It’s 7pm. You just landed in Chengdu, dropped your bags, and you’re starving. You walk into the first restaurant you see — plastic stools, steaming pots, the smell of chili oil everywhere. Perfect.
Then the waiter points at a QR code on the table and walks away.
You scan it. A WeChat mini-program opens entirely in Chinese. You tap something. A screen asks you to log in. You try. It asks for a Chinese phone number. You don’t have one.
Five minutes later you’re still staring at your phone. The waiter has checked on you twice.
This happens to almost every foreigner in their first week in China. The good news: there are real ways around it — though “real ways around it” sometimes means asking the hotel to help, not a clean three-tap solution. Depends on the city, the restaurant, and your setup.
The Short Answer (If You’re Already Hungry)
Before going into detail — here’s what to try depending on where you are:
| Situation | Best Method |
|---|---|
| Back at the hotel, want delivery | Alipay → Taobao Instant (formerly Ele.me) mini-program |
| Sitting in a restaurant with a QR code | Scan it, use translation app on the menu, pay with Alipay |
| QR system asks for Chinese number | Call the waiter over, point at what someone else is eating, say 我要这个(Wǒ yào zhè ge) |
| Want more restaurant options for delivery | Meituan via WeChat mini-program (if your WeChat is verified) |
| None of the above is working | Ask hotel reception to order for you — genuinely the most reliable fallback |
Before any of this works, you need Alipay set up with your foreign card. If you haven’t done that yet, sort it out first — it takes 10–30 minutes and unlocks basically everything else. → How to Set Up Alipay as a Foreigner
Best for Beginners: Food Delivery via Alipay
For most first-time visitors, this is the path of least resistance. Taobao Instant (淘宝闪购, formerly known as Ele.me) is one of China’s major delivery platforms — it’s owned by Alibaba, the same company behind Alipay, which means it’s accessible as a mini-program directly inside the Alipay app. No separate account. No new registration. Just open Alipay and search.
Note: As of 2026, Ele.me has been rebranded as 淘宝闪购 (Taobao Instant). If you search “eleme” in Alipay, you’ll be redirected to Taobao Instant — same service, new name.
How to order:
Open Alipay and search “eleme” or “淘宝闪购” in the search bar at the top. The mini-program opens inside Alipay, already connected to your payment method.
Set your delivery address. For hotel stays, ask the front desk for the address in Chinese characters — don’t try typing the English hotel name, the system often won’t match it. Copy and paste the Chinese address, then confirm the pin on the map looks right.
Browse by photos. Nearly every dish has a picture, and you don’t need to read Chinese to figure out what you’re ordering. Add to cart, confirm, pay with your linked international card.
Delivery in major Chinese cities is fast — 30 to 40 minutes is standard, sometimes less in busy areas. In smaller cities it can be slower or coverage patchier. Your mileage will vary.
About the phone number field: The app will ask for a contact number for the rider. Your foreign number technically works, but riders are usually unfamiliar with international formats. The practical fix: add a delivery note (备注) saying 请放在前台，谢谢 (please leave at the front desk). Most hotels handle deliveries for guests all the time — it’s not a strange request.
More Restaurant Options: Meituan
Meituan is China’s largest food delivery platform. Restaurant selection is usually wider than Taobao Instant, especially in cities outside Shanghai and Beijing. The catch: the interface is entirely in Chinese, and registration has traditionally required a Chinese phone number.
In practice, there are a few ways in — though none are guaranteed to work every time:
WeChat mini-program: Open WeChat, search for 美团外卖 in the mini-programs. This sometimes lets you use Meituan inside WeChat without a separate account, with payment going through WeChat Pay. Worth trying first. Whether it works depends on your WeChat account verification status.
WeChat login on the main app: If you’ve downloaded the Meituan app directly, it often allows “Login with WeChat” — skipping the phone number requirement entirely, depending on your account setup.
The hotel number workaround: Meituan’s standalone registration requires a Chinese number for the one-time SMS code. If you want a full account, asking your hotel front desk is one option — though not every hotel will agree to it, so ask politely and don’t count on it.
