Delivery apps
What it really means
Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat are the main UK food delivery apps — like Meituan or Ele.me in China, but slower and with delivery fees. Many restaurants are cheaper if you collect the order yourself.
Context, tips & common mistakes
Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats divide the takeaway map between them (many restaurants are only on one, so check all three for a specific craving). The economics newcomers should see clearly: menu prices on apps often run higher than in the shop, then service and delivery fees stack on top — collecting it yourself from the same restaurant can cost dramatically less, and phone-ordering directly sometimes beats all of it.
Before trying an unfamiliar takeaway, look up its food hygiene rating on the official Food Standards Agency site — ratings run 0 to 5, inspections are real, and the apps themselves now display them. Delivery etiquette is minimal: no tip obligation (a small in-app tip for miserable weather is kind), contactless doorstep drop is normal, and 'the driver is nearby' has always been a lie of hope.