāt have to say anything complicated. A āThank youā is sufficient.
The delivery often leave your order at the lobby of your hotel. In some buildings, there is a designated pick-up table for food deliveries. After receiving your order, you can choose to give a good rating or tip your deliveryman on the app if the food packaging is in good condition.
Must-Try Dishes: Ordering Local Chinese Food Online
Now, food delivery in Chinese big cities is convenient. Here is a guide to must-try dished in some key cities.
Iconic Dishes for Your First Order
Cities |
Dishes |
Details |
Beijing |
Peking Duck |
The most famous food in Beijing.
Kits with sliced duck, pancakes, sweet bean sauce, and cucumber. |
Beijing |
Zhajiangmian (Fried Sauce Noodles) |
Hand-pulled noodles with rich pork bean paste sauce and fresh vegetables. |
Beijing |
Lvdagun (Donkey Rolling) |
A dessert.
A sweet, chewy glutinous rice roll with red bean paste and in toasted soybean flour. |
Xiāan |
Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) |
A āmoā that is baked to crispy in a clay oven.
Stewed meat (pork or lamb) stuffed into āmoā. |
Xiāan |
Biangbiang Noodles |
Long, thick noodles that are belt like.
Often served in a spicy sauce with chili oil, scallions, and meat. |
Xiāan |
Yangrou Paomo |
A bowl of shredded, stewed lamb soupĀ with āmoā on the table. You have to break the āmoā into tiny pieces into the bowl and add the broth. |
Shanghai |
Xiaolongbao |
Steamed buns with a thin skin. Filled with pork and broth. Be careful with your first bite! |
Shanghai |
Hongshao Rou (Red-Braised Pork Belly) |
Thick chunks of pork belly. Glossy, soft, tender, and sweet. |
Shanghai |
Shanghai Fried Noodles |
Thick, chewy noodles stir-fried with soy sauce, pork, vegetables, and sometimes shrimp. |
Chengdu |
Mapo Tofu |
Soft tofu in spicy sauce with pork, chili bean paste, and Sichuan peppercorns. |
Chengdu |
Dan Dan Mian |
Noodles in spicy sauce with chili oil, Sichuan peppercorns, and crushed peanuts. |
Chengdu |
Chuan Chuan Xiang |
A pot of bubbling, spicy broth with dozens of skewers of meat, vegetables. |
Suggested tours:
10 Days China Tour of Beijing-Xian-Chengdu-Shanghai
8 Days Beijing ā Xian ā Shanghai Highlights Tour
Don’t Forget Drinks
- Classic Pearl Milk Tea
Texture: black tea, milk, and black tapioca pearls
Recommended Brand: Mixue Bingcheng, Naixue
- Brown Sugar Bobo Fresh Milk
Texture: chewy tapioca pearls (“bobo”), brown sugar, fresh milk
Recommended Brand: HEYTEA
- Cheese Foam Tea
Texture: cheese foam on top of brewed tea (green, oolong, or black)
Recommended Brand: Mixue Bingcheng
- Mango Pomelo Sago
Texture: mango puree, pomelo pulp, sago pearls, and coconut milk
Recommended Brand: Mixue Bingcheng, 1 Diandian (A Little Tea)
- Tip
The milk tea is too sweet to some travelers and you can choose full sugar, half sugar, or no sugar.
You can also choose free, less or regular ice.
Useful Tips for Ordering Food in China as a Foreigner
Still feeling difficult to order a meal online in China? Donāt worry. The followings are some useful tips for you.
Coping with the Language Barrier
Language is the biggest hurdle and you cannot learn one certain language in just a few days. If you cannot read ChineseĀ restaurant menus onlineĀ or the app’s instructions, you can resort to translation apps. One of the most-used apps is Google Translate.
You can take a screenshot of the restaurant’s page, open your translation app, and select theĀ “Camera” or “Scan” function. The Chinese text will show clearly. Pictures can always show the food lively. You can see pictures in the rating section.
What you can do if you canāt understand Chinese when a deliveryman calls you? Donāt be panic. The call often tells you that your food has arrived. Just say āThank youā.
Most food delivery apps like Meituan and Taobao Flash Sale have a built-in chat function with merchants and deliverymen. You can type a message like this: Please leave the food at the door.
Another recommended way is to use the mini-programs built in Wechat, because Wechat can switch the language into English, very friendly to foreign tourists.
Then how to find the miniprogram?
- Open your Wechat and search the Chinese or English name of the app you need in the top search box. Or find mini-program in āDiscoverā at the bottom of Wechat and input the name.
- If you use the mini-program for the first time, a pop-up window will appear to acquire your nickname, head portrait and other information, click āAllowā.
- Then you will be asked to authorize your phone number and location, Ā click āAllowā Otherwise, some functions can not be used.
- Now, you can use the mini-program.
Understanding Delivery Logistics
The delivery in China often takes about 30-45 minutes. You can opt for your delivery time, as soon as possible or a few minutes later. In China, late night food delivery is available. Most popular dishes people ordering late night are skewers, Malatang, and burgers.
You can track the deliverymanās location on a map within the apps in real time once you have placed your order.
The apps will remind you when the deliveryman arrives at the restaurants and picks up you food.
The service and package fees are often small. About 3-6 CNYĀ for delivery fee and 1-3 CNYĀ for packaging fee. If your order reaches a certain level, usually more than 40 CNY, those fees can be avoided.
Available Payment Methods
Most food delivery apps allow Alipay and Wechat Pay, the most-used payment methods for Chinese people. If you have an international card, you can connect it to your Wechat and Alipay account. Cash can only be used offline.
FAQs about Ordering Food Online in China
Can a foreigner use Chinese food delivery apps without speaking Mandarin?
Yes, just have a translation tool in your phone.
Do I need a Chinese phone number to register for a food delivery account?
Yes. The phone number is used to receive an SMS verification code and to get a call when your food has been delivered.
Are delivery fees typically included in the final price?
Yes. You can see the breakdown of the fee at checkout.
How do the apps handle tipping or service charges?
You do not have to tip, but in the rating section you can choose to tip the deliveryman.
Can I pay with cash when ordering food online in China?
It is almost impossible, the default payment method of all the mainstream apps is online payment.
What are the delivery times for food in China?
Generally, it is about 30 – 60 minutes, but during lunchtime, supper time, weekends, holidays and in bad weather, it may extend to 60 – 90 minutes.
Discover More of China’s Food Culture and Modern China with China Xian Tour
The convenient and quick food delivery services should be a unique experience for your China travel. To see and experience more of Chinaās food culture and advanced modern services, joining a China tour orgznized by a reliable travel agency, like China Xian Tour, will save you much time and energy. With over 21 years of experience, we specialize in crafting unique memories and adventures for your China tour. All local life experiences and activities can be customized based on your preference.
