Delivery Services
Sherpa’s
This company’s familiar orange scooters can be seen across the Chaoyang and Dongcheng districts. It was founded in 1999 and has a large selection of restaurants which have partnered with them, such as Home Plate BBQ, Wagas, and Tandoori Kitchen. There’s a minimum delivery amount of RMB 100 at dinner hours from 6pm.
Delivery zones: Chaoyang and Dongcheng District
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.
Average delivery time: 45- 50 minutes
English service? Yes, English-speaking operators and English website
How to order: website interface
Contact and delivery hours: Daily 10.30am-10.30pm, closed during major holidays. 400 600 6209, www.sherpa.com.cn
KK Rabbit
Though more limited than Sherpa’s or Jinshisong, KK Rabbit offers a range of international and Chinese cuisine. 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.
Average delivery time: 40 minutes
English service? Yes, English-speaking operators and English website
How to order: website interface easier than calling as the orders can be easily mistaken.
Contact and delivery hours: Daily 10.30am-10.30pm (hotline), delivery hours vary from restaurant to restaurant. 400 720 1717,
www.kkrabbit.com.cn
Jinshisong 锦食送
Along with Sherpa’s, Jinshisong 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.
Average delivery time: 45 minutes
English service? Yes, English-speaking operators and English website.
How to order: website interface
Contact and delivery hours: Daily 10.30am-10.30pm (hotline). 400 030 0517, www.jinshisong.com
Youcansong 优餐送
Youcansong delivers from Chinese and international restaurants. In its own words, Youcansong delivers “the best food with superior service.”
Delivery zones: Chaoyang and Dongcheng District
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
English service? Yes, English-speaking operators and English website
How to order: online via website or app, calling
Contact and delivery hours: Daily 10.30am to 10.30pm, delivery hours vary from restaurant to restaurant. 4000 700 250, www.youcansong.com
Standalone Restaurants
Annie’s 安妮
This award-winning Italian chain is a godsend to parents with hungry children who need food now. Founded in 1999, Annie’s offers pasta, pizza, salads, and antipasti at low prices. Their delivery service is quick, friendly, and geared towards families. There’s a kids’ menu with choices like chicken strips and cheesy penne pasta.
Delivery zones: Sanlitun, Ritan Park, Chaoyang Park, CBD, Shunyi, Wangjing, and Lido
Delivery fee: None
Average delivery time: 30-40 minutes
English service? Yes, English-speaking operators and website.
How to order: Browse the menu on Annie’s website and call the branch closest to you for delivery.
Contact and delivery hours: Daily 10.30am-10.30pm. www.annies.com.cn
Gung Ho! Gourmet Pizza Factory 叫板比萨
Gung Ho! are now synonymous with the color pink. The delivery guys pair pink t-shirts with black helmets and can be seen zooming their way across traffic. Their unique pizza boxes feature artwork by local artists, including students. Delivery tends to be fast and there are many meal combos (including a kids’ combo) with pizza, pasta, or salad plus a side dish and drinks.
Delivery zones: Sanlitun, Shuangjing, and Lido
Delivery fee: None
Average delivery time: The website says 45-60 minutes, but the Gung-Ho! dudes are often much faster than that.
English service? Yes, English-speaking operators and website
How to order: Call or order online. Customers have the option of paying with a Chinese bankcard; ask for the deliveryman to bring the POS system.
Contact and delivery hours: Daily 11am-11pm. 5135 8557 (Lido), 5876 5262 (Shuangjing), 5738 9040 (Lido), www.gunghopizza.com
Element Fresh 新元素
Element Fresh has been popular among families since it opened in 2002. The Shanghai-based chain is known for its healthy fare, including tasty salads, sandwiches, and smoothies. Note that delivery can be slow during lunch hour, as this is the restaurant’s peak period; call well ahead of time to one of the seven locations in Beijing.
Delivery zones: Lido, Indigo, Solana, Sanlitun, Dongdaqiao, and CBD
Delivery fee: Free with a minimum order of RMB 40 or more
How to order: Call the hotline or order online. On the website, you’ll need to register an account with a phone number and address. You can then browse the menu and add to your shopping cart before proceeding to check out.
English service? Yes, English-speaking operators and English website
Average delivery time: 40-60 minutes
Contact and delivery hours: Daily 10am-10 pm. 6430 2170, order.elementfresh.com
Obentos本之味
This Japanese-style nutritious eatery opened a second location at Liangmaqiao and now delivers food to a wider area. Their famed seasonal dishes and the introduction of a kids’ menu has made this a popular delivery option for many expats wanting something healthy and affordable.
Delivery Zone: CBD, Liangmaqiao
Delivery fee: Free
How to order: website interface
English service: Yes, English speaking operators and English website. Optional POS card payment is offered but you’ll need to explicitly tell them when you call that you’re paying by card.
Average delivery time: 40- 50 minutes
Contact and delivery hours: Mon – Fri 8am–10.30pm; Sat-Sun 9am – 11:30pm. 65970085 / 65970223 (Central Park); 8531 5098(Grand Summit) www.obentos.com
These are just a few of the family-friendly restaurants that offer delivery. Be sure to also check out Lily’s American Diner, Ganges, and Green Bites for English delivery and Eleme and Waimai Baidu for Chinese delivery services. For full listings, visit our website at www.beijing-kids.com.
Photo: Ken, Joey Guo
This article originally appeared on pages 54-56 of the 2016 Home and Relocation Guide. Click here for your free online copy. To find out how you can obtain a hard copy, contact distribution@truerun.com.