Choosing Between Meituan, Ele.me, and Alipay

Meituan often has a broad restaurant selection in major cities and works well as your primary delivery app. Ele.me integrates directly with Alipay, which can simplify payment and login if you already use Alipay for transit and shopping. The two platforms show different prices, coupons, delivery fees, and restaurant menus, even for the same restaurant.

If you’re visiting China for less than a week, use the delivery section built into Alipay. If you’ve already linked a payment method for metro cards and convenience stores, using delivery may be straightforward, though payment setup and interface availability can vary by account type and region. If you’re staying two weeks or longer and plan to order dinner regularly, install Meituan as your main app and keep Ele.me as backup when specific restaurants or promotions differ.

Setting Up Your Delivery Address

Chinese addresses typically include city, district, street name, building number, complex name, tower, unit, and room number. Missing any part can leave the driver unable to locate you. Hotels are simplest because the front desk can receive packages and communicate with drivers. For hotel delivery, your address note can be short: “Deliver to hotel front desk, guest name: XXX.”

Apartment addresses require more detail: “Deliver to north gate delivery locker,” “Leave at building 3, unit 1 entrance,” or “Gate requires access code, please call.” Ask your hotel staff or apartment landlord to write the full address in Chinese, then copy and paste it into the delivery app. Screenshot the address for reuse across orders.

Allow the app to access your GPS location so it can auto-detect nearby restaurants. Combine GPS positioning with the pasted Chinese address text to ensure accuracy. Check with your hotel whether delivery is allowed to guest rooms. Policies vary by property—some hotels restrict delivery to the lobby, front desk, or a designated rack.

Selecting Restaurants and Dishes

Photos and sales volume are more reliable than machine-translated menu text. Prioritize restaurants with high ratings, high monthly sales, and short delivery distances. Distance affects delivery speed, food temperature, and delivery fees. Avoid restaurants with very few reviews or low ratings on your first order.

Combo meals work better than ordering individual dishes. Many restaurants offer single-person sets, signature combos, or rice with main dish packages. These have clear photos, consistent portions, and reduce the risk of forgetting staples like rice or noodles. Portion sizes vary by restaurant and region, so start conservatively on your first order.

If you can’t handle spicy food, search for non-spicy categories or add “no spice” in Chinese to the order notes. For food allergies, always write the restricted ingredients clearly in Chinese. Machine translation can fail for critical safety information, so prepare allergy notes in advance using a reliable translation source or ask hotel staff to write them.

Payment Setup and Fees

Alipay and WeChat Pay are the standard payment methods for delivery apps. Foreign Visa or Mastercard can be linked to these wallets, though small service fees may apply and occasional payment failures occur. Set up both Alipay and WeChat Pay before you need them, so you have a backup if one fails.

Before confirming your order, check three costs: dish price, packaging fee, and delivery fee. Delivery fees vary by distance, time of day, weather, and city—ranging from a few RMB to higher amounts during peak hours or bad weather. Platform coupons apply automatically or can be manually selected before payment. Final prices can be lower than dining in after coupons.

Foreign physical credit cards rarely work directly in delivery apps. App-based delivery typically requires a mobile wallet payment method. Ensure your mobile wallet has sufficient balance or a linked card before placing an order. Payment acceptance and fees can vary by card issuer, wallet provider, and app version.

Receiving Your Delivery

Drivers may call to confirm your location or clarify delivery instructions. If you don’t speak Chinese, prepare notes in Chinese such as “I don’t speak Chinese, please leave at hotel front desk, thank you” or “Please leave in delivery locker.” Many apps offer contactless delivery options where the driver leaves food at a specified location without direct handoff.

When a driver calls and you don’t understand, hang up and immediately send a text message through the app. Clear Chinese short sentences work better than attempting English explanations. Common delivery instructions include “leave at front desk,” “leave at door,” “call when you arrive,” or “use delivery locker.”

For hotel pickups, check the order number and your name carefully. Popular hotels may have multiple deliveries stacked at the front desk simultaneously. Arrive promptly after receiving the delivery notification to ensure your food stays warm.

Ordering Inside Restaurants

Many restaurants in China use table QR codes for ordering instead of paper menus or waitstaff. Scan the code with WeChat or Alipay, which opens a mini-program menu. Select dishes, confirm your table number, and pay through the app. Food arrives at your table after the kitchen receives your order.

If the menu interface is entirely in Chinese, look at dish photos and popular item tags first. High sales numbers can indicate reliable dishes. You can also ask staff for recommendations by pointing at other tables or showing photos. Restaurant turnover and ingredient freshness vary by establishment.

Some restaurants still use traditional ordering with waitstaff. In these cases, pointing at photos, using translation apps, or asking for the restaurant’s signature dishes works well. Avoid peak meal hours if you need extra time to communicate or review the menu.

Practical Tips for First-Time Orders

For your first delivery order in China, choose a restaurant within a short distance, with high ratings and substantial monthly sales. Avoid raw seafood, cream desserts, or soup noodles over long distances if you have a sensitive stomach. Start with congee, rice combo meals, steamed dumplings, or simple stir-fries during your first two days, then try spicier or more adventurous dishes once you adjust.

Don’t cut timing too close when ordering delivery before train departures, show times, or late-night hotel arrivals. Delivery time estimates can extend during bad weather or peak hours. Build in extra time beyond the app’s estimated arrival time—delays can range from a few minutes to longer depending on conditions.

If your first delivery attempt fails due to payment issues, address problems, or app errors, ask your hotel front desk for assistance. Some hotels are familiar with helping foreign guests navigate delivery apps and can either place the order for you or troubleshoot specific errors.

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Next Step: Add This to Your Arrival Checklist

This is just one of the essentials to prepare before traveling to China. To ensure your trip is perfectly smooth, be sure to check our 14-Day Arrival Checklist, covering complete steps for visa, payment, internet, and transport setups.