How to Order Food Delivery in China (Meituan & Ele.me): A Visual Guide

After a long day of exploring, the last thing you want to do is navigate a crowded restaurant with a language barrier. Welcome to the magic of Chinese food delivery apps. With just a few taps, you can have almost any type of cuisine delivered directly to your hotel or apartment, often in under 30 minutes.

The two dominant players in this space are Meituan (美团), with its iconic yellow branding, and Ele.me (饿了么), owned by Alibaba and often integrated into Alipay.

While their interfaces are primarily in Chinese, they are surprisingly visual and manageable for foreigners. This guide will show you how.

Step 1: Getting the Apps & Setting Up

You don't always need to download a separate app. The easiest way for a tourist to get started is by using the "mini-program" versions inside Alipay or WeChat.

• Inside Alipay: On the Alipay home screen, you'll likely see an icon for Ele.me (饿了么). If not, search for it in the search bar at the top.
• Inside WeChat: Pull down the home screen to reveal your recently used mini-programs and search for Meituan (美团).

The huge advantage of using the mini-program is that it's already linked to your Alipay or WeChat Pay account, so you don't need to set up payment separately.

Step 2: Setting Your Delivery Address

This is the most critical step. Getting it wrong means your food goes to the wrong place.

1. Find the Address Section: When you open the food delivery mini-program, it will immediately ask for a delivery address ("选择收货地址").
2. Use Your Hotel's Address in Chinese: Do not try to type it in English. Go to your hotel's booking confirmation or ask the front desk for their exact address in Chinese characters.
3. Copy and Paste: Copy the Chinese address and paste it into the address field in the app. The app will usually parse it and show you matching locations on a map. Select the correct one.
4. Add Your Details:
   • 楼号/门牌号 (Building/Room Number): Enter your hotel room number here (e.g., "Room 1802").
   • 联系人 (Contact Person): Enter your name.
   • 手机号 (Phone Number): Enter your phone number. While a local number is best, your foreign number often works too.

Visual Tip: Look for the location pin icon (📍) to manage your addresses.

Step 3: A Visual Walkthrough of Ordering

The apps are designed to be navigated by pictures. Let's walk through a typical order on Meituan (Ele.me is very similar).

1. The Home Screen: You'll see a grid of icons. Ignore most of them. You're looking for the main food delivery icon, usually labeled 美食 (Měishí - Fine Food) or 外卖 (Wàimài - Delivery). Tap it.

2. Finding a Restaurant: The next screen is a paradise of food.

• Search Bar (top): If you know what you want (e.g., "pizza" or "sushi"), you can type the English word here. It often works!
• Category Icons (grid): Look for icons representing different food types: a burger for Western food, a pizza slice, a bowl of noodles, a cup of coffee. This is the easiest way to browse.
• Filters (below search): You can filter by 综合排序 (Comprehensive Ranking), 销量 (Sales Volume), or 距离 (Distance). Filtering by sales volume is a great way to find popular, trusted restaurants.

3. The Restaurant Menu: Once you tap into a restaurant, you'll see its menu.

• Trust the Pictures: 99% of dishes have pictures. What you see is generally what you get. Tap on the picture of the dish you want.
• Options (规格): A pop-up might appear with options like "spicy" (辣) or "not spicy" (不辣), or different sizes. Use a screenshot + translation app (like Google Translate's camera function) if you're unsure.
• Add to Cart: Tap the "+" button or a button labeled 加入购物车 (Add to Cart).

4. Checkout (去结算): Once you've added items, tap the shopping cart icon, usually at the bottom right.

• You'll see your order summary, delivery fee (配送费), and total.
• Tap the button at the bottom labeled 去结算 (Go to Checkout).
• Confirm your address and phone number.
• Tap 提交订单 (Submit Order). You'll be prompted to confirm payment via your Alipay or WeChat password/Face ID.

Step 4: Tracking Your Delivery

After paying, you'll see a confirmation screen with the live status of your order. It will show:

1. Order received by the restaurant.
2. The delivery driver has picked up your food.
3. A map showing the driver's real-time location.

When the driver is close, you might get a phone call. If you don't speak Chinese, it's best to ignore it. The driver will almost always find your location or leave the food at the front desk.

Useful Chinese Phrases for Delivery: You can copy-paste these into the order notes (备注).

• 请放在前台，谢谢。 (Please leave at the front desk, thank you.)
• 我不会说中文。 (I don't speak Chinese.)

Final Tips for Success

• Start Simple: For your first order, pick a major chain like McDonald's or KFC. Their menus are standardized and easy to navigate.
• Screenshot & Translate: The camera function in Google Translate is your best friend. Take a screenshot of any part of the app you don't understand and import it into the app for translation.
• Data is Key: A reliable internet connection is essential. Make sure you have a good eSIM or SIM card plan ready to go.

Ordering food delivery is a true "survival skill" in modern China. Master it, and you'll unlock a world of delicious, convenient, and affordable food options right at your fingertips.