There’s a saying in China: 民以食为天 (mínyǐshíwéitiān), “To the People, Food Is Heaven”. It’s a good indication of just how serious people are in this country about food and eating. Beijing’s food apps have a wide variety of whatever you might be craving to be delivered to your home at any time, and will simplify your life by giving you one less thing to think about. Here we will introduce two English-based delivery services, Sherpa’s and Jingshisong, and one of the most popular Chinese-only food apps, Meituan Waimai, with some steps to help you set it up.

English Apps

Sherpa’s

Sherpa’s familiar orange scooters can be seen across the Chaoyang and Dongcheng districts. It has a large selection of partner restaurants including expat favorites such as Home Plate BBQ, Wagas, and Q Mex.

Delivery zones: Chaoyang, Dongcheng, Xicheng, and Haidian districts

Delivery fee: Starts at RMB 15 that covers the first 3.2km and increases according to distance. Sherpa’s has a happy hour promotion from 2-5.30pm on weekdays, where a delivery fee of up to RMB 20 is waived for a minimum order of RMB 80.

Average delivery time: 45-50 minutes

Delivery hours: Daily 10.30am-10.30pm, closed during major holidays.

How to order: Download their app, check their website at www.sherpa.com.cn, or contact 400 856 6209

Jinshisong

Jinshisong 锦食送 is one of the larger delivery services for western restaurants. It has international and Chinese selections.

Delivery zones: Chaoyang, Dongcheng, Xicheng, and Haidian districts

Delivery fee: Starts at RMB 15, though many restaurants offer free delivery within 3km if you register your phone number and receive a JSS free Premier Card. There is a minimum order of RMB 60.

Average delivery time: 45-50 minutes

Delivery hours: Daily 10.30am-10.30pm

How to order and pay:  Download the app, check their website at www.jinshisong.com, or contact 400 900 5877. Cash or POS upon delivery, WeChat or Alipay if ordering via the app.

Chinese-only Apps

MeituanWaimai

Meituan Waimai (美团外卖 měituánwàimài)  offers food delivery, movie tickets, shopping, various discounts, and much more. You can even access Meituan from Wechat Pay.

Delivery zones: Across Beijing

Delivery fee: This depends on the restaurant but usually doesn’t exceed RMB 10. Meituan Waimai also has a minimum price range for food items that can be delivered.

Average delivery time: 30-60 minutes, depending on distance

Delivery hours: 24-hours for a limited number of restaurants, other opening hours vary by restaurant.

How to order and pay: Via the app. You generally need to pay using bank cards, Apple Pay, Alipay, or WeChat Wallet upon ordering, though some restaurants accept cash on delivery.

How to set up MeituanWaimai

Step 1: Download Meituan Waimai

Search on “MeituanWaimai” (美团外卖, měituánwàimài) with a little yellow kangaroo logo on your phone and download it. You can also access it by tapping on the Food Delivery button on WeChat Pay (it’s under “Powered by third-party operator,” and you’ll see the kangaroo.)

Step 2: Register your account

Tap on the “Me”(“我的”, wǒ de) button in the bottom right-hand corner to get started. Then tap the text at the top, next to the profile picture. Here, you will need to enter your phone number to get a verification code by text message (should be six digits). Enter it and continue.

Step 3: Setting your address

Tap on the “Me” (“我的”, wǒ de) page again, click the “Address” (“我的地址”, wǒ de dìzhǐ) to set your address to get food delivery. When setting your address, you can use the maps function to try to best approximate your apartment building. Here, on the profile page, you can also set your name, gender, and phone number.

Step 4: Select your meal

Go back to the Home page to select food. If you already know the food you are craving, type the name at the very top of the page; for example, type “bisa” for 比萨 (bǐ sà), and you’ll get a list of pizza restaurants. Tap the first red icon which says “美食”(měi shí, “good food”) to see a list of all the most popular restaurants in your area. Enjoy your meal!

This article appeared in the beijingkids June 2019 Home & Relocation Guide issue.

Some of China’s leading fast-food delivery platforms will hike fees they charge to restaurants by as much as three percentage points, pushing commission rates to more than 20 percent in some cases.

The latest increases underscore growing pressure on platform operators such as Meituan and Ele.me to improve profitability. The hikes also mark yet another blow to China’s small- and medium-sized enterprises, many of which continue to struggle amid a cooling economy.

China’s food-delivery firms have battled for market share through subsidies, resulting in losses for big players including Ele.me and Tencent-backed Meituan-Dianping. Despite a sales revenue of over RMB 19 billion (around USD 2.8 billion), Hong Kong-listed Meituan Dianping reported a net loss of around RMB 2.5 billion in the third quarter of 2018

Michael Norris, strategy and research manager at AgencyChina, said the increased commissions signal that food-delivery platforms Ele.me and Meituan-Dianping are “getting serious” about improving operating margins.

