How to find restaurants and dining offers in the Chinese Mainland

From spicy hot pot to crispy Peking duck, China’s culinary scene is bursting with vibrancy and variety, beckoning travellers to savour enticing dishes honed over generations. Of course, Chinese food culture is best appreciated through its local eateries, which offer authenticity and immersive cultural experiences.  

Feast your way through the Chinese Mainland with the help of these useful food and beverage mobile apps, where you can easily discover top-rated eateries and special dining offers, and conveniently book reservations online wherever you're travelling. 

Apps for finding restaurants

Dianping 

As the leading restaurant directory and review platform in the Chinese Mainland, Dianping is a one-stop resource for finding nearby restaurants, deals and discounts and making reservations. Its extensive user base means you’re likely to find all the information you need, including crowd-sourced ratings and reviews, restaurant contact details, menus, food images and more. 

If you’re looking for meal deals, you’ll find offers galore – which can also be purchased directly through the app. Note that most of the text will be in Simplified Chinese, but there’s a helpful in-app translation button that will automatically translate the text into English. You can also download an on-screen translator app such as Translate On Screen to translate the text on any app into your native language.

Navigation apps 

While Google Maps does not work in the Chinese Mainland, Gaode (also known as Amap) and Baidu Maps are popular navigation apps that can help you discover and locate Chinese restaurants. These local map apps will provide you with a clear visualisation of all your restaurant options – identified by dining icons – within a given area, and suggested routes to reach your destination efficiently. 

Click on the dining icon to find useful information such as the restaurant’s rating, address, opening hours, food images and any group offers you can buy. A potential drawback, however, is that these local navigation apps only support Simplified Chinese, so a separate on-screen translator app may be needed. 

Food delivery apps 

Want to savour local food in the comfort of your hotel room? Food delivery services are widely embraced in the Chinese Mainland due to their affordability and convenience, with Meituan and Ele.me being the giants of the market. To get started, register for an account using a phone number that can receive SMS verification, add your delivery address and browse restaurants in your vicinity. 

You can search for keywords directly or filter your search based on cuisine types like “Noodles and Congee” or “Desserts”. Keep an eye out for special offers to save extra on takeaway. After you place an order, you can pay for and track your delivery through the app.  

If you don't read Simplified Chinese, there are ways to get around the language barrier when using these apps. Besides downloading an on-screen translator app, you can also access Ele.me via Alipay or Meituan via the WeChat mini app, both of which feature an in-built translation tool that enables quick, automated translations to English. 

Other ways to find dining offers

WeChat mini programme  

Many Mainland Chinese businesses can be found on WeChat , giving users access to a range of services without needing to download multiple apps in the form of mini programmes. Visitors can explore the latest promotions and updates from their favourite restaurants, make online reservations and order food, all in one streamlined place. To access a restaurant, scan its mini programme QR code or search for it directly in WeChat’s “Discover” tab. Look out for special promotions, as some are exclusive to a restaurant’s WeChat. 

Meituan 

Meituan is not just for food delivery; its group-buying feature also offers a vast number of dining discounts. Customers can purchase and then redeem at the relevant restaurant within a specified time frame (e.g., 15 or 30 days). Select “Food & Catering” on the homepage for dine-in purchases, then browse the restaurants and deals available.

The listings will also show key information such as a restaurant’s cuisine type, rating, address and average meal price. Once you find a deal that you like, you can purchase it directly through the app. You will receive a QR code for your order – show this to staff when you arrive at the restaurant and they will prepare your order.