Meituan Food Delivery for Foreigners: How to Order in China (2026)
Last Updated: April 2026 | Reading Time: 6 min
Quick Summary: Meituan (美团) and Eleme (饿了么) are China’s dominant food delivery apps. No English interface — but ordering is manageable with Google Translate camera mode or a one-time setup. Pay via WeChat Pay or Alipay. Delivery fees are ¥3–6, minimum orders ¥15–30, delivery in 20–40 minutes. Once set up, these apps transform daily life in China.
Why Food Delivery Is Central to Life in China
Food delivery in China operates at a scale unlike anywhere else. In major cities:
- Delivery arrives in 20–35 minutes on average
- Available 24 hours in most neighborhoods
- Covers restaurants, grocery, pharmacy, bubble tea, and convenience items
- Delivery fee is ¥3–6 (~$0.40–0.80) — essentially free
For expats, especially in the first weeks before you know local restaurants or when working late, food delivery is a genuine quality-of-life tool, not a luxury.
Two main platforms:
- Meituan (美团): Larger restaurant selection, also covers grocery and services
- Eleme (饿了么): Alibaba-owned, slightly smaller, integrated with Alipay
Most expats use Meituan. This guide covers Meituan; Eleme works similarly.
Setup: Getting Meituan Working
Step 1: Get the App
Meituan app (美团): Available on App Store and Google Play.
There are several Meituan apps — you want 美团 (the main app covering food, grocery, and hotel), not 美团外卖 (standalone delivery app, which works too but has less functionality).
Step 2: Register
Meituan registration requires a Chinese phone number. This is the main barrier for foreigners.
If you have a Chinese SIM card: Register directly with your Chinese number.
If you only have a foreign number: Meituan does not officially support international phone numbers for registration. Workarounds:
- Ask a Chinese colleague or friend to register an account for you temporarily
- Use the WeChat Mini Program version of Meituan (search 美团外卖 within WeChat) — some features work without full registration
- Get a Chinese SIM card first (see SIM card guide)
Step 3: Set Your Delivery Address
This is the trickiest step if you can’t read Chinese.
- Open Meituan
- Tap the location/address field at the top
- Search your address — try typing your street name in pinyin or English (Meituan’s search can handle some English input)
- Alternatively, use the map to pin your location manually
- Add building number, floor, and unit details
Tip: Save your address in Chinese characters. Google Translate → type your address in English → copy the Chinese output → paste into Meituan. Ask your landlord or building manager for the exact Chinese address if unsure.
Step 4: Link Payment
Meituan accepts:
- WeChat Pay — most common, seamless
- Alipay — works equally well
- UnionPay cards — Chinese bank cards
- International Visa/Mastercard — limited support, works on some plan types
Most foreigners pay via WeChat Pay or Alipay (see respective guides).
Navigating the App (No English)
Meituan has no English interface. Here’s how to manage:
Using Google Translate Camera Mode
The most practical approach:
- Open Google Translate → tap the camera icon
- Point at your phone screen showing the Meituan interface
- Text translates in real-time on screen
Works well for reading menu items, restaurant names, and navigation buttons.
Key Buttons to Recognize
Learning these Chinese characters saves time:
| Chinese | What It Means |
|---|---|
| 外卖 | Food delivery |
| 附近 | Nearby |
| 搜索 | Search |
| 加入购物车 | Add to cart |
| 结算 | Checkout |
| 确认订单 | Confirm order |
| 备注 | Notes (to restaurant) |
| 无需餐具 | No chopsticks/cutlery needed |
| 配送费 | Delivery fee |
| 预计送达 | Estimated delivery time |
| 已取餐 | Order picked up |
| 配送中 | On the way |
| 已送达 | Delivered |
Browsing Restaurants
On the Meituan home screen:
- Top section: Category icons (fast food, Chinese, Japanese, desserts, etc.) — icons are recognizable
- Restaurant list below: Sorted by distance/rating by default
- Each restaurant card shows: Photo, name, rating (⭐), monthly orders, delivery time, delivery fee, minimum order
Filters: You can filter by cuisine type using the icons. The food category icons (汉堡 = burger, 日料 = Japanese, 火锅 = hotpot) are fairly intuitive with the visual icons.
Ordering Food
Selecting a Restaurant
Tap any restaurant. You’ll see:
- Menu categories on the left sidebar
- Items with photos on the right
- Price per item
-
- button to add to cart
Photos save you: Most menu items have photos. Point, tap, add to cart. You don’t need to read the name.
