If you are on a trip to India, there may be times when you are so exhausted after exploring the country that you may not want to go out to eat but simply order in. Thanks to the many food delivery apps in India, ordering food online has become a simple process. “Food delivery apps in India: a guide for foreigners” explains how to order food online in India. Read on for more!
Food Delivery Apps in India
Zomato
Zomato is one of the oldest and most popular food delivery apps in India. This app makes meal ordering very easy, with menus, images, restaurant information, and user ratings and reviews. The app has also acquired Blinkit, which is a great app for ordering groceries within minutes.
Swiggy
Swiggy is another popular app for food delivery in India. Live order tracking, contact with the restaurant and delivery partner, and many offers and discounts made Swiggy a great app for ordering online. Swiggy later also expanded to Swiggy Instamart, a grocery delivery service, and Swiggy Genie, an on-demand delivery service.
EatSure
EatSure is a food delivery app available across major cities in India, committed to providing high quality and hygiene along with delicious flavors.
EatClub
EatClub offers food delivery from top brands like MOJO Pizza, Box8, and . This app focuses on building a successful network of cloud kitchens.
Zepto
Zepto is a grocery delivery app which also delivers food from their own “Zepto Cafe”. While there isn’t a lot of choice in taste, it is a good option if you don’t want to wait for 30-40 minutes for your food.
IRCTC
IRCTC has partnered with various apps like Zomato, Swiggy, and EatSure to deliver fresh food on trains. Zoop and YatriRestro are official IRCTC e-catering partners. You need your 10-digit PNR number to check your journey details and see which is the next station where your food can be delivered to you.
Many other food brands have their own apps in India, such as McDonald’s, Domino’s, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, Barbeque Nation, and more.
Steps to order food from delivery apps in India
Get a local SIM card
Many food delivery apps require an Indian mobile number to register. You can get a prepaid SIM card from mobile providers like Vi, Airtel, or Jio. Here is a guide about using local SIM cards in India. Once you sign up on the app, you will get an OTP to log in and you can start ordering.
Download the app
Download the app you want – Swiggy and Zomato are used more widely in the country. You will find these apps on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Set your delivery location
Once you have downloaded the app, allow location access and enter your local address manually. Most hotels and hostels allow delivery in the lobby, but check once to confirm.
Choose a restaurant or dish
Choose what you want to eat, or from where. You can be specific about the dish you want or browse by cuisine or restaurants near you. Most apps have filters like Vegetarian Only and Quick Delivery, and often display ratings.
Add special instructions
You can also add instructions like “Make it mild and less spicy”, or mention any allergies or dietary preferences you might have.
Make the payment
Once you have finalized your order, make the payment. A few apps do allow international cards, so you can choose that. You can also use e-Wallets like Paytm or PhonePe if you have any set up, or you can opt for Cash on Delivery (COD), where you make the payment after you have received your order.
Receive the order
You can track your order once your process is completed and even contact the delivery partner if necessary. If you are staying at a hotel or hostel, go to the lobby or entrance to receive your order, and check the order before you accept it.
Also, tipping isn’t mandatory, but it is highly recommended and appreciated. A small tip of INR 10 to 50 should be enough.
How to order without an Indian mobile number?
Order from Zomato or Swiggy
Swiggy recently rolled out a feature that lets foreigners and NRIs order from their international number to any place in India. This “International Logins” feature was launched for users in 27 countries around the world.
However, in case the feature isn’t working for you, you can log in to Zomato or Swiggy from a web browser and log in using your email address instead of your phone number. If you are not able to use your international credit cards, choose the Cash on Delivery option.
Order directly from restaurants
Another good option if you do not have a local SIM card is to search for restaurants on Google, call the number provided on the web and place an order directly. You can also order from the restaurant website if they have one and provide delivery to your location.
Take help from hotel staff
If you are staying at a hotel, you can ask the reception to help you with your order. They will help you order food from their account and you could pay them in cash or reimburse them. If you are staying at a hostel or Airbnb, most hosts will be happy to help you with your order or even place it for you.
Some things to keep in mind
- Only order from places rated 4.0 or more and with many reviews so that you can make a wise decision.
- Avoid ordering any raw food like salads from unknown restaurants.
- If you find anything wrong with your order, report it on the app. Do not consume it.
- Keep some cash handy in case your cards don’t work.
- If you are not sure about the spice levels, add a special note to keep the food less spicy or mild.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Swiggy accepts international cards. They now also support international mobile numbers from 27 countries to log in, making it much easier for foreigners to order food in India.
Yes, Zomato is available in a few countries outside India such as the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and South Africa.
Swiggy Genie is safe as long as you follow some guidelines, such as verifying the delivery partner’s identity and adding the correct contact information so that they can reach you.
About Aishwarya Shete
Aishwarya Shete is a content writer at India Someday. Her passions are writing, photography, and more importantly, food. She hopes to travel the world someday and document it through her pictures and words.
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