Food delivery in China is exceptionally good. The coverage is broad, the speed is real (30 minutes is standard in most cities), and the price is often cheaper than cooking yourself once you factor in ingredient shopping. Meituan (美团) and Eleme (饿了么) together cover virtually every city in China with meaningful restaurant density.
Getting the apps to actually work as a foreigner takes about 30 minutes of setup. Here's exactly how to do it.
Meituan vs. Eleme: Which One to Use
Both apps work on the same basic model — restaurants list their menus, you order through the app, a delivery rider brings it to you. The practical differences:
Meituan is larger and has better coverage in most cities, especially outside the first-tier cities. It also covers more than food — hotel bookings, event tickets, and other local services are all on the same platform. If you're only going to set up one app, Meituan is the safer choice for general coverage.
Eleme is owned by Alibaba and integrates tightly with Alipay. If you have Alipay set up and already have funds loaded, Eleme is sometimes the path of least resistance. Coverage in major cities is comparable to Meituan.
In practice, many people use both and check which has better options for a specific meal or location. Installation takes the same time for both. There's no strong reason not to have both apps.
What You Need Before You Start
A Chinese phone number. Both apps require a Chinese mobile number for registration and verification. This is not optional. If you're visiting China, get a local SIM at the airport or at a China Mobile/Unicom/Telecom store before you try to set up the apps. Prices are reasonable — a tourist SIM with data runs about 100 RMB.
If you already have a Chinese SIM from a previous trip, check that the number is still active. Numbers that go unused for 3+ months can be recycled by the carrier.
A payment method that works. Both apps primarily expect WeChat Pay or Alipay. Foreign credit cards are technically accepted in Alipay and WeChat Pay (with limitations), but the setup process has friction. The cleanest path for most foreigners:
- WeChat Pay: link an international Mastercard or Visa through WeChat's wallet settings. Requires identity verification with passport. Works for transactions up to certain monthly limits.
- Alipay: similar process, accepts foreign cards, requires passport verification.
Cash is not an option for delivery — the apps don't support it.
A more reliable alternative: have someone with a Chinese bank account top up a WeChat Pay or Alipay balance for you, or use a Chinese bank card if you have one.
Address set in Chinese. Your delivery address needs to be understood by drivers. This means either entering it in Chinese or ensuring the app's map pin is accurate — most drivers navigate by the map, not the written address.
Setting Up Meituan
Download
Meituan is available on the App Store (search "美团") and Google Play. If you're outside China and trying to download it via the App Store, you may need a Chinese Apple ID or to change your App Store region. The easiest fix: download it once you have a local SIM and data connection, or use the APK directly on Android.
Registration
- Open the app. You'll be prompted to enter a phone number.
- Enter your Chinese number and request a verification code (SMS).
- Enter the code to complete basic registration.
- The app will ask for location permissions — allow this; it's required for delivery address selection.
Setting Your Address
Tap the location bar at the top of the home screen. You can:
- Search for a specific address in the search bar
- Pin your location on the map manually
For hotels or apartment buildings, search the building name (in Chinese if possible). The map tends to be more accurate than manual address entry. Once you've pinned the location, look at the delivery address label the app generates — this is what the driver sees.
For apartment buildings: set the address as precisely as you can, then add building number and unit in the "备注" (notes) field when you place the order. "X号楼X单元X室" is the format (building number, unit, apartment number). Write it clearly.
Finding Restaurants and Ordering
The home screen shows restaurants near your delivery address. You can filter by:
- Cuisine type (Chinese categories — 中餐, 西餐, 日料, etc.)
- Delivery time
- Minimum order amount
- Price range
Most menus are in Chinese. Google Translate's camera function works reasonably well for reading menus — point the camera at your screen and it overlays translations. Not perfect, but functional for identifying dishes.
When you find what you want, tap items to add them to your cart. Pay attention to:
- Minimum order (起送价) — most restaurants have one, typically 15–30 RMB
- Delivery fee (配送费) — usually 2–8 RMB, sometimes free
- Estimated delivery time — shown prominently before you confirm
Checkout prompts you for payment method. Select WeChat Pay or Alipay, confirm, and you're done.
Tracking Your Order
After placing the order, you can track the delivery rider in real time on a map. The tracking is accurate. Most deliveries in major cities arrive within the estimated time window.
When the rider arrives, they'll typically call you if they can't find you. If your Mandarin isn't up to navigating this call, you can add a note in your order (備注 field) saying "请发短信" (please send a text message) or providing a building landmark.
