You may have taken note of the plethora of mobile and online-based food delivery services that have expanded into Houston. But if you’re starved for time, you may not have had a chance to look into them all. So we’ve done it for you!
Here's out the lowdown on Houston’s latest and greatest delivery services, broken down by minimum delivery, delivery fee, areas covered, and more:
DoorDash
What they are: An on-demand delivery service allowing you to purchase goods online or via their app
Minimum Delivery: None
Delivery Fee: $4.99, but they often run promos for cheaper delivery (ex: first order is just $1 and you can currently get Taco Bell delivered for $3.99).
Areas Covered: Currently serving Galleria; The Heights; Midtown; Montrose; River Oaks; and West University Place, with plans to expand coverage
Notable Restaurants: Américas; Backstreet Cafe; Down House
What sets them apart: Easy to use mobile app, plus the ability to pre-order, order as a group, order from multiple restaurants, and earn credits. Fully customize your order and pay effortlessly with your phone. Track delivery at a glance with live status updates. Average delivery time is 45 minutes or less.
Zifty
What they are: An Atlanta-based online delivery company that partners with local restaurants and brands to bring their goods straight to your door.
Minimum Delivery: $15
Delivery Fee: $5 which includes food delivered from one restaurant (additional $3 fee per restaurant over that)
Areas Covered: Galleria area as the epicenter, with most restaurant partners located in the loop and outside the loop before the beltway. Plans to expand.
Notable Restaurants: Batanga; Beaver's; Big Eyed Fish; Mascalzone
What sets them apart: Quality customer experience. Customized routing software allows real time tracking of orders from start to finish. To streamline the process payment is also handled through the easily navigated website. Deliveries are performed from 11 a.m. to midnight, every day of the year except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day (though different restaurants will have different delivery times). In keeping with their focus on a quality customer experience, the brand has even become known for sending handwritten notes thanking customers for their business, sometimes including two $15 gift cards inviting them to return or to “share the love”.
Bonus: Enter HOUSTON5 at checkout and the first delivery fee is on Zifty!
Favor
What they are: Austin-based mobile app that allows you to have anything you crave (food, dry cleaning, prescriptions, clothing, groceries, etc.) delivered through “Favor Runners”
Minimum Delivery: None
Delivery Fee: $5 fee plus 5% of the cost of items and a tip to the runner
Areas Covered: See full map
Notable Restaurants: Dolce Vita Pizzeria & Enoteca; Pondicheri; Oporto Fooding & Wine House
What sets them apart: Everything is mobile-based, plus you can pay for delivery of more than just food. The system is completely cashless. All payment is made through the app and they accept all major credit and debit cards. The runners converse with consumers via text message to let them know approximate wait times or if an item is not available, providing instant customer service. Delivery is available 8 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Wednesday and 8 a.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. The average delivery time is 35 minutes, but times can vary depending on demand, traffic, and restaurant wait times.
GrubHub
What they are: An online and mobile food ordering service that helps you find and order food from wherever you are (merged with Seamless)
Minimum Delivery: Varies by restaurant
Delivery Fee: Varies by restaurant (ranging from free to $20)
Areas Covered: Houston; Bellaire; Fresno; Friendswood; Humble; Kingwood; Missouri City; Pearland; Porter; South Houston; Spring; Stafford
Notable Restaurants: Amazon Grill; Charivari; Springbok
What sets them apart: The range of options and neighborhoods. Search by cuisine, zip code, neighborhood, restaurant name or menu item and GrubHub filter your results accordingly. Group ordering is available, and you can place your order online or by phone. They also give you access to reviews, coupons, special deals and a 24/7 customer care team that tracks each order and makes sure you get exactly what you want. iPhone and Android app available.
Seamless
What they are: An and mobile food ordering service that helps you find and order food from wherever you are (merged with GrubHub)
Minimum Delivery: Varies by restaurant
Delivery Fee: Varies by restaurant (ranging from free to $20)
Areas Covered: Houston; Bellaire; Fresno; Friendswood; Humble; Kingwood; Missouri City; Pearland; Porter; South Houston; Spring; Stafford
Notable Restaurants: Fusion Taco; Nundini’s Italian Table; The Cajun Stop
What sets them apart: Expansive coverage, plus both online and mobile options. Order using the Seamless.com website or the Seamless apps for iPad, iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry devices.
Delivery.com
What they are: An online delivery services connecting people with
local businesses. Currently 15 restaurants delivering in Houston.
Minimum Delivery: Varies by restaurant
Delivery Fee: Varies by restaurant (all current Houston restaurants are free to 99 cents)
Areas Covered: 77042; 77056; 77063; 77064; 77083; 77095; 77098; 77346; 77379; 77498; 77505; 77584
Notable Restaurants: Fratellini Ristorante Italiano; Which Wich
What sets them apart: Special offers. Earn 25 points for every 1 dollar you spend. Tell a friend and you’ll each get $7 when they order.
Yelp Eat24
What they are: A free, easy-to-use food delivery & takeout app for desktop and mobile.
Minimum Delivery: Varies by restaurant
Delivery Fee: Varies by restaurant
Areas Covered: Nearly everywhere.
See complete list of neighborhoods
Notable Restaurants: Banana Leaf 2; Cavatore;Turquoise Grill
What sets them apart: Their vast coverage and user-friendliness. Search by your address and find restaurants that deliver to you in any cuisine (from Malaysian to Fro-yo) and any neighborhood. View restaurants menus and exclusive online coupons and discounts, read reviews by other Eat 24 Hours users and most importantly, order from any one of them online, with just a click of a button. Easy, simple, and completely free.