Customizations
Many items have options (size, spice level, add-ons). A popup appears — use Google Translate to read if needed. Common options:
| Chinese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 不辣 | Not spicy |
| 微辣 | Slightly spicy |
| 中辣 | Medium spicy |
| 超辣 | Very spicy |
| 小 / 中 / 大 | Small / Medium / Large |
| 去冰 | No ice |
| 少冰 | Less ice |
| 加冰 | Extra ice |
Checkout
- Review cart (shopping cart icon, usually bottom right)
- Confirm delivery address
- Add notes if needed (备注) — you can write in English, some restaurants have English-reading staff
- Select payment method
- Confirm order
Tracking Your Order
After ordering, you’ll see:
- Real-time map showing rider location
- Estimated arrival time
- Status updates: 已接单 (accepted) → 制作中 (preparing) → 已取餐 (picked up) → 配送中 (on the way) → 已送达 (delivered)
Delivery Notes for Apartments and Compounds
Chinese apartment complexes (小区) often have closed gates. Riders typically call when they arrive at the gate.
If a rider calls you:
- Say your building and unit number in Chinese, or
- Go down to meet them at the gate, or
- Have a standard message ready: “我在[楼号]楼[单元号]单元[房间号]，请等我下来” (I’m in building X, unit Y, room Z — please wait for me to come down)
Contact-free delivery: Meituan has a “no-contact delivery” option (无接触配送) where the rider leaves your order at the gate or building lobby. Good option if you’re not ready to communicate.
Meituan Beyond Food Delivery
Meituan is more than food delivery:
Grocery and Convenience (美团买菜 / 闪购)
Order groceries, drinks, household items with 30-minute delivery. Select 超市 (supermarket) or 便利店 (convenience store) category in the app.
Pharmacy Delivery (药品)
Many pharmacies are on Meituan — order common medications and OTC drugs for delivery. Useful when sick and can’t go out.
Hotel Booking (酒店)
Meituan is also a major hotel booking platform — competitive prices for domestic hotels.
Restaurant Reviews (大众点评)
Dianping (大众点评) is a separate but Meituan-owned restaurant review app — like Yelp for China. Essential for finding restaurants when you’re out exploring.
Eleme (饿了么) — The Alternative
Eleme (饿了么) is Meituan’s main competitor, owned by Alibaba. Very similar functionality.
When to use Eleme instead of Meituan:
- If you’re heavily invested in the Alipay ecosystem (Eleme integrates natively with Alipay)
- Eleme sometimes has exclusive promotions for Alipay users
- Some restaurants are on Eleme but not Meituan (rare, but possible)
How to access Eleme: Standalone app, or via Alipay Mini Program (search 饿了么 in Alipay).
Saving Money on Delivery
Meituan Membership (美团会员)
Monthly subscription (~¥20/month) that provides:
- Free delivery vouchers (usually worth ¥60–80/month in delivery fee savings if you order daily)
- Discounts at partner restaurants
- Worth it if you order 4+ times per week
Red Packet Vouchers (红包)
Meituan frequently distributes discount coupons. Check the “My Vouchers” section (我的优惠券) before ordering — you may have unused coupons.
New User Promotions
New accounts often get significant discounts on first 3–5 orders. If someone registers for you, you lose this benefit — try to register yourself from day one.
FAQ
Is the food safe on Meituan?
Yes — Meituan vets restaurants and shows health inspection scores. Restaurants with high order volumes and good ratings are generally reliable. The platform has made food safety a priority following regulatory pressure.
Can I tip the delivery rider?
There’s a tipping option during or after delivery, but tipping is not culturally expected in China. Rating the rider 5 stars after a good delivery is the standard appreciation.
What if my order is wrong or doesn’t arrive?
Contact Meituan customer service through the app (after-order complaint process). Meituan generally resolves issues quickly — refunds or remakes are common for verified problems.
Can I order at 2am?
Yes, in most cities. Meituan operates 24/7, though selection is limited after midnight. In major cities, dozens of restaurants remain open for delivery through the night.
Related Guides
- WeChat for Foreigners — Pay via WeChat for seamless Meituan ordering
- Alipay for Foreigners — Alternative payment for Eleme
- Wuhan Food Guide — What to eat and which restaurants to search for
Last Updated: April 8, 2026