Comparing the two food delivery apps to help you pick the right one for China.
| Meituan | Taobao Flash Shopping | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Major citywide meal and local-goods delivery platform with extensive restaurant coverage across mainland China. | The current consumer brand for Alibaba's former Ele.me meal and quick-commerce delivery service. |
| Essential? | No | No |
| Pro Tip | Treat it as optional unless you have a mainland number. Ask the hotel for its exact Chinese address and delivery point because couriers may call and cannot always enter. | The service may appear inside Taobao or Alipay as well as its standalone app. The interface is mainly Chinese, and a mainland phone number remains the reliable setup. |
| App Store | Download | Download |
| Play Store | - | - |
We recommend Meituan for food delivery in China. Treat it as optional unless you have a mainland number. Ask the hotel for its exact Chinese address and delivery point because couriers may call and cannot always enter.
Meituan is our top recommendation for food delivery in China. Major citywide meal and local-goods delivery platform with extensive restaurant coverage across mainland China.