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How Does Uber Eats Work? The Ultimate Guide to Ordering on Uber Eats

You've heard of Uber Eats. Here’s how to use Uber Eats, from downloading the app to ordering food to interpreting all the delivery fees.

Uber Eats is a popular food delivery platform that connects customers with a wide range of restaurants and cafes in their vicinity.

Born out of the Uber company, which began with ride-hailing services, Uber Eats has grown to become one of the go-to apps for quick, convenient, and diverse food delivery options.

With so many food delivery options available today, it can be a bit overwhelming to navigate the specifics of each one.

This post is designed to guide those new to the Uber Eats platform, helping them understand its features and how it works.

Key Information

Service Overview:

Uber Eats connects users with local restaurants. Browse, order, and track food delivery in real-time through the app or website.

Cost Breakdown

Orders include food price, taxes, and potential fees like delivery, service, and priority.

Tipping Guidelines

Drivers primarily earn from tips. Consider tipping generously, keeping in mind the delivery effort rather than the food cost.

Maximizing Value:

Users can save money with an Uber One subscription, or by using an Uber Eats promo code during checkout.

How Does Uber Eats Work?

Uber Eats is a food delivery platform that connects users with local restaurants.

To use Uber Eats, you’ll need to either download the app or visit their website. Once registered, input your location to see nearby eateries. Browse menus, select dishes, and place your order.

A delivery partner will then pick up the food and bring it to your door. You can track your order in real-time and even opt for contactless delivery.

After receiving your meal, you have the option to rate the restaurant and delivery experience.

Why I Choose Uber Eats Over Other Food Delivery Services

Among numerous food delivery apps, Uber Eats stands out to me for three main reasons: its convenience during travel, its solution to my geographical constraints, and its support for local businesses.

Traveling often lands me in unfamiliar cities, where hotel room service can be limited and costly. Uber Eats offers a broader variety at fair prices. I value not having to leave my hotel, especially during busy business trips. The app’s restaurant ratings ensure I receive quality meals.

This app saves me time back home, too. Living away from the city center means nearby eateries are a drive away, making takeout less appealing. Uber Eats saves me time, bringing diverse dishes from distant restaurants right to my hotel doorstep.

Finally, I’m passionate about supporting local businesses. They’re the backbone of our communities, enhancing the economy and cultural fabric. Through Uber Eats, I can easily support these integral establishments, benefiting both them and my local area.

In essence, while there are multiple food delivery platforms available, the seamless experience, combined with the extensive range of choices and convenience Uber Eats offers, makes it my go-to choice every time.

Getting Started with Uber Eats

Using this food delivery tool starts with an active account, and you can set it up in two ways: through the Uber Eats website and its mobile app.

How to Set Up an Account Using the Uber Eats Website

Setup your account from your browser using these easy steps:

1. Search Uber Eats on your browser.

2. Login using existing Uber credentials, if any,  or sign up with your email, Apple account, Facebook, or QR Code.

3. Provide a valid mobile number when signing up as a new user. Hover on the left sidebar and click ‘Orders.’

5. Input your preferred delivery location. You can always change this later.

6. Start browsing restaurants and ordering food.

How to Set Up an Account Using the Uber Eats App

Setting up your account via mobile is recommended, especially when you’re on the go.

Download the Uber Eats app on your iPhone or Android devices and follow the same setup steps on the website version.

browsing Uber Eats homepage screen - for how to use Uber Eats post on Ridester.com

From there, you can add a credit card or debit card to use when paying for your food orders. You can also load your account using Uber Cash, use a gift card, and in the United States, link your PayPal.

It’s worth noting that there are two options for ordering: delivery and pickup.

Once logged in, you’ll find a user-friendly interface displaying a list of restaurants, a search bar to find specific cuisines or eateries, and tabs to track your current orders or view past ones.

Placing an Uber Eats Order

Now, you can browse the restaurants and food offerings, placing an order when ready.

Choosing a Restaurant

The platform lists restaurants based on your location. You can sort them by popularity, ratings, delivery time, and more.

screenshot showing how to choose a restaurant on the Uber Eats app

My favorite thing to do, especially in a new city, is sort by ratings and popularity. Relying on other local Uber Eats users – and their feedback – is a great way to find hidden gems within a sea of restaurants.

Making a Selection

Clicking on a restaurant will display its menu. Browse through, select dishes you fancy, customize them (if the option is available), and add them to your cart.

making a selection within the Uber Eats app before checkout

Make sure to double-check this step, as sometimes users don’t realize they can customize their sides, drinks, or add-ons. Maximize what the restaurant gives you. After all, you’re paying for it.

Checking Out

Proceed to the cart, review your order, and move to the checkout page.

The app will take you to a payment screen where you can see the order fee, service fee, and delivery fee as well as the final payment amount. Here you can apply an Uber Eats promo code, choose your delivery preference, add a tip, and select a payment method.

If everything looks good, place your order.

checking out of the uber eats app

Always Remember to Tip Your Driver

You can choose to tip a percentage of your order total or a standard 10% to 20%, but we generally recommend leaving at least $1 to $3 per order. This is a service, just like a restaurant, which should be rewarded.

