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How to Find and Book Restaurants with Group-Buy Deals on Meituan

Last updated: 2026-04-30

Meituan
Meituan
utilities · intermediate
View Guide → isn't just for delivery — it's also China's main platform for finding restaurants and buying discounted meal vouchers (团购, tuángòu, "group buy"). These vouchers let you pay in advance at a discount and redeem them at the restaurant. Popular restaurants often sell out of vouchers, so buying ahead also guarantees your spot.

Finding Restaurants Near You

  1. 1. Open Meituan and tap 'Restaurants' or 'Dining'

    On the Meituan home screen, look for the restaurant or dining section (餐厅 or 美食). Tap it to see restaurants near your current location.

  2. 2. Browse and filter

    Meituan shows restaurants sorted by distance and rating. Use filters to narrow down: cuisine type (Chinese, Japanese, Western, etc.), price range, rating, and distance. The 'Near Me' filter shows only walkable options.

  3. 3. Read the restaurant listing

    Each listing shows the restaurant name, cuisine type, average price per person, rating, and number of reviews. Tap a restaurant to see its full profile, photos, and available deals.

Buying a Group-Buy Voucher

  1. 1. Find a deal on the restaurant page

    On the restaurant's Meituan page, scroll down to see available group-buy deals. These are pre-set meal packages at a discount — for example, '2-person set meal: ¥128 (original price ¥168)'.

  2. 2. Select and purchase the voucher

    Tap the deal you want. Review what's included (specific dishes, drinks, etc.). Tap Buy Now and pay with WeChat Pay or Alipay. The voucher appears in your Meituan account under 'My Vouchers'.

  3. 3. Redeem at the restaurant

    When you arrive at the restaurant, tell the server you have a Meituan voucher (美团券). Open Meituan → My Vouchers → show the QR code. The server scans it to redeem.

✓

Check the voucher's validity period and any restrictions before buying. Most vouchers are valid for 30–90 days and can be used any day, but some exclude weekends or holidays.

What Group-Buy Deals Typically Include

  • Set meals: Fixed combination of dishes for 2, 4, or more people — good value and removes the need to navigate a Chinese menu
  • Single dish vouchers: A specific dish at a discount
  • Buffet tickets: Pre-paid entry to a buffet restaurant
  • Afternoon tea sets: Popular for cafes and dessert restaurants

Practical Tips

  • Ratings matter: Meituan ratings are reliable — restaurants with 4.5+ stars and hundreds of reviews are consistently good. Below 4.0 is a warning sign.
  • Price per person: The "人均" (rén jūn) figure shows the average spend per person. Use this to gauge whether a restaurant fits your budget.
  • Refunds: Unused vouchers can usually be refunded within the validity period if you haven't used them. Tap the voucher → Refund.
  • Language barrier: Even with a voucher, the menu may be in Chinese only. Use Google Translate's camera mode or ask the server to point to the dishes included in your set meal.