Meituan, Ele.me and Food Delivery in China as a Foreigner (2026)

Short answer: Food delivery in China runs on apps like Meituan and Ele.me. Payment is the hard part for foreigners. Set up Alipay with a foreign card first, then pay with Alipay inside the delivery app. Neither app is built around foreign cards, and reports from travellers on how smoothly it works are mixed, so treat the steps below as a plan and keep a backup.

Meituan’s app has some English settings, but most of it is in Chinese, so a translation app helps. Ele.me has been renamed: since late 2025 the Ele.me app appears as 淘宝闪购 (Taobao Shangou), and it has no English interface. Neither app is known to take a foreign card directly. Most guides say you should pay through Alipay or WeChat Pay, and that card acceptance is hit-or-miss.

Before you start

• A working payment method. Start with Alipay. It needs no Chinese account or phone number, and it takes a Visa or Mastercard. Payments of ¥200 or less are free; above that Alipay charges 3% of the whole amount. Your bank may add its own foreign-transaction fee. Full steps: Can Foreigners Use Alipay?
• A phone number that can receive SMS, for sign-up codes. A data-only travel eSIM can’t receive texts to your home number, so keep your home SIM active or enable Wi-Fi calling.
• Mobile data or Wi-Fi on your phone after you land.
• A delivery address you can write in Chinese. Hotel name and address in Chinese, plus a phone number that can take a call. Ask the front desk to write it down.
• A backup: a second card, or plan to eat in or pick up. Also see WeChat Pay.

On the iPhone App Store, the official Meituan app is listed as 美团 (subtitle “问美团，都安排”), published by 北京三快科技有限公司 (Beijing Sankuai Technology). Its listing shows Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and English. The developer site is meituan.com. For Ele.me, search for 淘宝闪购 (the updated “饿了么” app) and check that the publisher is an Alibaba group company. Don’t use a third-party download site.

Most guides say foreign numbers can receive the sign-up code, but not always reliably. Some say a Chinese number is required. If the code doesn’t arrive, see the table below.

Which app to use

App	What we can say	To check
Meituan	The biggest food delivery app. Store listing includes English, but most screens are Chinese	Whether your Alipay payment goes through
Ele.me (now 淘宝闪购)	The other main app, run by Alibaba, the same group as Alipay. No English interface	Whether your Alipay payment goes through

Some guides say the easiest way to get English screens is a mini program inside WeChat or Alipay. We couldn’t confirm that Ele.me opens in English inside the Alipay app for foreign users, so check in Alipay’s search before relying on it.

Step by step

These steps are a plan. Screens and options change often.

1. Set up Alipay at home and link your card. See the Alipay guide. Test one small purchase after you land.

2. Install the delivery app from your usual app store. Use the official publisher only.

   

3. Sign up with your phone number. Choose your country code and enter the SMS code. Reports differ on whether a foreign number always works. You are not normally asked for a passport at sign-up.

   

4. Add your delivery address. Use the Chinese hotel address. Add a phone number the rider can call.

5. Pick a restaurant and your dishes. Check the delivery time and the minimum order shown in the app.

   

6. Pay. Choose Alipay if the app offers it. Most travellers who manage to order this way report using Alipay, not a card typed into the app. Some report that payment fails, in which case try the other app.

   

7. Watch for the rider’s call. Riders usually phone you when they arrive. Tell the front desk to expect a delivery, since some hotels have the rider leave food at the desk.

If it doesn’t work

Problem	Why	Fix
No SMS code	Data-only eSIM or no roaming	Keep your home SIM active or enable Wi-Fi calling
Card rejected in Alipay	Some issuing banks reject the binding request	Try a second card from a different bank
App won’t accept your payment	Foreign cards aren’t accepted directly, and Alipay payment doesn’t always work for foreigners	Check the app’s payment options, or try the other app
Rider can’t find you	Address or phone problem	Use the Chinese address and a number that takes calls

FAQ

Can a foreigner use Meituan or Ele.me?

Sometimes. Travellers report mixed results: some order with a foreign number and Alipay, others get stuck at the SMS code or at payment. Try it once before you rely on it.

Do I need a Chinese phone number?

Not always. Alipay itself doesn’t need one. For the delivery apps, some travellers sign up with a foreign number, but others report problems, so have a backup plan.

Do I need cash?

Not for the apps, but keep a backup payment method with you. In big-city international hotels, English-speaking staff can often order for you.

What if I just want food without the hassle?

Eat in, or ask your hotel for local options. Hotels can often help with ordering, but check with yours.

Still stuck?

Do it yourself with the steps above, or get help from a real person.

Sources: Alipay overseas-user site; Meituan on the App Store; our Alipay guide. Some links are affiliate links — see our disclosure.