Taobao Flash Purchase (淘宝闪购)

Brand update (December 2025): “饿了么” (Ele.me) has been officially rebranded to “淘宝闪购” (Taobao Flash Purchase). The domain ele.me still works and redirects. Older guides and some in-app references may still use the “饿了么” name.

Taobao Flash Purchase (formerly Ele.me) is China’s second-largest instant delivery platform, owned by Alibaba. It integrates natively with Alipay and the Taobao ecosystem, and serves as a practical alternative (or backup) to Meituan for foreigners ordering food delivery and other on-demand services.

Key Facts

Attribute	Detail
Owner	Alibaba Group
Current name	淘宝闪购 (Taobao Flash Purchase)
Former name	饿了么 (Ele.me, used until Dec 2025)
Positioning	即时电商平台 (instant e-commerce platform)
Market share	~30-35% (Meituan holds ~65-70%)
Payment	Alipay (primary); WeChat Pay also supported
Best access method	Alipay mini-program or Taobao app (no separate download needed)
English support	Minimal — similar to Meituan
Coverage	2000+ cities, 400M+ users

How do I access Taobao Flash Purchase (Ele.me)?

Option 1: Alipay Mini-Program (Recommended for foreigners)

1. Open Alipay.
2. Search “淘宝闪购” or “饿了么” (old name still works) in the search bar.
3. The mini-program opens directly — no separate download needed.
4. Allow location permissions for nearby restaurant results.

Option 2: Taobao App

The service is now integrated into the Taobao app. If you have Taobao installed, look for the “闪购” (Flash Purchase) entry on the homepage.

Option 3: Standalone App (legacy)

• iOS: App Store → search “饿了么” or “淘宝闪购”
• Android: Google Play → search “Eleme”

Note: The app may still show as “饿了么” in some app stores during the transition period.

The Alipay mini-program route is preferred because it inherits your Alipay payment method automatically.

How do I order on Ele.me as a foreigner?

1. Open 淘宝闪购 (via Alipay mini-program, Taobao, or standalone app).
2. Browse restaurants by category, rating, or delivery time.
3. Add items to cart — dish photos and ratings are visible.
4. Set delivery address in Chinese characters (same as Meituan: paste hotel address from front desk).
5. Checkout and pay with Alipay.
6. Track delivery in real-time within the app.
7. Digital confirmation/receipt appears in your orders (订单).

The ordering flow is nearly identical to Meituan once set up.

Tips for Foreigners

• Use as Meituan backup. Some restaurants are exclusive to one platform. If you cannot find a restaurant on Meituan, check 淘宝闪购.
• Payment fallback. If Meituan payment fails, 淘宝闪购 through Alipay often works since it uses Alipay’s payment infrastructure directly.
• Same address setup. Paste the same Chinese hotel address you use for Meituan.
• In-app translation. Tap the ··· menu then 翻译 for multi-language dish descriptions.
• Alipay/Taobao bundled promotions. Frequently offers discounts for Alipay/Taobao users (coupons appear in Alipay homepage).
• Search tip: Both “饿了么” and “淘宝闪购” work when searching in Alipay/WeChat. Use whichever appears.

Should I use Taobao Flash Purchase or Meituan?

Scenario	Recommendation
Default food delivery	Meituan (larger selection, broader coverage)
Restaurant only on one platform	Check both; some are exclusive
Meituan payment issues	Use 淘宝闪购 via Alipay as backup
Already in Alipay/Taobao	淘宝闪购 mini-program is convenient (no app switch)
Alipay/Taobao promotions available	淘宝闪购 may be cheaper with coupons

What are Ele.me’s limitations for foreigners?

• Interface is predominantly Chinese — same challenge as Meituan.
• Requires Alipay or WeChat Pay (no direct foreign card payment).
• Customer support is Chinese-language only.
• Coverage in smaller cities is weaker than Meituan (though 2000+ cities covered).
• Name transition may cause confusion — some searches/references still use “饿了么”.

See Also

• Food & Dining — Complete food and dining guide for foreigners
• Meituan — Primary food delivery alternative
• Alipay — Required payment method (Alipay setup)
• Mobile Payment — Payment setup overview