What Uber Eats is and how to place your first order
Uber Eats is a food delivery service where you order meals from restaurants through an app or website, and a driver brings the food to your address. You create an account, browse restaurants near you, add items to a cart, pay online, and then track a driver in real time as they pick up and deliver your order. The whole process typically takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on how busy the restaurant and delivery network are.
To get your free guide, read the Uber Eats app on your phone or visit ubereats.com on a computer. You'll need to create an account with your email address or phone number, add a delivery address, and link a payment method — a debit card, credit card, or digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay. Once that's done, you can search for restaurants by cuisine type, restaurant name, or browse what's popular in your area.
When you find a restaurant you want to order from, you'll see the menu, prices, and how long delivery usually takes. Add items to your cart, review any special instructions (like "no onions"), and when you're ready, proceed to checkout. You'll see the subtotal, any restaurant fees, delivery fees, and taxes all listed separately before you confirm the order.
Key Takeaways
- Uber Eats requires you to create an account, add a delivery address, and link a payment method before you can place an order.
- Delivery fees, restaurant fees, and taxes are shown separately at checkout so you know the full cost before you pay.
- You can track your driver in real time once they pick up your order, and you'll receive notifications at each stage.
- Most restaurants on Uber Eats charge the same prices as in-person, though some add a small service fee to cover the delivery platform.
- You can rate your driver and the restaurant after delivery, and those ratings affect which orders drivers accept and how restaurants appear in search results.
Understanding delivery fees and what you'll pay
Uber Eats charges three separate costs on top of your food: a delivery fee, a service fee, and taxes. The delivery fee goes to the driver and Uber and varies based on distance, time of day, and how busy the service is — it might be $2 on a quiet Tuesday afternoon or $8 during dinner rush on a Friday. Some restaurants or areas offer free delivery if your order meets a minimum amount, usually $15 to $20.
The service fee is a percentage of your food subtotal (typically 10 to 15 percent) that Uber keeps. Some restaurants also charge a small markup on menu items when you order through Uber Eats compared to ordering in person, because they pay Uber a commission on each order. Taxes are calculated on your subtotal and added at checkout.
You'll see the full breakdown at checkout before you confirm payment, so you know exactly what you're spending. If the total is higher than you expected, you can go back and remove items or choose a different restaurant. Uber Eats also offers a subscription called Uber One that waives delivery fees and reduces service fees on orders over a certain amount, though it costs a monthly fee.
How to track your order and what to do if something goes wrong
Once you place an order, you'll get a notification when the restaurant confirms it and starts preparing your food. When the driver picks up your order, you'll see their photo, vehicle, and real-time location on a map so you can watch them drive to your address. The app will tell you the estimated arrival time, which updates as they get closer.
When the driver arrives, they'll either leave the food at your door (contactless delivery) or hand it to you directly, depending on what you selected at checkout. You'll get a final notification when the delivery is complete. If your food doesn't arrive within the estimated window, you can contact the driver through the app's messaging feature or reach out to Uber Eats support.
If your order arrives late, cold, incomplete, or damaged, you can report the issue in the app under "Help" and request a refund or credit. Uber Eats will usually refund the full order or a portion of it depending on what went wrong. Keep photos of damaged food or missing items — the app will ask for them when you file a report. For serious issues like a missing order, Uber Eats typically resolves it within 24 to 48 hours.
Restaurant selection and menu information
Uber Eats shows you restaurants ranked by popularity, rating, delivery time, and distance from your address. You can filter by cuisine type (pizza, sushi, burgers, etc.), dietary preference (vegan, gluten-free), or price range. Each restaurant listing shows its average rating out of 5 stars, how many reviews it has, estimated delivery time, and delivery fee.
When you open a restaurant's menu, you'll see which items are currently available — some restaurants run out of popular dishes during busy times and gray out those items so you can't order them. Many restaurants also offer special deals or discounts shown at the top of their menu. You can read customer reviews for individual dishes to see what other people ordered and what they thought.
Some restaurants have minimum order amounts, meaning you have to spend at least $10 or $15 before you can check out. This is shown on the restaurant's main page. If you're close to the minimum, you can add a drink or side to reach it.
Payment methods and account security
Uber Eats accepts most major credit and debit cards, as well as digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. You can save multiple payment methods to your account and choose which one to use for each order. If you have an Uber account (from using Uber rides), your payment methods may already be linked to Uber Eats.
Your payment information is encrypted and stored securely — Uber Eats doesn't share your full card number with restaurants or drivers. When you place an order, the payment is processed when ready and you'll see a receipt in the app. You can also view your order history and past receipts by going to your account menu.
If you notice an unauthorized charge or have a billing dispute, you can contact Uber Eats support through the app. They can investigate the charge and issue a refund if it was fraudulent. You can also dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company if Uber Eats doesn't resolve it.
Ratings, reviews, and how they affect your experience
After your order is delivered, you'll be asked to rate the driver and the restaurant on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Your rating of the driver affects whether they accept future orders from you — drivers can see their average rating and may decline orders from customers with very low ratings. Your rating of the restaurant helps other customers decide whether to order there and affects how the restaurant appears in search results.
You can also leave written reviews for restaurants describing your experience with the food and service. These reviews are visible to other Uber Eats users and help build the restaurant's reputation on the platform. Restaurants can respond to reviews, so if you leave feedback about a problem, the restaurant owner may reach out to make it right.
If a driver or restaurant treats you poorly, you can report them through the app. Uber Eats takes reports seriously and may deactivate drivers or restaurants that violate their policies. Your safety and experience matter — if you ever feel unsafe during a delivery, you can contact Uber Eats support when ready.
Special features and promotions
Uber Eats regularly offers promotions like "$5 off your first order" or "free delivery on orders over $25." These are shown in the app's promotions section and can be applied at checkout using a promo code. Some promotions are one-time offers for new users, while others are ongoing deals for all users.
You can also earn rewards through the Uber Eats app — some orders give you points that you can redeem for discounts on future orders. If you subscribe to Uber One, you get additional perks like waived delivery fees and reduced service fees, plus discounts at partner restaurants.
During holidays or special events, Uber Eats sometimes offers limited-time deals or features. You'll see these advertised in the app, and you can choose to take advantage of them or order normally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I schedule an order for later instead of ordering it now?
Yes. When you're at checkout, you can select "Schedule for later" and choose a specific time within the next seven days. The restaurant will prepare your order at that time, and the driver will pick it up and deliver it to you. Keep in mind that scheduled orders may have longer delivery times during peak hours.
What if I'm not home when the driver arrives?
You can leave delivery instructions in the app before placing your order — for example, "leave at front door" or "ring the doorbell twice." You can also message the driver directly through the app if you're running late. If the driver can't reach you and can't leave the food safely, they may return it to the restaurant and you'll receive a refund.
Do I need to tip the driver?
Tipping is optional but encouraged. You can add a tip at checkout or after delivery through the app. Tips go directly to the driver and are separate from the delivery fee. Many drivers rely on tips as part of their income, so tipping is a way to show appreciation for good service.
Can I change or cancel my order after I place it?
You can cancel an order if the restaurant hasn't started preparing it yet — usually within the first few minutes. Once the restaurant starts cooking, cancellation may not be possible and you could lose your payment. If you need to make changes, contact support through the app as soon as possible.
What areas does Uber Eats deliver to?
Uber Eats is available in most major cities and many smaller towns across the United States and internationally. When you enter your delivery address, the app will tell you if Uber Eats serves that location. If it doesn't, you'll see a message saying service isn't available in your area yet.