Eating Out and Ordering Delivery in China
Download Google Translate and download the Chinese offline language pack before arriving — the camera mode translates menus live on your screen. Use Dianping (大众点评) for restaurant discovery and Meituan for delivery. Small shops and street vendors only accept Alipay, WeChat Pay or physical cash — no foreign credit cards.
What you need to do
Reading a Chinese menu — the camera trick
A 2025 survey of 292 foreign visitors in Hangzhou found that 31% encountered staff who could not translate the menu, and 19% had no way to know what local specialities were nearby before arriving at a restaurant. (Hangzhou Metropolis Daily, 2025-09)
The fastest fix is Google Translate camera mode. Here is the full setup:
- Install Google Translate.
- Go to Settings → Offline translation. Download the Chinese (Mandarin) language pack — it is about 40 MB.
- Enable “Instant translation” and point your camera at the menu. The English text appears live over the screen.
- Screenshot it too. The live overlay works for large print, but small print in sealed plastic menus can still miss characters. Screenshot → tap the image → tap a word for its definition.
If the restaurant is a traditional spot without an English menu at all, point at other tables and say “wǒ yào nàge” (我要那个 — “I want that one”). This works everywhere, including street food stalls.
Restaurant discovery — which app to use
Dianping (大众点评) — Yelp of China
Dianping is China’s restaurant discovery and review platform. In tier-1 cities, it has:
- An English interface (toggle in app settings)
- English reviews, mostly from expats and other travellers
- Photos of dishes (critical for picking without reading Chinese)
- Real-time restaurant ratings, wait times, and distance
In tier-2 and tier-3 cities, English coverage drops. Switch back to Google Translate + screenshots.
Google Maps + word-of-mouth
Google Maps does not work in China, but Apple Maps shows restaurant ratings and reviews in English. Ask your hotel front desk what they recommend for your dietary preferences — they will know the local spots that cater to foreigners.
Ordering delivery — Meituan is what you use
Meituan (美团) is the default delivery app — covers food, grocery, pharmacy, cinema tickets, and hotel bookings all in one. Its main competitor is Eleme (饿了么), owned by Alibaba.
The 2026 foreigner support update
As of August 2026, Meituan officially supports registration with international phone numbers. The in-app country-code picker works with +1 (US/Canada), +44 (UK), +61 (Australia), and most other codes. (Meituan developer announcement, 2026-08)
Payment is still the blocker: you need WeChat Pay or Alipay to complete orders. International credit cards are not accepted on Meituan or Eleme.
Two ways to use Meituan
Option A — Install the Meituan app. Sign up with your international phone number, navigate to the “外卖” (delivery) tab, search or browse, and pay with WeChat Pay or Alipay. No English interface — use Google Translate camera to navigate. (Shanghai Gov guide, 2024-01)
Option B — Use Meituan inside WeChat mini-programs. Open WeChat → Discover → Mini Programs → search for “美团外卖”. WeChat’s built-in translation feature can be switched on inside the mini-program, giving you a semi-English interface. Payment is handled through WeChat Pay automatically. This is often easier than the full Meituan app. (ChinaNeighbor, 2026)
What to look for on a restaurant page in Meituan
- 评分 4.5+ — Chinese rating scale where anything below 4 is a red flag.
- 配送费 (delivery fee) — ¥3–8 is normal.
- 平均等待 (average wait time) — 30–45 minutes is normal for peak hours.
- 外卖满减 (delivery discount) — many places offer 满25减5 (spend ¥25 get ¥5 off) — worth looking for.
Delivery to your hotel room
Most hotels do not have a dedicated delivery lobby. The rider will call or message you on WeChat when they arrive. Meet them at the hotel entrance — do not ask them to come up to your room, they will not.
Dietary restrictions — prepare a Chinese phrasecard
25 foreign visitors surveyed in Hangzhou said that restaurant menus did not mark halal, vegan or allergen information — even in restaurants that serve halal or vegetarian food. (Hangzhou Metropolis Daily, 2025-09)
Do not assume anything. Prepare a digital phrasecard in Chinese characters for your specific need and show it to the waiter. Voice alone may not work — some staff speak some English, but most kitchen staff do not.
| What you need | Chinese characters to show |
|---|---|
| Halal (no pork, no alcohol) | 我是穆斯林，请问有清真餐吗？不要猪肉，不要酒精。 |
| No beef (e.g., Hindu) | 我不吃牛肉，请问有不含牛肉的菜吗？ |
| Vegan / no animal products | 我是素食者，不吃肉、蛋、奶，请帮我确认菜品。 |
| No peanuts / nut allergy | 我对花生和坚果过敏，这道菜里有吗？ |
| No gluten | 我不吃麸质，请问有不含面粉的菜吗？ |
Dining culture — five differences from Western restaurants
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No tipping, ever. Tipping does not exist in China. Restaurant staff, taxi drivers and hotel workers are paid a wage. If you leave money on the table, someone may chase you down the street to return it. The only exception is high-end international hotels where a service charge may already be on your bill — check the receipt. (NotesFromChina, 2026-08)
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Sharing is expected. Tables come with a lazy Susan. Dishes are ordered communally — usually 1 dish per person. Small individual plates are rare outside high-end restaurants and fast food.
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公筷 (gōngkuài) — serving chopsticks. Since COVID, many restaurants provide a pair of serving chopsticks (longer, a different colour) in addition to your personal chopsticks. Push them towards the middle of the table — do not put them in your mouth.
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Tea is always first. A pot of tea arrives before anything else. It is usually complimentary. Pour for the person next to you first (etiquette), and you will find a small cup by your plate. Green tea is the default; oolong and chrysanthemum are also common.
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Street food and convenience stores are legitimate meal options. 7-Eleven, Family Mart and Lawson sell ready-made hot meals (¥10–18) — the bento boxes are popular with locals and foreigners alike. Street vendors at night markets are safe in major tourist areas; look for stalls with a queue.
Payment — the non-negotiable
The 2025 Hangzhou survey found that 16.8% of foreign visitors still preferred credit cards, and 21.9% preferred cash. But here is the reality on the ground:
| Payment method | Acceptance in restaurants |
|---|---|
| Alipay / WeChat Pay | Everywhere — from street vendors to Michelin-star |
| Physical renminbi cash | Most places, but not always. Some small stalls carry only a mobile QR code. |
| International credit card | Only international chain hotels and luxury malls. Zero acceptance in local restaurants, noodle shops, or street food. |
| Apple Pay | Almost zero. The Hangzhou survey found only 8 out of 292 visitors used it. (Hangzhou Metropolis Daily, 2025-09) |
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before arriving — see Pay like a local — Alipay and WeChat Pay for the step-by-step.
Common mistakes
- Arriving at a popular restaurant on a weekend without reservation. Peak hours are 12:00–13:30 (lunch) and 18:00–20:00 (dinner). On Dianping, restaurants show “排队” (queue number) — arrive early or skip busy times.
- Assuming “no English menu” = tourist food only. Many of the best and cheapest restaurants are the ones without any English. That is exactly where Google Translate camera mode shines.
- Trying to use a foreign credit card at a noodle stall. It will be declined. Carry cash or use Alipay/WeChat Pay.
- Ordering too much by mistake. Large portions are normal. Two foreign travellers ordering three dishes is usually the right amount, not two.
Change log for this page
- First published — sources cross-checked against Meituan's 2026 international-phone support announcement and Shanghai's official delivery-app guide.