Setting Up Eleme
The setup process is nearly identical to Meituan.
Download
Search "饿了么" in the App Store or Google Play. Same regional restrictions apply as with Meituan.
Registration
Phone number → SMS verification code → done. If you have an Alipay account, you can log in with Alipay credentials directly and skip separate registration.
Payment
Eleme integrates most naturally with Alipay. If you have Alipay set up with a foreign card or balance, Eleme payment is usually seamless.
Address and Ordering
Same logic as Meituan — set your location via the map, search for restaurants, add items to cart, confirm payment.
One Eleme-specific note: the app sometimes shows "超市" (supermarket/convenience store) delivery prominently on the home screen. This is grocery delivery, not restaurant food delivery. The restaurant section is below or in a separate tab. Scroll down or look for the food delivery section specifically.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
"This service is not available in your area" Both apps have minimum restaurant density requirements. If you're in a smaller city, rural area, or on the outskirts of a major city, coverage may be limited or unavailable. Try switching to the other app — coverage maps differ.
Payment fails repeatedly This is the most common issue for foreigners. Foreign card transactions through WeChat Pay and Alipay have limits and occasionally require additional verification steps.
- If a WeChat Pay transaction fails: go to WeChat → Me → Pay → Settings and check whether your card is properly linked.
- If Alipay fails: check whether your account has passed identity verification (passport verification required for foreign card use).
- Alternative: use WeChat Pay's "Visitor Mode" which allows limited transactions without full verification — this is a recent feature that can bridge the gap if you're having trouble with full verification.
Driver calls you and you can't communicate This happens. Some solutions:
- Add a note in the 备注 field: your English name, a simple landmark, "call [your number] for help."
- Most building entrances are findable by map — the driver usually just needs to know which building door or which floor.
- Have your hotel concierge or a Chinese-speaking contact available by message to help if a driver calls.
Order cancelled after placement Occasionally restaurants cancel orders (out of stock, closing early, technical issue). You'll get a refund automatically within 1–3 business days to the original payment method. The app usually shows other restaurants in the same cuisine category you can reorder from.
App in Chinese — I can't navigate Most Chinese-language apps don't have English versions. Some options:
- Use the translation overlay — both iOS and Android have built-in translation features for apps.
- Google Translate camera works on screen content.
- Meituan occasionally shows partial English in international hotspots, but don't rely on this.
- Once you've completed the registration flow once and placed one order successfully, the core navigation becomes muscle memory.
Practical Tips
Minimum order amounts: Most restaurants have them. If you want one item that costs less than the minimum, look for a restaurant that either has a lower minimum or where adding a small side dish gets you there.
Peak times: Lunch (11:30 AM–1 PM) and dinner (5:30–7:30 PM) are peak hours. Delivery times extend and some restaurants hit capacity limits. Order slightly before peak if you can.
Delivery to hotels: Hotels in China are experienced with delivery to the lobby. The rider will often wait in the lobby rather than coming to your room. Check if your hotel has a policy; most major hotels allow delivery but ask riders to wait at the front desk.
Supermarket delivery (both apps): Beyond restaurant food, both apps offer 30-minute grocery and convenience delivery. This is legitimately useful. You can get drinks, snacks, toiletries, and basic cooking supplies delivered without leaving your room. The supermarket section is clearly labeled and the same ordering process applies.
Rating and tipping: Both apps have rating systems. Tipping culture in China is different from the US — it's not expected, and riders don't generally expect it from delivery. Rating riders highly is the equivalent — it affects their performance metrics.
If You Have Other App Setup Questions
Setting up Meituan and Eleme requires having a few other pieces in place first — a local SIM and a working payment method, primarily. If you're still working through the basics of Chinese apps, our guide on what apps you need before going to China covers the full stack, and our guide on how to stay connected in China covers SIM and data options.
For broader travel logistics — including situations where the app setup friction isn't worth it and you need a faster solution for your immediate situation — get travel help and we'll point you in the right direction.
Food delivery in China is genuinely one of the more pleasant logistical experiences once it's working. The setup investment is about 30 minutes, and then it runs smoothly for the rest of your trip.
One More Note on Medical Needs
If you're in China for medical treatment and managing dietary restrictions alongside your treatment protocol, food delivery apps become particularly useful — you can control ingredients more precisely by ordering from specific restaurants than by navigating restaurant menus in person. If you're navigating medical care while traveling, see what we do on the medical side — managing logistics while you're in treatment is something we help with.
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