Norris said that cost increases will likely be passed on to consumers. He added that vendors typically would reduce or modify discounts offered to consumers in the face of increased price pressures. He also noted that the amount of subsidies food-delivery platforms have given merchants in order to offer customer discounts has decreased over the past year.

Business owners report that their commission rates have increased from 16 percent to 17 percent since November 2018, sometimes requiring them to pay RMB 5 on orders of RMB 30. “The commission rate has grown from nothing in the beginning, to 10 percent later on, and finally to around 20 percent at the moment,” state-owned Xinhua News Agency (in Chinese) cited one merchant as saying.

Some businesses have received new agreements from food-delivery platforms in which commission rates have been increased by up to three percentage points. One Shanghai-based restaurant owner said his new agreement increased rates from 18 percent to 21 percent per order, according to Xinhua.

A spokesperson from Ele.me told TechNode that the commission fee has increased over the past year, in part, due to the economic slowdown. However, the company said the increases will not continue and it would work to lower them in 2019.

Chinese food-delivery service Meituan Waimai controlled nearly 60 percent of the food-delivery market in the first half of 2018, followed by rivals Ele.me at 36 percent and Baidu Waimai with 3 percent, according to data from analytics firm Trustdata.

Meanwhile, Alibaba’s Local Services Company, which was formed through the merger of Ele.me and Koubei, announced a national campaign dubbed “Warm Winter” on Jan 6. The Chinese internet giant promised to “continuously” lower the commission it charges merchants on both Ele.me and Koubei.

Additional reporting by Chris Udemans

READ: Multiple Beijing Late-Night Food Delivery Outlets Revealed to Be a Sham

Image courtesy of TechNode

If you’re at your wits’ end over what to cook, then don’t fret, as getting hot, delicious food delivered to your doorstep is very simple. Beijing has several English- and Chinese-based delivery services that simplify your life by giving you one less thing to think about.

Here’s a list of English-only delivery services that truly deliver.

English Apps

Sherpa’s
Sherpa’s familiar orange scooters can be seen across the Chaoyang and Dongcheng districts. It has a large selection of partner restaurants such as Home Plate BBQ, Wagas, and Tandoori Kitchen.
Delivery zones: Chaoyang and Dongcheng districts
Delivery fee: Starts at RMB 15 and increases according to distance. Sherpa’s has a happy hour promotion from 1-6pm on weekdays where the delivery fee is waived if the total is RMB 20 or less. There’s a minimum delivery amount of RMB 100 at dinner hours starting from 6pm.
Average delivery time: 45-50 minutes
Delivery hours: Daily 10.30am-10.30pm, closed during major holidays.
How to order: Check their app, website at www.sherpa.com.cn, or contact 400 600 6209

Youcansong
Youcansong 优餐送 delivers from Chinese and international restaurants. In its own words, Youcansong delivers “the best food with superior service.”
Delivery zones: Chaoyang and Dongcheng districts
Delivery fee: Delivery fee is calculated by the distance from the restaurant to your home. Youcansong charges RMB 15 for the first 3km and RMB 5 for each additional kilometer.
Average delivery time: 45-60 minutes
Delivery hours: Daily 10.30am to 10.30pm, though delivery hours may vary from restaurant to restaurant.
How to order and pay: Online via www.youcansong.com, through the app, or by calling 4000 700 250 or 6500 9155. You can also use cash or POS (China Union Pay cards only) upon delivery.

Jinshisong
Jinshisong 锦食送 is one of the larger delivery services for western restaurants. It has international and Chinese selections and covers a wider delivery area than Sherpa’s.
Delivery zones: Chaoyang, Dongcheng, Xicheng, and Haidian districts
Delivery fee: Starts at RMB 15, though many restaurants offer free delivery within 3km. There is a minimum order of RMB 68.
Average delivery time: 45 minutes
Delivery hours: Daily 10.30am-10.30pm
How to order and pay: Check the app, website at www.jinshisong.com or contact 400 030 0517. Cash or POS upon delivery, WeChat or Alipay if ordering via the app.

Chinese-only Apps

Meituan Waimai 美团外卖
Delivery zones: Across Beijing
Delivery fee: This depends on the restaurant but usually doesn’t exceed RMB 10. Meituan Waimai also has a minimum price range for food items that can be delivered.
Average delivery time: 30-60 minutes, depending on distance
Delivery hours: 24-hours for a limited number of restaurants, other opening hours vary by restaurant.
How to order and pay: Via the app. You need to pay using Baidu Wallet, Alipay, or WeChat Wallet upon ordering, though some restaurants accept cash on delivery.

