Complete guide to Meituan food delivery. Order delicious food to your hotel in Xi'an.
Complete guide to Meituan food delivery app for foreigners. Registration, ordering, English-friendly restaurants, and tips.
Meituan (美团) is China's dominant food delivery platform, offering restaurant ordering, hotel booking, movie tickets, and more. The Meituan app (or Meituan Waimai for food delivery specifically) allows you to order from thousands of restaurants and have food delivered to your location.
While the app is primarily in Chinese, this guide will help you navigate it as a foreigner.
Ele.me (饿了么) is Meituan's main competitor. Both apps have similar features, but Meituan generally has more restaurant options. Have both apps installed to compare prices.
| App | iOS | Android |
|---|---|---|
| Meituan | App Store: "美团" | Google Play / APK |
| Meituan Waimai | App Store: "美团外卖" | Google Play / APK |
| Ele.me | App Store: "饿了么" | Google Play / APK |
Google Play is blocked in China. Android users should download APK files from the official Meituan website or use a trusted APK mirror.
Open the app and tap "Login/Register" (登录/注册). Enter your phone number and tap "Get Code" (获取验证码) to receive an SMS verification code.
Check your SMS for the 6-digit code and enter it to verify your phone number.
Link your credit card or add Alipay/WeChat Pay. For foreigners, international credit cards work but may have issues - Alipay is more reliable.
Enter your hotel address or current location. Be as specific as possible - building name, room number, etc. The delivery person will call if they can't find you.
The home screen shows nearby restaurants. Use categories (快餐, 火锅, 奶茶, etc.) or search for specific dishes. Look for:
Tap on a restaurant to see its menu. Tap items to add them to your cart. Check options like:
Tap the cart icon to review your order. Verify:
Tap "Place Order" (提交订单) to pay. Your food will be prepared and delivered within the estimated time. Track your order in the app.
| Cuisine | Difficulty | Popular Choices |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza/Hamburgers | Easy | Pizza Hut, McDonald's, KFC, local burger shops |
| Sushi/Japanese | Easy | Curry rice, ramen, sushi chains |
| Hotpot | Moderate | Haidilao (海底捞) - English menu available |
| Chinese (General) | Moderate | Search by dish name or use translation |
Haidilao (海底捞) hotpot has excellent service and English menus. While delivery isn't their specialty, it's a great option if you visit in person. Their hotpot ingredients can be ordered for delivery though!
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 不要辣 | Bù yào là | No spicy |
| 少盐 | Shǎo yán | Less salt |
| 不要太咸 | Bù yào tài xián | Not too salty |
| 不要洋葱 | Bù yào yángcōng | No onion |
| 不要香菜 | Bù yào xiāngcài | No cilantro |
| 多加米饭 | Duō jiā mǐfàn | Extra rice |
| Method | Works for Foreigners | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alipay | Yes | Best option if set up |
| WeChat Pay | Yes | Good if you have it |
| Credit Card | Sometimes | May have issues, try Visa/MasterCard |
| Cash on Delivery | Limited | Not available for most orders |
If credit card payment fails, try adding a new card or use Alipay international version. Some foreign cards work better with Alipay than directly in Meituan.
Some restaurants have minimum orders (typically ¥20-30). Check the restaurant's page before ordering.
Usually 25-45 minutes depending on distance and restaurant. Peak hours may take longer.
Yes! The app shows real-time location of your delivery person on a map.
Yes, food delivery is very common in China and generally reliable. Stick to well-rated restaurants.
Use the app's built-in chat or show your address in Chinese characters on your phone screen. Most delivery workers understand basic location-related Chinese.