Navigating the Chinese interface: Meituan has no English version. But it’s more manageable than it looks — restaurant photos are prominent, prices are clear, and the layout follows the same logic as any food delivery app. For text you can’t figure out, try long-pressing on it; some versions of the app offer a translate option. Or use your phone’s camera translation feature pointed at the screen. Neither is perfect, but both get you far enough.
For picking restaurants: look for high ratings (4.8+), large order volumes, and the 品牌 (Brand) tag. Avoid newly opened restaurants with no reviews — they can be fine, but it’s an unnecessary gamble when you don’t speak the language.
QR Code Menus Inside Restaurants
Walk into almost any mid-range restaurant in China and there’s a QR code on the table. Many places have dropped paper menus entirely — this is just how it works now.
Scan the QR with your phone camera. A menu usually opens in your browser or a WeChat mini-program. Most have photos for every dish. Add to cart, confirm, pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay. A ticket prints in the kitchen.
Where it breaks down:
Payment is the most common wall. Most QR ordering systems only accept WeChat Pay or Alipay — not international cards directly. If your Alipay is working, this isn’t an issue.
Internet is the second problem. The QR links to a live webpage or mini-program — no signal, nothing loads. → China SIM Card & eSIM Guide
Some systems require a Chinese phone number login before you can even see the menu. When that happens, there’s no clean workaround — you just call the waiter over, point at what looks good on another table, and say 我要这个. It works.
Translating the menu: If the menu loads but you can’t read it, take a screenshot and use Google Translate’s image function — paste the screenshot and it’ll translate the whole thing. This requires a VPN to work in China since Google is blocked. Apple Translate works without a VPN and is worth having as a backup. Neither is perfect, but 30 seconds of translation is usually enough to make a reasonable choice.
Delivery Address: The Step Most Guides Skip
A lot of first orders fail here, not at the app itself.
Chinese delivery systems are built around Chinese addresses. Typing the English hotel name usually doesn’t work — the system can’t match it. The reliable method: ask your hotel front desk for the address in Chinese characters. Most hotels have a printed card for exactly this situation. Copy that text and paste it directly into the address field.
In apartments or Airbnbs, get the full Chinese address from your host before you need it — not when you’re already hungry.
Once the address is confirmed, add the note 请放在前台，谢谢 to your order. Delivery riders in China are fast and efficient, but many aren’t comfortable dealing with foreign guests directly. The front desk note removes that friction entirely.
When the Rider Calls
You placed the order. Your phone rings. It’s the rider, speaking Chinese.
Don’t answer and try to explain in English. Just go to the lobby immediately. Riders typically wait two to three minutes before moving on — they’re on a tight schedule.
The front desk note in your delivery instructions prevents most of these calls from happening. If you’ve added it and the rider still calls, it usually means they can’t find the building entrance. Going downstairs is faster than any in-app solution.
Translating Menus
This comes up in both delivery apps and QR menus, so worth addressing directly rather than repeating it everywhere.
The most reliable approach for paper menus and QR code pages: screenshot what’s on screen and upload it to a translation app. Google Translate’s image function works well — but requires a VPN in China since Google is blocked. Apple Translate does the same thing and works without a VPN. Either one takes about 30 seconds and gives you enough to make a reasonable call.
For delivery apps, photos are usually enough. Sort by 热销 (best sellers) — these dishes always have photos and represent what the restaurant actually does well. When in doubt, order what has the most orders.
What to Do If an App Asks for a Chinese Number
This comes up in three situations: registering for Meituan, logging into a restaurant’s QR system, and occasionally when Alipay flags an unusual login.
| Situation | What to try |
|---|---|
| Meituan registration | Try WeChat login first; hotel number as fallback if hotel allows |
| Restaurant QR login | Skip it — call waiter over, point at food, use phrases below |
| Alipay verification SMS | Use the number you registered with; if it was a Chinese number you no longer have, contact Alipay support |
| Taobao Instant (Ele.me) via Alipay | Usually doesn’t ask — it uses your Alipay account directly |
If the app genuinely won’t let you proceed without a Chinese number and you have no workaround available, ask your hotel to place the order on your behalf. This is the most reliable fallback and most hotels in tourist areas have done it before.
My Setup for Eating Without Stress
After a lot of time in China, here’s what I actually rely on — though I’ll be honest, the first few days involve more trial and error than any guide makes it sound.
