Nothing beats the convenience of ordering food straight to your doorstep, especially when you’re still in the middle of unpacking boxes. Not only does it take the guesswork out of figuring out what to make for lunch or dinner, but kids are always happy for the treat. In Beijing, we are fortunate enough to have a wealth of English-friendly delivery services with a variety of cuisine to choose from. So the next time you’re pressed for time or simply need a break from the kitchen, just head to the computer and place your order.
Delivery Services
Sherpa’s
Founded in 1999, Sherpa’s is one of several delivery aggregators that partner with restaurants across central Beijing. There are family-friendly eateries such as Wagas, El Gran Bocado, and Pizza+ (which also has its own delivery service). Most restaurants don’t require a minimum order.
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 minutes
English service? Yes, English-speaking operators and English website
How to order: Sherpa’s has a four-step process. First, enter your street name or neighborhood in the search bar. A list of the restaurants closest to you will appear on the next page, along with the delivery fee for each. After you choose a restaurant, you’ll be prompted to choose what you want to order. Confirm your order, after which an email is sent to you with the total and estimated delivery time.
Contact and delivery hours: Daily 10.30am-10.30pm, closed during major holidays. 400 600 6209, www.sherpa.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.
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: Select a type of cuisine on the website, followed by the restaurant and menu selections. When checking out, fill in your name, phone number, and address. Click on your area on the map to find out how much the delivery fee costs. After finalizing your order, you’ll receive a text message on your mobile. Registered users can track their order via GPS on the website.
Contact and delivery hours: Daily 10.30am-
10.30pm (hotline). 400 030 0517, www.jinshisong.com
Eleme 饿了么
Eleme is a Shanghai-based delivery service with a wider range of Chinese restaurants. Dishes vary from Guilin noodle soup to Jingdingxuan dim sum, with a few western restaurants and fast food chains such as Blue Frog and Burger King with lower delivery fees.
Delivery zones: Chaoyang, Dongcheng, Xicheng, and Haidian
Delivery fee: Some restaurants offer free delivery; most charge RMB 5.
Average delivery time: It varies by restaurant, but Eleme has a late policy where customers get 30 percent off if the food takes more than 70 minutes to arrive and 50 percent off if it takes more than 90 minutes to arrive.
English service? No, both the website and hotline are in Chinese only.
How to order: Select a restaurant on the website, followed by menu selections. When checking out, fill in your name, phone number and address. You can leave a short message to the restaurant for requests like making food extra spicy, extra rice, etc. After finalizing your order, you’ll receive a text message with the phone number of the delivery man.
Contact and delivery hours: Daily 9.30am-9.30pm (hotline). 400 055 7117, www.ele.me
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, and Chaoyang Park
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: Narrow down your selection by different cuisines, delivery areas, or types of food (e.g. pizza). KK Rabbit calculates the delivery time and total after you enter your address. To check out, type in your name, telephone number, address, and any special requests you may have. Ordering online gets you a free drink (Sprite, Coke, or water).
Contact and delivery hours: Daily 10.30am-10.30pm (hotline), delivery hours vary from restaurant to restaurant. 400 720 1717, www.kkrabbit.com.cn
Youcansong 优餐送
Youcansong delivers from a range of 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: You can place orders online, on your phone, or by calling Youcansong’s hotline. On the website, begin by entering your location, then narrowing down your restaurant selection by distance, popularity, or cuisine type. Click “order” to select a restaurant and then, simply add to your shopping cart for check out. If you plan to pay with a Chinese bank card, make a note in your order. First-time customers who order online will receive RMB 15 off their first order and one free drink.
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: Online ordering isn’t available for now, so 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! is known for its ever-changing pizza box art and super-positive, pink-shirted delivery guys. Delivery tends to be fast and there are many meal combos (including a kids’ combo) with pizza, pasta, or salad as well as 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! guys 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 bank card; ask for the delivery man 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 hour; 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
These are just a few of the family-friendly restaurants that offer delivery. Be sure to also check out Lily’s American Diner, Ganges, Wagas, Green Bites, and Obentos. For full listings, visit our website at www.beijing-kids.com.
This article originally appeared in the 2015 beijingkids Home and Relocation Guide. Click here to read the issue for free on Issuu.com. To find out how you can get your own copy, email distribution@truerun.com.
