How to Order Food Delivery in China - A Simplified Guide
Step-by-Step Guide (2025 version)
Search for the mini-app in WeChat/Alipay OR download the app “Meituan Waimai 美团外卖” if you have a Chinese number.
Register for an account when prompted.
Add your exact hotel address in Chinese. Most delivery drivers won’t be able to read English. For the contact number, use the hotel reception number if you don’t have a Chinese number.
After you’ve set your address, you will see a list of restaurants/takeouts that deliver to your location. You can browse or narrow it down by using search terms in Chinese such as Shanghai cuisine 上海菜/ Cantonese cuisine 粤菜/ Sichuan cuisine 川菜. Ratings are not 100% reliable, even the high ratings like 4.8 or above. Of course, anything with a rating below 4.0 is probably lower quality. Restaurants with high order volumes (5000+ per month) tend to be good. Chains are also more reliable. Take a look at my Food Finder page if you need suggestions with dishes.
Click a restaurant and a list of menu items with pictures will appear. If you want to browse another restaurant, press the back button in the top left corner to go back to the front page. If you lose the restaurant because the page has refreshed, you can find it again as long as you have already added an item for that restaurant to the basket by clicking the basket icon on the homepage.
After you’ve chosen a restaurant, add the items that you want using the + button. Click the basket at the bottom of the screen to review what you added. Minimum order values apply.
Once you’ve added everything you want, click the checkout button (usually on the bottom right). Review your order again to make sure all items are still there. If you have any allergies and don’t like certain ingredients, you should not rely on the restaurant to do as you requested.
Most orders will have a packaging fee and a delivery fee. Some may provide free delivery depending on the value of your order. The estimated delivery time should appear at the top of the screen. If you are happy with everything, click the button in the bottom right corner to pay.
You will be presented with a list of payment options. Click either WeChat or Alipay (currently, credit cards won’t work unless you have a Chinese bank card). You then be redirected to WeChat or Alipay to make payment. Follow the instructions to complete payment. After paying, your screen will automatically return to the order page. It should say something like “Payment successful”. You should then see the estimated delivery time and a map showing the live location of your order.
Wait for your food to arrive. Depending on the hotel, it may be delivered to your door or to reception. You may be asked to show your order page. If your food hasn’t arrived for any reason, you can send a message to the delivery driver saying “我的外卖没送到，是不是送错地址?“, which means “My takeout hasn’t arrived. Did you deliver it to the wrong address?”. If you get a call, just say “我是外国人”, most delivery drivers do not speak English well enough to communicate with you. Or if you have no luck in receiving your food, you can request for a refund on the order page (stating my order hasn’t arrived). But I recommend that you follow up with the driver and hotel reception first. Reception should be able to help you.
Happy eating!
