The setup
I had Meituan on my phone (the biggest food delivery app; Ele.me is the runner-up). Both take about 30 seconds to open a restaurant list around you. The first order is where it's fun: the app shows a small circle of where you are, lists restaurants in 100 m / 500 m / 1.5 km rings, and each one has a minimum order (¥20–30) and a delivery fee (¥3–8). Add both to the bill and you'll get the real number.
One caveat: I was in a residential district with a real delivery density. In a low-density area, the minimums climb to ¥40–50 and the wait stretches to 45 minutes.
The first order, in detail
I ordered from a ¥35 rice bowl place around 6 p.m. — the shop was packed, the delivery was ¥5, and I got it in 27 minutes. The packaging was solid; no leaks. That first night I'd learned the whole rhythm: open the app, pick a distance, watch the fee, order.
Over the month the numbers I was watching: average meal ¥38–55, delivery fee ¥3–8, wait time 25–40 minutes, and a handful of orders where I used a ¥5 coupon that took it down to ¥30.
The 4 things I'd tell a friend
- Read the reviews. A 4.9★ shop with 500 reviews and a 4.9★ shop with 5 are different places. I avoided the second every time.
- The minimum order is a trap. A shop with a ¥30 minimum will make you add ¥15 of extra food just to hit it. Order the two cheapest items that hit the minimum instead.
- Don't order from a mall at 6:30 p.m. The delivery wait jumps to 40+ minutes; order 5 p.m. and you'll have food by 6.
- Use the "no sugar / less salt" notes. Most shops let you add a note on the food. I asked for less oil on my rice and it actually changed the meal.
Where it saves you (and where it doesn't)
Delivery is the best lunch on days you can't leave the desk, and the best dinner on a 10-hour day. It's not the best for breakfast (the street stalls are better and cheaper), and it's not the best for the "nice" restaurant that does no delivery at all. It's the middle: reliable, fast, and you're eating what's on the app, not what the shop would serve.
The one skill you need is choosing the minimum. Everything else is 30 seconds of tapping and 30 minutes of waiting for a meal you would have eaten 20% cheaper in the street.
Frequently asked questions
Which app is the biggest for food delivery in China?
Meituan, with Ele.me the runner-up; both open a restaurant in about 30 seconds.
Is delivery worth it for every meal?
It is the best lunch on days you cannot leave the desk and the best dinner after a 10-hour day, but not the best for breakfast.