Food & delivery
Meituan, Ele.me, restaurant tips
Meituan (美团)
China's largest food delivery platform. Over 10 million merchants. Interface is Chinese-only, but with this guide and a translation app you'll be ordering in minutes. Delivery typically arrives in 20–40 minutes.
Download and register
Search 'Meituan' (美团) in the App Store or Google Play. Register with your Chinese phone number. You'll receive an SMS verification code. If you don't have a Chinese number yet, you can use a WeChat mini-program instead: search '美团外卖' in WeChat.
Set your delivery address
Tap the location bar at the top → Add new address. Enter your address in Chinese (see the address guide below). Include your building name, room number, and any gate codes. Save it as default.
Browse restaurants
The home screen shows nearby restaurants. Use the category icons at the top to filter: 快餐 (fast food), 火锅 (hotpot), 日料 (Japanese), 西餐 (Western), 奶茶 (bubble tea). Photos show every dish. Ratings are out of 5 stars. 月售 shows monthly orders — higher = more popular.
Place your order
Tap a restaurant → browse menu → tap + to add items. 必点 means 'must-try'. Hit the orange cart button at the bottom → review your order → tap 去结算 (checkout). Select Alipay or WeChat Pay. Tap 提交订单 (submit order).
Track delivery
Watch the rider on the map in real-time. The rider may call you — answer or have a Chinese phrase ready: '我在门口等' (I'm waiting at the entrance). Leave a 5-star rating (好评) if the food is good.
Pro tip: Use the WeChat mini-program version if you're struggling with the standalone app — it auto-translates some text if your WeChat is set to English. Screenshot menus and use your phone's built-in image translator.
Ele.me (饿了么)
Owned by Alibaba and deeply integrated with Alipay. Slightly smaller selection than Meituan but often has better coupons. The Alipay integration makes payment seamless for international card users.
Open via Alipay (easiest method)
Open Alipay → search '饿了么' or look for the Ele.me icon on the home screen. This is the easiest method because it uses your existing Alipay account and payment — no separate registration needed.
Or download the standalone app
Search 'Ele.me' or '饿了么' in your app store. Register with your Chinese phone number. Link Alipay or WeChat Pay as your payment method.
Set your delivery address
Tap the location at the top → manage addresses → add new. Enter your full address in Chinese. Tip: copy your address from Amap or your landlord's message and paste it here.
Browse and order
Similar to Meituan: browse nearby restaurants, tap to view menu, add items to cart. Look for 满减 (spend X get Y off) deals — very common. Tap 去结算 to checkout. Payment goes through Alipay automatically.
Track and receive
Track the rider on the map. If the rider can't find you, they'll call. Keep your phone ringer on. Food is usually left at your door or a pickup shelf if you don't answer.
Pro tip: Ele.me often has new-user coupons (新人优惠) and first-order discounts. Check the '领红包' (get red packet) section on the home screen for daily deals.
How to fill in your delivery address (收货地址)
Getting your address right is critical — riders can't deliver if the address is wrong or unclear. Here's how to format it correctly.
Get your address in Chinese
Ask your landlord or hotel to write your full address in Chinese. Or open Amap (高德地图), find your location, and copy the Chinese address. It should include: district (区), road (路), building name (小区/大厦), building number, and room number.
Format: District → Road → Building → Room
Example: 静安区南京西路1788号1788国际中心15楼1502室. Breakdown: 静安区 (Jing'an District) + 南京西路1788号 (1788 West Nanjing Rd) + 1788国际中心 (building name) + 15楼1502室 (Floor 15, Room 1502).
Add gate/access instructions
In the 备注 (notes) field, add: gate code, which entrance to use, or 'leave at front desk' (放前台). If your building has a guard, note: '跟保安说送外卖的' (tell the guard it's a food delivery).
Pin your location on the map
Both apps let you drop a pin on the map. Do this — it helps the rider find you even if the text address is confusing. Make sure the pin is on your actual building, not the street.
Food categories — bilingual reference
Use these when browsing menus, ordering, or asking for recommendations
Staples
Protein
Soups & Drinks
Taste & Dietary preferences
Restaurant survival phrases
Show these to staff or say them out loud — they'll understand
Tipping is NOT expected in China
Do not tip at restaurants, cafés, taxis, hotels, or for food delivery. Tipping is not part of Chinese culture and can sometimes cause confusion or embarrassment. Service charges are not added to bills. If you try to tip, staff may refuse or try to return the money. The only exception: some high-end international hotels may accept tips for exceptional service.
Grocery shopping
- Hema (盒马) — Alibaba's smart supermarket. Order via app for 30-min delivery or shop in-store. Some English labels. Alipay only.
- Sam's Club (山姆会员店) — membership required (¥260/year). Familiar international products. Multiple Shanghai locations.
- Costco (开市客) — Minhang location. International products in bulk. Accepts Alipay and cards.
- Ole' / BLT — premium import supermarkets in malls. Wide selection of Western products.
- Neighborhood wet markets (菜市场) — fresh produce, meat, and seafood at great prices. Cash or mobile pay. Arrive early for best selection.
Common questions
Last updated: March 2026 · Sources: Meituan, Ele.me, Dianping