How to Use Delivery Apps Meituan and Eleme
New to China and don't know which app to turn to when it comes to ordering waimai? Here in China, there are two apps: Meituan and Eleme, that come in handy when it comes to food delivery. Here's a how-to guide on the basics of these two apps.
How to Register on Meituan
Click on 登录/注册 Dēnglù/zhùcè.
Then the app will take you to a page where it will ask for your phone number. Click 获取短信验证码 Huòqǔ duǎnxìn yànzhèng mǎ，and a verification code will be sent to your phone.
Once you enter the code, Meituan will automatically create an account for you.
How to Order on Meituan
First, head to the page marked 外卖 wàimài when you open the app.
You'll then be taken to a landing page where you'll see a whole bunch of options for food (translated below for your convenience). But, first things first, you're gonna want to add your address.
To do this, find the bar with the location pin at the top right hand side of the app.
Click in, and hit the button that reads 选择收货地址 Xuǎnzé shōu huò dìzhǐ，and you can either search your address by typing it in Chinese or move the pin around until you land on it.
Then, go back and input the rest of your info (translated for convenience).
Now you can go back and get ordering. Either select a restaurant you want to order from by scrolling down, or search in the searchbar at the top.
Select the food items you want. On the bottom right, Meituan may remind you that you haven't chosen must-have items (this is normally asking whether you want cutlery or not). Click on 未点必选品 Wèi diǎn bì xuǎn pǐn.
Then Meituan will take you to a page where you can choose whether to have cutlery included or not with your order. If you want cutlery select 需要餐具 xūyào cānjù, if you don't want cutlery select 不需要餐具 bù xūyào cānjù. Once you have made your preference, click on 去结算 Qù jiésuàn.
After you have verified that your information is correct, click on 提交订单 Tíjiāo dìngdān. Then you're all set! Depending on your location, it will roughly take about 20-60 minutes for your orders to be delivered.
How to Register on Eleme
Click on 立即登录 Lìjí dēnglù，then the app will take you to the page where it will ask you to log in with your phone number.
Click on 登录 Dēnglù，and Eleme will automatically create an account for you using your phone number
How to Order on Eleme
While it's pretty similar to Meituan Waimai in a lot of respects, Eleme's layout is slightly different (see translated sections below).
To add your address, head to the top left hand corner and click in, and it's pretty much the same process as adding it in on Meituan.
Then head back, and find a restaurant you want to order from (also similar to Meituan).
Select the food items you want. Then click on 去结算 Qù jiésuàn.
After you have verified that your information is correct, click on 提交订单 Tíjiāo dìngdān. Then you're all set! Depending on your location, it will roughly take about 20-60 minutes for your orders to be delivered.
READ: How to Use the Beijing Subway's Lost and Found Service
Images: Irene Li, the Beijingers
