Food Delivery Apps in China

Meituan is the clear local leader, with public estimates available in July 2026 generally placing it above 65 percent of mainland food delivery. Alibaba's former Ele.me was the number 2 large network during fiscal 2026, but its correct current name is Taobao Instant Commerce, also called Taobao Flash Shopping in English. Neither standalone app has a complete official English interface, and both are designed around Chinese addresses, local courier calls and local mobile verification. The Shanghai government guide lists Meituan and Taobao Flash Shopping and says payment uses Alipay, Weixin Pay or the digital renminbi. A foreign card linked to Alipay or Weixin Pay may fund an order, but the merchant flow and SMS step can still fail. A mainland phone number is therefore the most reliable setup; no local bank account is always necessary, but visitor outcomes conflict. Coverage is extensive in cities nationwide and weak in rural or remote scenic areas. Uber Eats, DoorDash, Deliveroo and foodpanda do not operate. Hotel reception can provide the exact Chinese address and may need to receive the courier. Because foreign-number results conflict across official guidance and current user reports, this category remains medium confidence. JD Food Delivery exceeded 15 percent estimated market share and 240 million ordering users during 2025, then reported continued development in its first-quarter 2026 results. It remained the meaningful number 3 platform during 2025 behind Meituan and Taobao Instant Commerce.