How to Use Meituan for Food Delivery in China
Published: April 29, 2026
Short Answer
Meituan (Meituan Waimai) is China's dominant food delivery platform, used by hundreds of millions of people daily. It delivers everything from restaurant meals to groceries, medicine, and flowers. Delivery is fast (typically 20-40 minutes), cheap (delivery fees often under 5 RMB), and covers virtually every neighborhood in Chinese cities.
Delivery rider on electric scooter in Chinese city
Deep Dive
Getting Started
Download Meituan from the App Store or Google Play. The app is in Chinese by default, but the interface is intuitive once you learn the key icons. Register with your Chinese phone number. You will pay through WeChat Pay or Alipay -- Meituan does not have its own payment system.
The main screen shows categories: food delivery (Waimai), grocery shopping (Maicai), hotel booking, movie tickets, and more. For food, tap the blue Waimai icon.
How to Order Food
- Browse restaurants -- the app shows nearby options sorted by distance, rating, and delivery time
- Use filters -- filter by cuisine type, price range, distance, and ratings
- Read reviews -- check photos and comments from other customers
- Select dishes -- tap items to add them to your cart. Many restaurants offer set meals (taocan) that are better value
- Add notes -- write special instructions like "no spicy" or "leave at door" using the remark field (beizhu)
- Pay -- confirm your order and pay through WeChat Pay or Alipay
- Track delivery -- watch your rider in real-time on the map
Dealing with the Chinese-Only Interface
If your Chinese is limited, here are practical workarounds:
- Take screenshots and use your phone's built-in translation (Google Lens works well)
- Save favorite restaurants -- once you find places you like, reorder from your history
- Look at food photos -- most listings have user-uploaded photos that help you identify dishes
- Learn key characters -- 鸡肉 (chicken), 牛肉 (beef), 猪肉 (pork), 辣 (spicy), 不辣 (not spicy)
- Use the search bar -- type dish names in pinyin and the app often recognizes them
Meituan Waimai Delivery Options
- Regular delivery -- 20-40 minutes, standard fee (usually 1-5 RMB)
- Scheduled delivery -- order in advance for a specific time slot
- Group orders -- multiple people in the same office can order together for free delivery
- Self-pickup (Ziti) -- order ahead and collect from the restaurant, often with a discount
Beyond Food: Meituan's Other Services
Meituan is much more than food delivery:
- Meituan Maicai -- grocery delivery, usually next-day or same-day for fresh produce
- Meituan Pharmacy -- medicine delivery, including over-the-counter drugs
- Meituan Flash Purchase -- convenience store items delivered in 30 minutes
- Hotel booking -- competitive prices for domestic hotels
- Movie tickets -- book and pay for cinema tickets
- Group buying (Tuan) -- discounted vouchers for restaurants, spas, and activities
Saving Money on Meituan
- Meituan membership (Huiyuan) -- monthly subscription for free delivery coupons and discounts. Costs around 15 RMB per month and pays for itself if you order 3-4 times
- Super brand days -- restaurants offer deep discounts on specific days
- First-order discounts -- new users get significant coupons
- Red packets -- share your order link with friends to earn cashback
- Minimum order amounts -- many restaurants offer free delivery above 20-30 RMB
Common Issues and Solutions
- Wrong order -- contact customer service through the app. Meituan usually refunds quickly
- Late delivery -- the app shows estimated time. If significantly late, you may get a coupon
- Cold food -- rate the restaurant accordingly and request a refund through the complaint system
- Language barrier with rider -- riders call when they arrive. Learn "waimai" (delivery) and your address in Chinese