Tracking and Receiving Your Order

At this point, your order is in motion and the restaurant will begin working on it right away. Once your order is placed, the app keeps you updated about its status – from the restaurant preparing it, a driver picking it up, to its journey to your door.

If you need to cancel, do so quickly!

It is possible to cancel an Uber Eats order at this point, but you must act incredibly quickly, otherwise you’ll get charged a hefty cancellation fee.

Post-Delivery of an Uber Eats Order

After the delivery arrives, you’re able to access important data and help if needed.

Rating and Reviewing:

After enjoying your meal, you can rate the delivery experience and the food. This feedback helps other users and ensures service quality.

Post-order, you can also view your order details, and do other helpful actions like getting a receipt or offering feedback at a later date.

Dealing with Issues:

If there’s a problem, whether it’s a missing item or something else, Uber Eats provides easy options within the app to report the issue and, if applicable, process refunds.

the orders screen from within the Uber Eats app

How Much Does Uber Eats Cost?

The cost of your Uber Eats order will vary depending on your food choices and where you live in relation to your chosen restaurant. In general, you’ll pay the price of the food items plus taxes and a delivery or service fee.

Restaurants set the pricing for the food item, which may be different than what you’d pay if you dined in. In some cases, you may also pay a higher delivery or service fee due to surge pricing.

Tipping can also increase the price of your food order. Not sure how much to leave the driver? We made a guide detailing everything you need to know about Uber Eats tipping.

The Uber Eats app makes it easy to see exactly what you’ll pay when making your order. On the checkout page, you’ll see the subtotal plus any applicable fees including a small order fee, delivery fee, and service fee.

You can click on each fee to get more information about what you’re paying for. You’ll also see a spot to enter promotion codes that can save you money.

How to Save Money on Uber Eats Orders

Uber Eats offers two fantastic ways to cut costs: promo codes and the Uber One membership.

Promo codes, often given to new users or during special events, instantly slash order prices. Keep an eye out for these in the app or during holidays!

For the regular diner, consider the Uber One membership. It’s a subscription that reduces fees and provides free deliveries from select eateries.

screenshot of Uber One from within the Uber Eats app

Despite its monthly cost, frequent users find the savings pile up quickly. Plus, members enjoy quicker customer support and occasional Uber ride discounts. To start saving, check out these options in the Uber Eats app.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does Uber Eats Work - Header

Now that we’ve answered “How does Uber Eats work,” here are answers to some other common questions about the Uber Eats service and app.

Is Uber Eats part of the Uber app?

5You can’t use the regular Uber app to order food from Uber Eats. Uber Eats is a distinct service with a separate app.

What is the average delivery time?

When you go to place your order, Uber Eats will display an estimated delivery time.

Once you place your order, you’ll be able to track your driver’s progress in real time, receiving notifications when they’ve picked the food up from the restaurant and when they’re on their way.

The delivery time can vary due to a variety of factors, including the time of day (demand is greater during the lunch rush, evenings and weekends), number of available drivers, and the popularity of the restaurant.

How much does delivery cost?

In the quest to answer “How does Uber Eats work,” the delivery fee is a main concern.

For each order that you place from Uber Eats, you’ll pay for the cost of the food, a delivery fee, and any applicable taxes. The delivery fee is usually a few dollars.

Note also that it’s up to the restaurant to set the cost of the food; this cost may differ from what you would pay if you were dining at the restaurant. Similar to Uber surge pricing, you may also pay an additional fee if you’re ordering in a busy area. However, it is possible to get a discount on your order.

When you sign up using the promo code EATSYUM7, you’ll receive $5 off each of your first two orders (must be a new user to qualify).

When is Uber Eats available?

Uber Eats delivery is available whenever the participating restaurants are open. In some cases, this can mean that 24-hour delivery is available, though you should check the delivery hours of the individual restaurants within the Uber Eats app to verify the exact delivery hours.

Can I pay in cash?

Uber Eats is designed to be a cashless experience. All payments occur within the app using the card you have on file. The only exception is when it comes to tipping: Cash tips are always appreciated (though you can also tip from within the app if you prefer).

What restaurants does Uber Eats deliver?

Uber Eats has a variety of restaurant delivery partners. The exact restaurants that the service delivers vary based on your city.

Generally, the restaurants are a mix of chains and local favorites. To see which restaurants are available for delivery in your city, check the app.

Savor Your Favorite Foods With Uber Eats

Uber Eats has revolutionized the way we approach dining. Whether you’re too tired to cook, looking to try something new, or supporting your local café, it’s a platform that caters to diverse needs. If you haven’t already, give it a spin and explore the culinary delights your city offers, right from the comfort of your home.

1 thought on “How Does Uber Eats Work? The Ultimate Guide to Ordering on Uber Eats”

  1. I just want to know how to find a specific restaurant Without getting pushed to a sponsored outlet
    If I want Chilie for example, how do I do that?

    Reply

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