Alipay with a foreign card linked is the foundation. Without it, most QR ordering and all delivery breaks at the payment step.
For delivery, Taobao Instant via Alipay is where I start. It’s the lowest friction option for a first order. Once that’s working, Meituan is worth adding for the wider restaurant selection — but I wouldn’t try to set up Meituan on the first day.
Keep ¥100–200 in cash. Small street food stalls, older local places, temple snack vendors — they sometimes don’t take apps, and those are often the best meals. In smaller cities, I’d lean more on cash and hotel help than on delivery apps.
And if you’re heading somewhere with weak signal — underground spots, rural areas, anything off the main tourist trail — eat before you go, or carry snacks. Don’t count on delivery working. This is one of those things that sounds obvious but catches people out.
Useful Phrases
Show these on your phone if you need to communicate with a waiter or delivery rider.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| I want this one | 我要这个 | Wǒ yào zhège |
| No spicy | 不要辣 | Bù yào là |
| Less spicy | 少辣 | Shǎo là |
| More spicy | 加辣 | Jiā là |
| No coriander / cilantro | 不要香菜 | Bù yào xiāngcài |
| No peanuts | 不要花生 | Bù yào huāshēng |
| Less salt | 少盐 | Shǎo yán |
| Less oil | 少油 | Shǎo yóu |
| Takeaway / to go | 打包 | Dǎ bāo |
| The bill, please | 买单 | Mǎi dān |
| Is this spicy? | 这个辣吗？ | Zhège là ma? |
| I am allergic to… | 我对…过敏 | Wǒ duì… guòmǐn |
| Please leave at front desk | 请放在前台，谢谢 | Qǐng fàng zài qiántái, xièxie |
| I’m a foreigner, no Chinese number | 我是外国人，没有中国号码 | Wǒ shì wàiguórén, méiyǒu zhōngguó hàomǎ |
| Delicious! | 好吃！ | Hào chī! |
打包 (dǎ bāo) is the most useful phrase on this list. Say it and point at your plate — works everywhere, every time.
FAQ
What happened to Ele.me — is it the same as Taobao Instant? Yes. Ele.me (饿了么) was rebranded as 淘宝闪购 (Taobao Instant) in 2026. The service is the same — food delivery accessible via Alipay. If you search “eleme” in Alipay, you’ll be redirected to the new name automatically.
Can I use Meituan without a Chinese phone number? Sometimes. The WeChat mini-program version often works without a separate Meituan account, depending on your WeChat verification status. The standalone app allows WeChat login in many cases. If neither works, the hotel number approach is an option if the hotel is willing — but don’t rely on it as a given.
Does Taobao Instant work with a foreign card? Yes, if you order through the Alipay mini-program. Alipay handles the payment with your linked Visa or Mastercard. No separate account needed.
What if the QR code menu asks for a Chinese phone number? Skip the app entirely. Call the waiter over, point at what looks good, and say 我要这个. Most staff will understand.
Is food delivery in China expensive? Quite affordable. Delivery fees are typically ¥3–6, and most restaurants waive them for orders over ¥20–30. A full meal with delivery usually comes to ¥20–40 ($3–6 USD).
Can I get Western food delivered? In major cities, yes — both Meituan and Taobao Instant have Western food, pizza, and coffee categories. Outside tier-1 cities, selection gets thinner. In smaller cities, don’t count on it.
What if none of this works? Every city in China has convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and local chains) with ready-to-eat food and snacks. They accept Alipay, WeChat Pay, and usually cash. Not the most exciting meal, but reliable. And honestly, asking your hotel reception to order for you is underrated — most hotels in tourist areas do it without any fuss.
Related Guides
- How to Set Up Alipay as a Foreigner — The foundation for QR ordering, delivery, and payments
- China Payment Guide for Foreigners — Alipay, WeChat Pay, and what to do when payment fails
- China SIM Card & eSIM Guide — Getting the mobile data you need for all of the above
- Internet & VPN Guide for China — Google is blocked in China; sort your VPN before you land if you plan to use Google Translate
- China Transport Guide for Foreigners — Getting around the city once you’ve eaten
Last updated: June 2026. App interfaces, platform names, and availability vary by city and app version — confirm current steps within the app if something looks different from what’s described here.