Baidu Waimai
Delivery zones: Across Beijing
Delivery fee: Delivery is calculated by distance from the restaurant, but is rarely more than RMB 5-10.
Average delivery time: 30-60 minutes, depending on distance.
Delivery hours: 24-hours for a limited number of restaurants, other opening hours vary by restaurant.
How to order and pay: Via the app or call 1010 5777. You can also use Baidu Wallet, Alipay, WeChat Wallet, or cash on delivery (for some restaurants only).

Eleme 饿了么
Delivery zones: Across Beijing
Delivery fee: Up to RMB 20 (for restaurants) and RMB 30 (for fruit deliveries)
Average delivery time: 30-60 minutes, depending on distance
Delivery hours: 24-hours for a limited number of restaurants, other opening hours vary by restaurant.
How to order and pay: Via app. You need to pay via Baidu Wallet, Alipay, or WeChat Wallet upon ordering, though some restaurants accept cash on delivery

This article appeared on p56-57 of the beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue

If you’re at your wits’ end over what to cook, then don’t fret, as getting hot, delicious food delivered to your doorstep is very simple. Beijing has several English- and Chinese-based delivery services that simplify your life by giving you one less thing to think about. Here’s a list of English-only delivery services that truly deliver.

Sherpa’s

Its familiar orange scooters can be seen across the Chaoyang and Dongcheng districts. It has a large selection of partner restaurants such as Home Plate BBQ, Wagas, and Tandoori Kitchen.

Delivery zones: Chaoyang and Dongcheng districts

Delivery fee: Starts at RMB 15 and increases according to distance. Sherpa’s has a happy hour promotion from 1-6pm on weekdays where the delivery fee is waived if the total is RMB 20 or less. There’s a minimum delivery amount of RMB 100 at dinner hours starting from 6pm.

How to order: Check their app and website or contact 400 600 6209

Jinshisong 锦食送

It is one of the larger delivery services for western restaurants. It has international and Chinese selections and covers a wider delivery area than Sherpa’s.

Delivery zones: Chaoyang, Dongcheng, Xicheng, and Haidian

Delivery fee: Starts at RMB 15, though many restaurants offer free delivery within 3km. There is a minimum order of RMB 68.

How to order and pay:  Check their app or website or contact 400 030 0517. Cash or POS upon delivery, WeChat or Alipay if ordering via the app.

KK Rabbit

offers a range of international and Chinese cuisine, though it is more limited than Sherpa’s or Jinshisong. KK Rabbit Operators can also take orders through MSN and Skype.

Delivery zones: Guomao, Sanlitun, Chaoyang Park and Shunyi

Delivery fee: RMB 15 for addresses within 3km of the restaurant. There’s an extra RMB 7 for every kilometer after that. When you place an order through the website, KK Rabbit will call you within ten minutes to tell you the correct delivery fee; the website tends to overestimate the fee as a conservative measure.

How to order: Their website is easier than calling as the orders can easily be mistaken. Hotline: 400 720 1717

Youcansong 优餐送

delivers from Chinese and international restaurants. In its own words, Youcansong delivers “the best food with superior service.”

Delivery zones: Chaoyang and Dongcheng districts

Delivery fee: Delivery fee is calculated by the distance from the restaurant to your home. Youcansong charges RMB 15 for the first 3km and RMB 5 for each additional kilometer.

How to order and pay: Online via website or app, or by calling 4000 700 250 or 6500 9155. You can also use cash or POS (China Union Pay cards only) upon delivery.

Chinese-only Apps

Meituan Waimai 美团外卖

It’s a must for finding restaurants, food delivery, deals and vouchers, shopping, purchasing tickets, and so much more. Even better, with Meituan you can access its listings through WeChat.

Delivery zones: Across Beijing

Delivery fee: This depends on the restaurant but usually doesn’t exceed RMB 10. Meituan Waimai also has a minimum price range for food items that can be delivered.

How to order and pay: Via the app. You need to pay using Baidu Wallet, Alipay, or WeChat Wallet upon ordering, though some restaurants accept cash on delivery.

Baidu Waimai

Delivery zones: Across Beijing

Delivery fee: Delivery is calculated by distance from the restaurant, but is rarely more than RMB 5-10.

How to order and pay: Via the app or call 1010 5777. You can also use Baidu Wallet, Alipay, WeChat Wallet, or cash on delivery (for some restaurants only).

Eleme 饿了么

Delivery zones: Across Beijing

Delivery fee: Up to RMB 20 (for restaurants) and RMB 30 (for fruit deliveries)

How to order and pay: Via app. You need to pay via Baidu Wallet, Alipay, or WeChat Wallet upon ordering, though some restaurants accept cash on delivery.

This article originally appeared on p 54-55 of beijingkids May Issue.
Download the digital copy here.

Featured photo from Baohm via Pixabay